Phuket vs Krabi
The short answer
Krabi is the cheaper trip, by roughly 33% a day — $25–60 against $35–90 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in Nov–Apr, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇹🇭 Phuket | 🇹🇭 Krabi | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $35–90 | $25–60cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $2–4 | $1.50–3cheaper |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $60–140 | $35–80cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $0.50–1cheaper | $1–3 |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $500 | ≈ $400 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇹🇭 Phuket
Thailand's biggest island resort — turquoise water, buzzing nightlife on one coast, quiet coves on another, and a launchpad for boat trips to some of the country's most famous islands.
- Illuzion$$$Nightlife
- Blue Elephant$$$Restaurants
- Simon Cabaret$$Muay Thai & shows
- Sugar Club$$Nightlife
- Raya Restaurant$$Restaurants
🇹🇭 Krabi
Limestone cliffs plunging straight into turquoise water, a rock-climbing mecca reachable only by longtail boat, and a slower, less-built-up alternative to Phuket just across the bay.
- Reggae Bar$Nightlife
- Krua Thara$$Restaurants
- Chill Out Bar$Beach bars
- Bamboo Bar$Nightlife
- Lae Lay Grill$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Phuket | Krabi | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Thai. English is extremely widespread after decades of mass tourism — more so than almost anywhere else in the country. | Thai. English is solid in Ao Nang and Railay's tourist strip, thinner in Krabi Town and the islands. |
| Tap water | Don't drink it — bottled water is sold everywhere, often free at hotels | Don't drink it — bottled water is sold everywhere |
The same in both:
- Currency
- Thai baht (฿). US$1 ≈ ฿35
- Time zone
- ICT (UTC+7)
- Power
- 220V; outlets take most two-pin plugs (A/C hybrids)
- Emergency
- 191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (English)