Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Guayaquil?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Guayaquil or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Koh Tao, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Guayaquil or Koh Tao?
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Guayaquil Prices
Ecuador PricesKoh Tao Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuayaquil $116Koh Tao $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $116, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $50. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Guayaquil and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuayaquil $32Koh Tao $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuayaquil $64Koh Tao $32
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or Koh Tao? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Guayaquil Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guayaquil $15Koh Tao $9.98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.97
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$20
Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Guayaquil change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayGuayaquil $50Koh Tao $18
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$6.28
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Breakfast$4.71
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.77
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$15
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Pancake$2.20
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American Breakfast (for Two)$8.79
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$8.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class with Sea View from Koh Tao : $51
- Memorable Thai Cooking Class with Stunning View from Koh Tao : $55
- Private Thai Cooking Class at Rooftop Kitchen on Koh Tao: $208
- Koh Tao Private Rooftop Thai Cooking Class with Scenic View: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guayaquil $21Koh Tao $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$7.85
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Snorkel Rental$3.14
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$3.14
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $27
- Amazing 5 Point Snorkeling Tour in Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $24
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- CocoTipAdventures and Snorkel with Meals-BBQs-Cocktail-Sunset: $54
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $24
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $27
- Koh Tao Island Puzzle and Treasure Hunt Adventure: $75
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
- Koh Tao Top Crystal Clear Snorkeling Day Tour by Big Boat : $27
- Koh Tao's First Light Snorkel Adventure with Oxygen Tours: $32
- No Rush Morning & Afternoon 5 Stop Snorkeling tour for Koh Tao: $27
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuayaquil $17Koh Tao $8.22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$2.04
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Bottle of Wine$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and Koh Tao, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guayaquil is in South America and Koh Tao is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil than you might in Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Koh Tao?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 1410 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and Koh Tao, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Guayaquil or Koh Tao?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Guayaquil or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Guayaquil and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Guayaquil usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Guayaquil gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Guayaquil is generally around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Guayaquil average around 23°C (73°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuayaquil 23°C (73°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Guayaquil as well as Koh Tao. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Guayaquil usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Guayaquil gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Guayaquil is around the same temperature as Koh Tao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Guayaquil averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuayaquil 23°C (73°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Guayaquil are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. It's quite rainy in Guayaquil. In January, Guayaquil usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Guayaquil gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Guayaquil is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Guayaquil in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuayaquil 28°C (82°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Guayaquil or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Guayaquil during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. Guayaquil usually gets more rain in April than Koh Tao. Guayaquil gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Guayaquil is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Guayaquil average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuayaquil 28°C (82°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Guayaquil
| Guayaquil | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.