Comparison · Bali vs Phuket · Indonesia / Thailand
Bali vs Phuket
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces; choose Phuket for Beaches, Phang Nga Bay, free sights and a short break. Bali is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,597 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,597 km
- Less expensive
- Bali
- Best time for Bali
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Phuket
- December–March
Side by side
| Bali | Phuket | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Thailand |
| Known for | Hindu temples, Rice terraces and Surfing | Beaches, Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi Islands day trips |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | December–March |
| Ideal stay | 10 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$180 | $90–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | March, 34°C (93°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | September, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Seminyak and Double Six Beach | Kata Beach |
| Airports | DPS | HKT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bali for…
Hindu temples and Rice terraces. Bali is a Hindu island in mostly Muslim Indonesia, about 140 km across, where daily offerings sit on doorsteps and temple ceremonies close roads. The south — Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua — has the beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs, while…
Choose Phuket for…
Beaches, Phang Nga Bay, free sights and a short break. Thailand's largest island, about 50 km long, lines its west coast with sandy bays from lively Patong to calmer Kata, Kamala and Nai Harn, all facing the Andaman Sea. Inland, rubber plantations and forested hills hide the Big Buddha and waterfalls, while…
Top sights compared
| # | Bali | Phuket |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | Big Buddha |
| 2 | Tanah Lot | Old Phuket Town |
| 3 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Wat Chalong |
| 4 | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | Promthep Cape |
| 5 | Tirta Empul | Karon Viewpoint |
Food compared
| Bali | Phuket |
|---|---|
| Babi guling | Phuket Hokkien noodles |
| Bebek betutu | Moo hong |
| Nasi campur Bali | Khanom jeen |
| Sate lilit | Phuket dim sum |
Which is cheaper?
Bali is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$180 per person there, against $90–$200 in Phuket (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bali on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,597 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 18 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bali or Phuket cheaper?
Bali is usually less expensive: about $80–$180 a day mid-range against $90–$200 (estimates).
+Is Bali or Phuket better for a first trip?
Pick Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces, or Phuket for Beaches, Phang Nga Bay, free sights and a short break.
+How far is Bali from Phuket?
About 2,597 km in a straight line.