Travel Budget for Koh Samui Visit Koh Samui on a Budget or Travel in Style

Koh Samui, Changwat Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand

How much does it cost to travel to Koh Samui?

You should plan to spend around $57 (฿2,018) per day on your vacation in Koh Samui. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $20 (฿712) on meals
  • $17 (฿612) on local transportation
  • $49 (฿1,733) on hotels

A one week trip to Koh Samui for two people costs, on average, $792 (฿28,252). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $57
    ฿2,018
  • One Week Per person
    $396
    ฿14,126
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $792
    ฿28,252
  • One Month Per person
    $1,697
    ฿60,540
  • One Week For a couple
    $792
    ฿28,252
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $1,584
    ฿56,504
  • One Month For a couple
    $3,395
    ฿121,080
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.


How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Koh Samui cost?

A one week trip to Koh Samui usually costs around $396 (฿14,126) for one person and $792 (฿28,252) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Koh Samui on average costs around $792 (฿28,252) for one person and $1,584 (฿56,504) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Koh Samui will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Koh Samui on average costs around $1,697 (฿60,540) for one person and $3,395 (฿121,080) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Koh Samui has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is Koh Samui expensive to visit?

Koh Samui is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Thailand, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Asia, Koh Samui is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Krabi or Boracay.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Koh Samui Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Koh Samui?

The average Koh Samui trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Koh Samui travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) ฿1,733 ($49)
Local Transportation 1 ฿612 ($17)
Food 2 ฿712 ($20)
Entertainment 1 ฿385 ($11)
Alcohol 2 ฿85 - 255 ($2 - 7)
Accommodation Budget in Koh Samui
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Koh Samui is $24 (฿866). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Koh Samui is $49 (฿1,733). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $24
    ฿866
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $49
    ฿1,733

Hotel Prices in Koh Samui

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in Koh Samui based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $109. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in Koh Samui
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Koh Samui is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $17 (฿612) per person, per day, on local transportation in Koh Samui.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $17
    ฿612

Recommended Services


Flights to Koh Samui
How much does it cost to go to Koh Samui? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Koh Samui
The price of renting a car in Koh Samui will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.


What did other people spend on Transportation in Koh Samui?

Typical prices for Transportation in Koh Samui are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Koh Samui, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Scooter Rental
    ฿75
  • Gas for Scooter
    ฿40
  • Airport Taxi
    ฿440
  • Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach
    ฿420
  • Minibus- Airport to Chaweng
    ฿120


Food Budget in Koh Samui
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Koh Samui can vary, the average cost of food in Koh Samui is $20 (฿712) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Koh Samui should cost around $7.99 (฿285) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Koh Samui is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $20
    ฿712

Recommended

What did other people spend on Food in Koh Samui?

Typical prices for Food in Koh Samui are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Koh Samui, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    ฿215


Entertainment Budget in Koh Samui
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Koh Samui typically cost an average of $11 (฿385) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $11
    ฿385

Recommended Activities


Alcohol Budget in Koh Samui
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $4.76 (฿170) on alcoholic beverages in Koh Samui per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $4.76
    ฿170


Water Budget in Koh Samui
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.41 (฿15) on bottled water in Koh Samui per day. The public water in Koh Samui is considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.41
    ฿15


Koh Samui On a Budget
Koh Samui Longtail Boats
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
Sights
The beaches are the primary source of entertainment on Koh Samui, as the water is clear and the sand is terrific. Various beaches can be found on the island, some crowded and some remote. Chaweng and Lamai are the most popular and crowded, catering towards younger backpackers. Nearby restaurants and shops offer food and services to the multitudes of foreign travelers. If you're looking for something quieter, look for Mae Nam or Choengman beaches on the north side.

A number of small temples (wats) and other religious structures can be found around the island, but many opt to do their historical and cultural tours in Bangkok or elsewhere in the country.

The island is also home to an aquarium, a tiger zoo, and a butterfly and insect museum. Monkey shows and an elephant camp are also located in the Bophut Beach area.
Neighborhoods
Although the main pier for ferries is on the west side of the island at Nathon beach, the main town is at the northeastern part of the island on a rough peninsula.

Just south of the main town, on the eastern shore is Chaweng Beach, the busiest and most crowded. South of Chaweng is Lamai, the next busiest beach area(the towns somewhat merge together). This section of the island is very developed and contains western restaurants such as pizza and Irish pubs to cater to tourists and partygoers. Expect a crowd.

Choeng Mon Beach is at the end of the northeastern peninsula, and also has easy access to hotels and shops.

Along the northern shore, leading west and away from the town, are Bophut Beach, Mae Nam beach (known to be quieter), and other stretches of developed shoreline at the base of various hills.

Nathon and Lipa Noi beaches cover the main part of the eastern side, and these stretches are also quite developed, but not as crowded as in the east. The southwestern corner and southern beaches are also developed and relatively quiet, with various resorts and amenities.

The interior of the island, although containing some roads, is mostly undeveloped. Most of the interior is parkland, although a few hotels and resorts can be found for those looking for a quiet retreat in the jungle with a view.

Activities
Scuba diving and other water sports such as snorkeling and boat trips are very popular due to the high number of smaller islands and reefs surrounding Koh Samui. Diving in nearby Ang Thong National Marine Sanctuary, although often crowded, is considered world class due to the clear, warm waters. Diving or snorkeling just off of Koh Samui is not a good due to murky waters. Dive shops and dive tour companies can be found around many of the touristy areas near beaches or in town.

Snorkeling and boat tours (for drinking, partying, or dining) are also common. Hostels and tour companies around town offer hiking and other outdoor trips into the hills and jungle as well.
Food and Dining
Note that many restaurants use a dual-pricing system for locals and foreigners, so don't be surprised if your bill is higher than expected.

Food options from all over the world are available, for better or worse, to cater to the needs of tourists. It can be challenging to find truly authentic Thai cuisine on the island. Seafood is quite popular for obvious reasons.

Transportation
Visitors can arrive via the airport or by public ferry, most of which dock at Nathon pier.

Taxicabs are available almost everywhere on the island and frequent the main towns. Upon arrival at Nathon pier, drivers looking for passengers often hound visitors just off of the ferry boats. These drivers will often display fake "standard prices" signs. Ignore these and negotiate fiercely.

Public buses come in the form of songthaews, which are covered pick-up trucks. They are much cheaper than taxis and act as either buses or shared taxis. If you simply hop on and then press the buzzer when you want to get off, the rate is fairly cheap, depending on your distance traveled. Note that on many of these, foreigner prices are much higher than the locals if you wish to attempt a negotiation.

Motorbikes are available for rent, but use common sense, obey the rules of the road, and drive safely. Many mortorbike rental companies will want you to leave your passport, which is generally not recommended. If you run into a problem, you're very stuck.

Bicycles are also available for rent, and are a good way to either get around the towns or explore a little further afield.

Cars can be rented to explore the island as well, and international companies such as Budget and Avis are around for those looking for a reputable company.


Related:

Partying in Chiang Mai or other parts of Thailand?
Going to the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan?
Hitting the beach in Koh Samui?

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.