A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers New York City vs. Koh Phi Phi for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for New York City and Koh Phi Phi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

New York City

New York City is a energetic, cosmopolitan, and one-of-a-kind city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. New York City is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the live music, food, and shopping. See New York City travel costs.

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is a rustic, remote, and tropical island. Koh Phi Phi is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Koh Phi Phi travel costs.

New York City and Koh Phi Phi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

Travelers will usually find more to do in New York City. Although New York City and Koh Phi Phi are popular destinations, New York City has more sights and attractions for tourists. New York City is very popular for its museums and attractions, theatre productions, food, nightlife, music, shopping, christmas markets, and big city activities, while Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. New York City is famous for its high-reaching skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, world-class theater scene, and endless energy. It is also well known for The Statue of Liberty. Koh Phi Phi is famous for its stunningly beautiful beaches, world-class snorkeling and diving, and wild booze cruises.

How is New York City different from Koh Phi Phi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Koh Phi Phi and New York City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City is renowned for its historical sights. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

The museums and tourist attractions in New York City are world-renowned. The sights and museums around the city are too numerous to list, but some of the most famous include the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. This is a city that is filled with iconic landmarks and you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.

Koh Phi Phi offers a few options for museum-goers. It's an island paradise with world class beaches and stunning natural beauty, but if you're looking for museums, temples, and culture, then you'll likely want to head farther north to Northern Thailand.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Theater?

New York City is renowned for its theatre productions. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a theatre destination.

The theater and performance venues in New York City draw crowds from around the world. Visiting Broadway is a quintessential NYC experience. Whether you enjoy the theater or simply want to experience something new, seeing a Broadway show is a true bucket list activity.

Koh Phi Phi is not a theatre destination.

Is the Food Better in New York City or Koh Phi Phi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New York City is renowned for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, New York City is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a diverse variety of restaurants, with everything from local dives to Michelin star options. There are many neighborhoods that are notable for their ethnic cuisine, particularly Little Italy and Chinatown. Quintessential NYC dishes include NYC pizza, NYC hot dogs, bagels, and Chinese dim sum.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Koh Phi Phi area. Most dishes feature seafood, and you'll find the highest concentration of restaurants around Tonsai Village. There are also restaurants dotting the way to Long Beach. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating, or a combination of an indoor/outdoor setting. Tropical fruit is also abundant on the island and adds to that tropical paradise atmosphere.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Nightlife?

New York City is renowned for nightlife and partying. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its evening party scene.

New York City is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. Known as the city that never sleeps, you can be assured that NYC has some of the best nightlife in the world. There are world class bars and clubs, but also local venues that have a more relaxed atmosphere. Several famous clubs include Paul's Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Avant Gardner.

Koh Phi Phi has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Despite its smaller size, there is still a party vibe and tons of nightlife on the island. Backpackers have long flocked to this island, building on the reputation it earned from movies like "The Beach." Booze cruises and all night beach parties are the norm here, so it won't be hard to find a party that lasts until sunrise.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Music?

New York City is renowned for its live music scene. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a live music destination.

With so many music venues, you're guaranteed a show any night of the week in New York City. Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.

Koh Phi Phi is not a live music destination.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Resorts?

Koh Phi Phi is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. However, New York City is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Koh Phi Phi for its luxury resorts. Despite it's popularity with backpackers and small size, this island also has some of Thailand's most luxurious resorts. Head to Long Beach or Laem Tong to appreciate the quieter side of the island.

New York City is not a resort destination.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Phi Phi is a must-visit destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, New York City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi. The dramatic limestone cliffs and colorful coral make this a top scuba diving and snorkeling destination in Thailand. There are countless vendors who offer scuba diving or snorkeling trips from the island. You might even see sharks, sea turtles, or seahorses during your trip. Head to the reef at dusk for the best chance of seeing black tip reef sharks.

New York City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Beaches?

Koh Phi Phi is a must-visit destination for its beaches. However, New York City is not a beach destination.

Koh Phi Phi offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. This island has some of the most dramatic beauty in Thailand and the beaches will not disappoint. Although it's usually referred to as an island, Koh Phi Phi is actually a small archipelago with Koh Phi Phi Don being the only inhabited island. Nearby Koh Phi Phi Leh is famous as the filming place of the movie "The Beach" (which you'll hear playing at hotels around the island every night). The beaches are beautiful with white sand and clear water. It truly is a tropical paradise.

New York City is not a beach destination.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Hiking?

Koh Phi Phi is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, New York City is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Koh Phi Phi. With its dramatic cliffs, this area has beautiful, but challenging hikes that take you to stunning viewpoints. The dramatic photos that you see of the islands often require a hike, but the reward at the end is well worth it.

New York City is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City is renowned for its shopping opportunities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, New York City draws large crowds to its stores. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. Head for Fifth Avenue for high end shopping or check out any of the many street markets for local items. New York is known for its many flea markets where you can find vintage items at a good price. And if you're looking to pick up a souvenir shirt or knick knack, there are plenty of souvenir shops around town as well.

Koh Phi Phi has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. Shopping is limited on the island but you'll find a few souvenir shops with trinkets that you can purchase. Because it's an island, you can expect prices to be high.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi More Beautiful?

Koh Phi Phi is a must-visit destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, New York City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its scenery and beauty.

