Out of the 300 islands in Thailand that are open to tourists, Koh Chang is the third-largest after Phuket and Koh Samui. But it doesn’t come close on the overly populated, over-touristic scale. So if you are one of those people who enjoy stunning nature, white sandy beaches, and enjoy it even more when you have it all to yourself, then Koh Chang might be the place for you. But if you’ve ever holidayed on tropical islands, you might have been shocked at just how expensive they can be, but is this shock factor present in Koh Chang?
Although in third place for size, Koh Chang is not expensive. If you’re a backpacker on a tight budget, you can pay as little as $20 to $40 a day. However, if you like to indulge in a more luxurious holiday, you can expect your price range to increase to around $200 to $250 a day.
Below you will find a breakdown of all the costs that you might encounter in Koh Chang to smoothen the process of planning, financial or otherwise.
Accommodation
First and foremost is, of course, the accommodation. As you would expect, the options for accommodation in Koh Chang are endless and caters to people of all budgets. From five-star resorts to wooden bungalows lined up along the beaches, Koh Chang has it all. Below is a list of the different accommodation types from the most expensive to the least expensive.
Hotels
Five-star resorts and hotels→ average price range of $45 to $100 a night.
Four-star hotels→ average price range of $35 to $40 a night.
One-star to three-star hotels→ average price range of $11 to $40 a night.
Most hotels in Koh Chang include a swimming pool, restaurant, and bar, regardless of their star ratings.
Airbnb
If you are looking for a more private and inexpensive accommodation type, you can find some great places on Airbnb. An entire apartment can cost between $35 to $60 per night, depending on the location and the season. Sometimes during the low tourist seasons, Airbnb hosts might offer discounted rates to encourage guests to stay long-term, and these prices can go down to $25 a night.
Bungalows
Koh Chang also offers a different type of accommodation for those who want to be more in touch with nature. Whether it be deep in the jungle or overlooking the sea, you can rent private bungalows for as low as $7 a night to as high as $25. In addition, most bungalows are self-catering and therefore come with a private kitchen, perfect for anyone keen to eat a home-cooked meal every now and then.
Hostels
If you’re a backpacker or someone who wants to meet other like-minded travelers, then a hostel might be the ideal accommodation for you. Many of these hostels are located in Koh Chang’s ‘Lonely Beach’ area where you can find dorms and private rooms for as little as $4 to $10 a night, respectively. Hostels in Koh Chang are frequently family-run so expect a very basic, warm, but clean environment.
| Accommodation | Price/night |
| Hotels | $11 to $100 |
| Airbnb | $35 to $60 |
| Bungalow | $7 to $25 |
| Hostels | $4 to $10 |
Transportation
Traveling by foot or bicycle is not advised in Koh Chang due to its size and long, narrow, windy mountain roads (unless you’re a mountain biker then that’s a different story which you can read more about in the Activities section).
If you’re already in Thailand and have your own car, you can drive to the Natural Bay Pier in the Trat province and transport your car to Koh Chang via the ferry. The ferry ticket price per vehicle is $3.80, and $2.5 per passenger, one way.
The only public transport in Koh Chang are the white, shared taxis (that look more like pick-up trucks) and are called ‘songthaews’ in Thai. Once you get off the ferry in Koh Chang, you will find many songthaew drivers waiting for passengers. The price per passenger from the ferry to the major drop-off points start from $1.5 to $7.
If you flag down a songthaew on the main road, prices may be subject to change depending on how many people are in your group and, of course, where your destination is. The more people in your group, the cheaper the ride.
Renting a motorbike is probably the cheapest and most convenient way to get around Koh Chang. A motorbike rental shop is conveniently located directly opposite the ferry dropoff point, where they charge $8 a day. It might not seem like much to tourists, but keep in mind that the more inland you go, you can find rates for as low as $5 a day.
The price of petrol on the island is around $1.5 per liter.
| Transportation | Price |
| Songthaew | $1.5 to $7 per person per ride |
| Motorbike rental | $5 to $8 a day |
Food
What perfectly pairs with good travel? Good food. And on Koh Chang, there is no shortage of good food. Koh Chang has maintained its authenticity by keeping the price of Thai dishes the same as it is all over Thailand. You can also find ‘Western food’ on the island, but these dishes are typically more expensive than Thai dishes but still nowhere near as expensive as they would be in Bangkok, for example. Here is a price breakdown of the classic dishes you can find in Koh Chang.
Thai Food
As you can probably guess, Thai food is in abundance in Koh Chang. No matter where you go a plate of ‘Pad Thai’ won’t be anything more than $3. Chicken or pork rice dishes will also be between $1.5 to $2. Beef is a little harder to find in Thai restaurants, and if available, will cost around $4 to $5 per dish.
Although an island, seafood dishes are slightly more expensive than chicken or pork dishes, and you can expect to pay between $4 to $15 per dish. If you want to try the best seafood, however, then one must visit the ‘Bangbao Fishing Village’ at the southern end of Koh Chang. The price of dishes has gone up, but the food has retained its quality over the years.
Western Food
The ‘Western food’ options in Koh Chang consist of a couple of burger joints, a few pizzerias, Greek food, sushi, and even Mexican food. The price per dish is usually between $4 to $13. Rarely will you find a restaurant that charges more than $20 per dish, unless you dine at a restaurant in one of the five-star resorts.
