Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Phuket?
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 Phuket or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Whitsundays, 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: Phuket or Whitsundays?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesWhitsundays Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $139Whitsundays $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $139, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $155. 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 Phuket and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $64Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $128Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Whitsundays? 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: Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $12Whitsundays $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$9.42
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- From Krabi: Phuket Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $421
- Phuket Jet Ski Tour to 5-8 Islands with Pickup and Transfer: $221
- Jet Ski Island Hopping Adventure from Phuket Lunch and Transfers: $209
- Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience in Phuket with Return Transfer: $174
- ATV Bike 1 hr + Zipline Adventure 35 platforms with meal and Free Transfer : $160
- ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer : $160
- Freedom Party Boat Cruise By HYPE Boat Club Phuket - Include Pickup Transfer: $153
- From Krabi : One Way Private Transfer Phuket,Khaolak and More: $150
- ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $135
- Private Airport Arrival Transfer : Airport to Hotel in Krabi: $135
- Arrival Private Transfers from Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket City: $131
- Phuket Airport Transfers : Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket City in Luxury Van: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $43Whitsundays $52
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$9.08
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.34
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.83
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Bananas$0.79
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Pizza (for Two)$9.42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Phuket Coral Island and Sunset Dinner by Luxury Catamaran: $43
- Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes : $44
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $52
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $54
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa: $57
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour and Hotel Pickup: $58
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $58
- Carnival Entertainment and Dinner Experience in Phuket: $59
- Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Flavours of the South Food Tour: $59
- Baba Tastes Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset Dinner Cruise: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $49Whitsundays $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$28
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$79
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Thai Oil Massage$20
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Surfboard Rental$9.42
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- Activities In & Around Full Day Customizable Tour: $90
- Best of Phi Phi Island Adventure Day Tour with Lunch from Phuket: $50
- Experience Patong Boxing Stadium Tickets: $68
- Experience Patong Boxing Stadium Tickets: $68
- James Bond Island Adventure Full Day Speedboat/Big Boat Phuket : $63
- Patong Trolley Tours: $55
- Phi Phi Islands Premium Speedboat Adventure Day Tour from Phuket: $67
- Phuket Night Food Walking tour : $106
- Phuket Scenic Horseback Riding Adventure : $70
- Phuket Scuba Diving Tour with Transportation: $172
- Aeolos Catamaran Tour to Coral & Racha Islands + Lunch: $80
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $164
- MILADY Whitsundays 2-Night Private Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,953
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $7.32Whitsundays $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$6.28
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Beer$2.67
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience: $41
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $55
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $89
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $113
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $138
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
When comparing the travel costs between Phuket and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Phuket is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Phuket or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays and Phuket during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Whitsundaysin January. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.
Phuket is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin April. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilPhuket 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Whitsundays. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Phuket is much warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 16°C (62°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
In April, Phuket is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin October. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberPhuket 29°C (84°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Phuket
| Phuket | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.