Koh Phi Phi is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. While most people visit this island as a day trip, those who do spend a few days here will enjoy dramatic beauty, stunning landscapes, and excellent beaches. The island feels a bit more rustic and remote than some of the more developed islands, but the north side of the island offers a truly tropical paradise. During the day, crowds can be high as tourists flock to the area from nearby islands.

New York City is a beautiful place to visit, too. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Families?

New York City is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, New York City is very family-friendly. The city has many activities for kids of all ages including world class museums, beautifully designed playgrounds, and theater shows designed just for young ones. There are many kid-friendly restaurants as well and older kids will enjoy visiting the iconic landmarks in this world-class city.

Koh Phi Phi is not the most family-friendly destination. This island is on the smaller side and it has a remote tropical island atmosphere. The best side of the island for families is the north end where you'll find the quietest and most beautiful beaches. It's best to avoid the area around Tonsai which has the highest concentration of backpackers and day trippers.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Couples?

New York City and Koh Phi Phi both amazing destinations for a couple.

New York City is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. From a beautiful carriage ride through Central Park, to a romantic river cruise at night, there is an endless list of unique activities that couples can enjoy in the city. Whether you're interested in theater, the arts, music, or nightlife, this city has it all.

Koh Phi Phi makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Stunning beaches, dramatic landscapes, excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, and a remote tropical atmosphere make this is a great place for couples and honeymooners. Head to the quieter north side of the island where you'll find the better resorts and less backpackers, as well as the best beaches.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Phi Phi is a must-visit destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, New York City is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Koh Phi Phi. Most people visit this island as a day trip, but for those who linger, they'll be rewarded with dramatic landscapes and beautiful beaches. Most backpackers hang out around Tonsai where things are the cheapest, but the quality can also be very poor.

New York City is a great city to visit for backpackers. It isn't a particularly budget-friendly destination, but it does get its share of backpackers, so you'll find a nice list of hostels and affordable hangouts that are perfect for the backpacker crowd. This is probably one of the most popular cities for backpackers in the entire United States.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Students?

New York City is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not popular with students.

Many students frequent New York City. The city has a diverse population, and international students will feel right at home here exploring the city. There are also plenty of major universities including NYU, Columbia University, and Cornell University.

Koh Phi Phi is not popular with students.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

New York City is renowned for times when you don't have a car. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its public transit.

New York City has a great public transit system. The city has one of the largest subway systems in the world. There's also an elaborate bus system, ferry system, and yellow taxis all around town.

Koh Phi Phi has a few public transit options. There are water taxis and private boats that you can hire.

Is New York City or Koh Phi Phi a more walkable city?

New York City is renowned for its high level of walkability. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

New York City is a very easy city to get around on foot. The majority of the neighborhoods in Manhattan are very walkable and easy to explore on foot. Most people prefer not to drive here as it can be overwhelming and chaotic.

Koh Phi Phi is a somewhat walkable city. You can't walk all of the way around the island because of the cliffs, but you can walk from Tonsai to Long Beach.

For even more information, also check out Is New York City Worth Visiting? and Is Koh Phi Phi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Koh Phi Phi or New York City?

How long in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New York City and Koh Phi Phi. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in New York City than in Koh Phi Phi. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for New York City, and 2-3 days is enough time in Koh Phi Phi.

Families should spend more time in New York City than Koh Phi Phi. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in New York City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in New York City than Koh Phi Phi. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New York City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City than Koh Phi Phi if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in New York City.

One day in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City is a vibrant city where you can fill many days. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife when visiting the tropical destination of Koh Phi Phi. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City is a energetic big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Koh Phi Phi. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City is a energetic city where you can fill many days. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the dramatic destination of Koh Phi Phi. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this city.

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife around the beautiful island of Koh Phi Phi. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New York City and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Koh Phi Phi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since New York City is in North America and Koh Phi Phi 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 Phi Phi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Phi Phi 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 New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Koh Phi Phi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New York City Expensive? and Is Koh Phi Phi Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 8010 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of New York City and Koh Phi Phi, 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 New York City or Koh Phi Phi?

New York City has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Phi Phi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit New York City or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both New York City and Koh Phi Phi. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New York City this time of year. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, New York City is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the summer temperatures in New York City in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Koh Phi Phi receives a lot of rain in the summer. New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, New York City usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. New York City gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New York City or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to New York City as well as Koh Phi Phi. Many travelers come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.

In October, New York City is generally much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in New York City average around 57°F (14°C), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. New York City usually gets less rain in October than Koh Phi Phi. New York City gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Phi Phi is the dry season. May to November in Koh Phi Phi is the rainy season.

Should I visit New York City or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?

Both Koh Phi Phi and New York City are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New York City in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

New York City can get quite cold in the winter. New York City is much colder than Koh Phi Phi in the winter. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 31°F (-1°C) in January, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In January, New York City usually receives more rain than Koh Phi Phi. New York City gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Phi Phi is December to March.

Should I visit New York City or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?

Both Koh Phi Phi and New York City during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Phi Phi year-round.

In the spring, New York City is much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the spring temperatures in New York City in April average around 52°F (11°C), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 29°C (84°F).

Koh Phi Phi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. New York City usually gets less rain in April than Koh Phi Phi. New York City gets 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year. May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi.

Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and New York City