Farmer’s Market
Many farmers set up roadside stalls all over the island and sell delicious, exotic fruit that most people have probably never seen outside of Thailand. So if you want to buy your produce straight from the source and at a cheaper price than in a supermarket, then head on over to the local farmer’s markets.
| Food | Price/dish |
| Thai food | $1.5 to $4 |
| Western food | $4 to $15 |
Activities
One of the more prominent features of Koh Chang is its stunning and diverse landscape. It opens up many opportunities for the easy-going beach-dwellers and the thrill-seekers who choose from the jungle-clad mountain range to the waterfalls, the white, sandy beaches, and relaxing sea view yoga. And the best part is that it’s all affordable.
Snorkeling or Scuba Diving
Snorkeling is a great and easy way to witness the beautiful and diverse marine life in and around Koh Chang. You will find several dive shops on the island all within a similar price range:
- Full-day boat and snorkel trip in Koh Chang + food→ $32
- Full-day boat and snorkel trip to Koh Rang National Park* + food→ $32
- Snorkel trip with speedboat + snacks→ $48
And if you don’t want to go snorkeling, you can always opt to go scuba diving where they also offer the chance to get your diving license.
- Two boat dives at Koh Chang or Koh Rang→ $115
- Ten dive package→ $355
- Advanced open water license→ $465
*These prices do not include the entrance fee to Koh Rang National Park, which is $6.50 for non-Thai nationals.
Thai Massage
No trip to Thailand is complete without the famous Thai massage, and fortunately, you can find many massage parlors in Koh Chang. A basic Thai massage will cost you $9.50 for a 60 minutes session. A deep tissue massage will cost $13. The price of a massage is more or less the same throughout Koh Chang, so choose whichever massage parlor you like and immerse yourself in this relaxing, traditional physical therapy.
Kayaking/Paddleboarding
Some hotels offer kayaks or paddleboards free of charge to their guests. Otherwise you can rent them for $3 an hour, or $16 for the day.
Mountain Biking
Riding a mountain bike in Koh Chang may not be the safest activity due to the roads and should only be rented by those with enough experience. There are a few bicycle rental shops where they charge $6.50 for the whole day.
Muay Thai
Many professional Muay Thai fighters retire in Koh Chang to train locals and tourists interested in this sport. There are four Muay Thai gyms in Koh Chang, and all have an hourly price between $15-$16. The weekly rate is roughly $115, and the monthly fee is around $320.
Yoga
Koh Chang offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance of doing sunset or sunrise yoga with a stunning sea view. So if you’re ready to do some calming mental and physical relaxation, you can do so in Koh Chang. Average hourly prices are around $9-$10, which includes the yoga mat. All you need to do is show up and enjoy.
| Activities | Price |
| Snorkeling | $32 to $48 |
| Scubadiving | $115 to $465 |
| Thai massage | $9.50 to $13 |
| Kayaking/Paddleboarding | 1hr: $3 | 24h: $16 |
| Mountain Biking | $6.50 per day |
| Muay Thai | H: $15 to $16 | W: $115 | M: $320 |
| Yoga | $9 to $10 per hour |
How To Travel To Koh Chang?
There are several ways to travel to Koh Chang from Bangkok, either via Trat city or directly to Laem Ngop piers where you will then catch a ferry to Koh Chang. The two companies operating the ferries are Centrepoint Ferry which departs every few hours and Ferry Koh Chang which departs every hour.
Flying to Trat Airport
Bangkok Airways operates four daily flights to Trat Airport and is an hour long and costs around $87, during the high tourist season the price of tickets can increase and can cost around $110. Once you disembark from your flight in Trat, you will hop onto a minibus (also organized by Bangkok Airways) to take you to the ferry terminals, which takes about 30 minutes and costs $16 and includes the ferry ticket.
Private Car Hire or Minivan
Private transportation can easily be arranged at Suvarnabhumi Airport or at the hotel you are staying. Private car costs around $63 and can take up to four hours, depending on the traffic. Minivan is between $28 to $35 and includes the ferry ticket.
Bus
There are two main bus terminals in Bangkok:
- In the eastern part of Bangkok is Ekamai bus terminal which departs twice daily straight to Laem Ngop. Travel takes 5 to 6 hours and costs $8 one way.
- In the northern part of Bangkok is Moh Chit bus terminal which drops you off in Trat, where you would have to take a songthaew to Laem Ngop. Bus travel is five hours and costs $8, songthaew takes 30 minutes and costs $2 per person.
How Many Days Do You Need On Koh Chang?
Of course, there is no direct answer to this as it all comes down to personal preference. It is possible to visit all the must-sees in as little as three days, but it might require rigorous planning and very early wake-up calls. On the other hand, if you want to take on a more leisurely travel approach, then a week or more would be enough time for a balanced holiday of relaxation and sightseeing.
To make an appropriate budget plan, three days would require between $150 to $400 depending on which type of accommodation and activities you choose to partake in.
Anything more than a week would require $1000 and higher.
Is Koh Chang Safe?
Incidents of theft, robberies, and assault are uncommon in Koh Chang, making it a relatively safe place for travelers. Thai people have a reputation for being respectful, welcoming and hospitable, and sometimes even go out of their way to help a foreigner in need of guidance.
Road accidents, on the other hand, are a cause for caution in Koh Chang and is a more common occurrence especially among tourists who rent motorbikes and are not as experienced nor have the confidence to navigate the sharp, steep, narrow mountain roads.
If you don’t feel comfortable driving a motorbike, then it is advised to take a songthaew when traveling within Koh Chang.
Conclusion
Among the major island hotspots of Thailand, Koh Chang is the least expensive. The size of your bank account will not play a major role in how much of this island you can enjoy as most things (food, activities, transport) don’t cost more than $8. So plan and budget your trip ahead of time and prepare to dive into the rich culture, food, and breathtaking nature that Koh Chang has to offer.
