ThailandVoyager
Destination comparator

Compare Thailand destinations side by side

Pick two places and see at a glance which one fits your trip: daily budget, best months, beaches or temples, nightlife, food and how to get from one to the other.

Kylian DevBy Kylian Dev

  • 28 destinations
  • Weather month by month
  • Shareable comparison
Popular:

Phuket vs Krabi & Railay

Phuket
A
Phuket Andaman
Krabi & Railay
B
Krabi & Railay Andaman
Comparison of Phuket and Krabi & Railay
CriteriaAPhuketBKrabi & Railay
RegionAndaman · IslandAndaman · Nature
Budget / day≈ 78 €≈ 53 €Cheaper
Avg. temperature31°C30°C
Best seasonNovember to AprilNovember to April
Getting between≈ 51 kmno direct ferry, plan a flight or bus

In a nutshell

  • Krabi & Railay is about 25 € cheaper per person per day.
  • Phuket has the livelier nightlife; Krabi & Railay is quieter after dark.
  • Both are good for: Beaches & lazing, Diving & snorkelling.
  • About 51 km apart as the crow flies.

Weather month by month

Ideal Pleasant Rainy
AB

Tap a month to see the details for your travel dates.

Activities & vibe

AB
  • Beaches & lazing
  • Diving & snorkelling
  • Jungle & hiking–
  • Temples & culture–
  • Nightlife–
  • Yoga & wellness––

Food scene

AB
  • Street food–
  • Fresh seafood
  • Night markets–
  • Vegetarian-friendly––
  • Regional dishes–
  • Royal cuisine–
A

Why go to Phuket

Sino-Portuguese heritage, renowned cuisine and grand bays

Must-sees

  1. 1Phuket Town's old quarterRestored pastel colonial facades, art galleries and trendy cafés on Thalang Road.
  2. 2Big Buddha in white marbleA colossal 45-metre statue crowning Nakkerd Hill.
  3. 3Nai Harn & Banana BeachCrystal-clear waters away from the busiest areas.

Dishes to try

Mee Hokkien (thick stir-fried noodles with pork and seafood) · Kanom Jeen with mild yellow crab curry · Oh Aew (traditional refreshing dessert from Phuket Town)

Getting around

Well-served international airport, or bus via the Sarasin Bridge from the mainland.

Great for

Car-free islands Families with kids Digital Nomads
Full profile
B

Why go to Krabi & Railay

Dizzying karst cliffs and secret lagoons

Must-sees

  1. 1Climbing the cliffs of Tonsai & RailayOver 700 bolted routes rising straight from the Andaman Sea.
  2. 2Phra Nang Cave BeachImmaculate white sand, a sacred fishermen's cave and an iconic limestone spire.
  3. 3Railay's hidden lagoonA rope-assisted scramble to a circular lake set into the rock.

Dishes to try

Whole catch of the day grilled with sea salt · Massaman curry with sweet potato and cinnamon · Crispy mango-chocolate roti

Getting around

Traditional longtail boat from Ao Nang or Ao Nam Mao (15-minute crossing, 100 baht).

Great for

Car-free islands Solo & Backpacker Families with kids Zen, Yoga & Nature
Full profile

How to read it

Decide in three steps

  1. 1

    Pick two places

    Choose them from the lists or tap a popular match-up. Swap them in one click; the link updates so you can share it.

  2. 2

    Check the essentials

    The scorecard shows budget, temperature and best season. The cheaper option is highlighted in green.

  3. 3

    Match it to your dates

    Tap your travel month on the weather chart: green means ideal, amber pleasant, grey rainy. Then add your pick to your itinerary.

Regions & seasons

Thailand's regions don't share the same weather

The single biggest factor when choosing between two destinations: the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand have their rainy seasons at different times (see our best time to visit Thailand guide).

North Nov–Feb

Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai: cool, dry nights in winter. March–April can be hazy from seasonal burning, and the rains usually run from about June to October.

