A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surat Thani vs. Tiger Leaping Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Surat Thani or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Tiger Leaping Gorge can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Surat Thani or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Surat Thani

The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Surat Thani?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Surat Thani Prices
    Thailand Prices
    Tiger Leaping Gorge Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Surat Thani $71
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $54

The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $71, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $54. 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 Surat Thani and Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surat Thani $27
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surat Thani $54
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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.

Hotels in Surat Thani


Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surat Thani $27
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani

Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Donsak pier to Krabi,Phuket,Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $127
  • From URT Airport: Shared Transfer to Koh Samui/Koh Phangan: $3.10
  • Koh Samui: Zipline Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $62
  • Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
  • Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport to The Ritz Carlton Koh Samui: $22
  • Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $39
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $39
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $39
  • Samui Airport Transfer: $33
  • Surat Thani Airport to/From Ratchaprapa Dam Private Transfer: $81
  • Surat Thani Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khao Sok: $90

Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge and Surat Thani 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Surat Thani $28
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $28
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:


  • Dinner
    $4.71

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani

For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Koh Samui: Evening Thai Cooking Class with Organic Garden: $121

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surat Thani $5.72
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15

Tours and Activities in Surat Thani

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.

  • Private Taxi Services and Tourism in Koh Samui: $13
  • Samui Go-Karting Experience – Sodikart RT10 Outdoor Race: $22
  • Koh Tao 5 Best Snorkeling Sunset Tour by Big Boat: $32
  • Pig Island Koh Taen Snorkeling Tour by Speedboat from Koh Samui: $47
  • Pig Island & Koh Tan Tour by Speed Boat (Snorkeling & Kayaking): $49
  • Koh Samui Island Hopping Adventure in Coral and Pig Island: $53
  • Khao Sok ATV Jungle Trail Adventure Experience: $57
  • Koh Samui: Feed & Shower with Elephants Experience: $65
  • Pink Dolphin and Pig Island Snorkeling Tour from Koh Samui: $65
  • Dolphin Watching Tan and Pig Island Tour from Koh Samui : $66
  • Full-Day Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan with Lunch: $69
  • Koh Phangan: Quad ATV Jungle Adventure with Scenic Views: $73

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surat Thani $5.71
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.46


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surat Thani and Tiger Leaping Gorge, we can see that Surat Thani is more expensive. And not only is Tiger Leaping Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tiger Leaping Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Surat Thani would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surat Thani than you might in Tiger Leaping Gorge.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.


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