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

Should you visit Phuket or New York City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or New York City, 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.

Phuket

Phuket is a stunning, activity-filled, and energetic resort island. Phuket is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Phuket travel costs.

New York City

New York City is a vibrant, energetic, and cosmopolitan 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. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife. See New York City travel costs.

Phuket and New York City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or New York City?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New York City than Phuket. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. New York City is very popular for its museums and attractions, theatre productions, food, music, shopping, christmas markets, and big city activities, while Phuket attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Phuket is famous for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. 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.

How is Phuket different from New York City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in New York City are among the most recognizable in the world. 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.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Theater?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its theatre productions. However, Phuket is not a theatre destination.

Famous for its theaters and plays, you'll find world-renowned shows in New York City. 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.

Phuket is not a theatre destination.

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

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, New York City is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. 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.

Phuket has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Phuket or New York City has a better nightlife scene.

Phuket has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

New York City is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. 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.

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Music?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its live music scene. However, Phuket is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in New York City Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.

Phuket is not a live music destination.

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Resorts?

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

Vacationers flock to Phuket for its luxury resorts. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

New York City is not a resort destination.

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

Phuket is an excellent place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, New York City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

New York City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Beaches?

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

Phuket offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

New York City is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or New York City?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in New York City make it a world-class shopping destination. 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.

Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

Is Phuket or New York City More Beautiful?

Phuket and New York City are somewhat similar when it comes to the nice scenery.

Phuket is a beautiful place to visit, too. It is a mix of beautiful beaches and tourist crowds. The island is very developed with a combination of 5 star hotels, souvenir shops, and tour companies. Because of the many excursions leaving from the island, many visitors find it a makes a good base for exploring the area.

New York City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Families?

New York City is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

New York City is a very kid-friendly city. 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.

Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Couples?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its romantic activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

New York City has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Phuket is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

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

New York City is a great destination for backpackers. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

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.

Phuket is a good resort island to visit for backpackers. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. While it gets its share of backpackers, many visitors complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Phuket or New York City Better for Students?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for students. However, Phuket is not popular with students.

New York City is a great destination for students. 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.

Phuket is not popular with students.

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

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its public transit. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in New York City is top-notch. 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.

While Phuket offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

Is Phuket or New York City a more walkable city?

New York City is an amazing city to visit for its high level of walkability. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around New York City on foot is easy. 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.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable resort island. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in New York City or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or New York City?

Both Phuket and New York City have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, New York City has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in New York City than Phuket. However, 3-7 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City than Phuket 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 Phuket or New York City?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the stunning destination of Phuket. 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.

New York City is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Phuket or New York City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Phuket. Most people come for the beaches. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

New York City is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Phuket or New York City?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the activity-filled destination of Phuket. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This resort island offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New York City. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Phuket or New York City?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the resort island of Phuket. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

New York City is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phuket is in Asia and New York City is in North America, 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 Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Phuket.

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

Which is Bigger, Phuket or New York City?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and New York City, 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 Phuket or New York City?

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

Should I visit Phuket or New York City in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Phuket as well as New York City. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to New York City in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as New York City. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

It's quite rainy in New York City. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than New York City. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or New York City in the Autumn?

Both New York City and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, most visitors 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 during these months.

Phuket is much warmer than New York City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and New York City fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

It's quite rainy in Phuket. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than New York City. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.

Should I visit Phuket or New York City in the Winter?

Both New York City and Phuket during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to New York City because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

The weather in New York City can be very cold. In the winter, Phuket is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and New York City averages at about 31°F (-1°C).

Phuket usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket.

Should I visit Phuket or New York City in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and New York City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Also, the activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to New York City this time of year.

In April, Phuket is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than New York City. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Typical Weather for New York City and Phuket