Centre & Bangkok Nov–Feb

The most comfortable months. April is typically the hottest; the rainy season generally brings short, heavy downpours from around June to October.

Andaman coast Nov–Apr

Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Lanta, Lipe: calm, clear seas in the dry season. The southwest monsoon (rainy season, roughly May–October) brings rougher seas and some boat routes run less often.

Gulf of Thailand Jan–Aug

Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao: often a good alternative in summer. The wettest period here is usually around October to December.

East Nov–Apr

Koh Chang and its neighbours: at their best in the dry season, and generally very wet at the height of the rainy season.

At a glance

All 28 destinations compared

Best season and average daily budget per person, by region.

DestinationRegionBest seasonBudget / day
Chiang MaiNorthNovember to February≈ 35 €
Chiang Rai & the Golden TriangleNorthNovember to March≈ 30 €
Mae Hong SonNorthNovember to February≈ 34 €
NanNorthNovember to February≈ 30 €
PaiNorthNovember to February≈ 27 €
SukhothaiNorthNovember to February≈ 29 €
AyutthayaCentreNovember to February≈ 35 €
BangkokCentreNovember to February≈ 50 €
Hua HinCentreNovember to May≈ 55 €
Kanchanaburi & ErawanCentreNovember to February≈ 33 €
Khao YaiCentreNovember to February≈ 60 €
Koh ChangEastNovember to April≈ 38 €
Koh KoodEastNovember to April≈ 60 €
Koh MakEastNovember to April≈ 50 €
Koh SametEastNovember to April≈ 53 €
PattayaEastNovember to March≈ 53 €
Koh PhanganGulfJanuary to September≈ 48 €
Koh SamuiGulfJanuary to September≈ 85 €
Koh TaoGulfFebruary to September≈ 39 €
Khao LakAndamanNovember to April≈ 63 €
Khao SokAndamanDecember to April≈ 58 €
Koh LantaAndamanNovember to April≈ 43 €
Koh LipeAndamanNovember to May≈ 63 €
Koh Phi PhiAndamanNovember to April≈ 60 €
Koh Yao NoiAndamanNovember to April≈ 63 €
Krabi & RailayAndamanNovember to April≈ 53 €
PhuketAndamanNovember to April≈ 78 €
Trang IslandsAndamanNovember to April≈ 60 €

Budget: approximate average spend per person per day on the ground. Seasons are general trends, and weather can vary from year to year.

In-depth head-to-heads: Phuket vs Koh Samui · Koh Samui vs Koh Phangan · Koh Phi Phi vs Koh Lanta · Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai · Krabi & Railay vs Phuket · Koh Tao vs Koh Phangan · Koh Lipe vs Koh Phi Phi

FAQ

Choosing between Thai destinations

Phuket or Krabi: which should I choose?

Phuket is bigger, busier and has more nightlife and hotel choice, plus an international airport. Krabi and Railay feel calmer, with dramatic limestone cliffs and rock climbing. Both are on the Andaman coast, so they share the same best season (roughly November to April). Full comparison: Krabi vs Phuket.

Koh Samui or Phuket?

They are on opposite coasts. Phuket is best from about November to April, while Samui in the Gulf is usually a better bet in summer and quieter overall. Compare them above with your travel month selected, or read our Phuket vs Koh Samui comparison.

Chiang Mai or Pai?

Chiang Mai is a city with hundreds of temples, markets, cafés and cooking classes. Pai is a small mountain village for a slower pace, nature and viewpoints. Many travellers combine both: Pai is a few hours' drive from Chiang Mai along a winding road (see our Chiang Mai to Pai guide).

Which part of Thailand is the cheapest?

According to our data, the North (Pai, Chiang Rai, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai) is the most affordable, while Koh Samui, Phuket and the smaller Andaman islands are the most expensive. Price your route with the Thailand budget calculator.

Where does the comparison data come from?

Budgets, seasons and highlights come from our own destination guides, based on traveller reports and prices observed on the ground. Distances are straight-line estimates and ferry times are indicative.

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