A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Doha vs. Koh Samet for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Doha or Koh Samet?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Koh Samet can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Doha or Koh Samet?

Doha

Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Samet or Doha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Koh Samet is $126. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Doha and Koh Samet in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Doha $120
    Koh Samet $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Doha $240
    Koh Samet $70
Compare Hotels in Doha and Koh Samet

Looking for a hotel in Doha or Koh Samet? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Doha


Hotels in Koh Samet


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Doha Hotel Prices and Koh Samet Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Doha $23
    Koh Samet $75

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:

  • Hamad DOH Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $17
  • Private Car Transfer from Doha City: $20
  • Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $25
  • Doha Airport HIA to Hotel Transfer by Standard Vehicle One Way: $28
  • Doha Airport Transfers Taxi: $30
  • Doha Airport Chauffeur Transfer One Way: $35
  • From North of Qatar Guided Tour with Transfers: $35
  • Airport Transfer TO or FROM Hammad International Airport: $39
  • Doha to Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) Departure Private Transfer: $39
  • Private Doha Airport Transfer | Hamad Airport (DOH): $40
  • Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Qatar Doha - Private Transfer: $40
  • Private Transfer from Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha Port: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Koh Samet?

Prices for flights to both Koh Samet and Doha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Doha $106
    Koh Samet $52

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.

  • Traditional Dhow Cruise Dinner with BBQ Buffet & Transfers: $22
  • Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $23
  • Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
  • Traditional Arabian Dhow Cruise with Sunset and Skyline Dinner: $40
  • Moonlight on Marina Traditional Dhow Cruise With Optional Dinner: $42
  • Traditional Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner on board: $43
  • Traditional Arabic Food Tour @ Souq Waqif with Doha Skyline Views: $43
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $47
  • Private Souk Waqif Tour with Lunch/Dinner: $85
  • Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
  • Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $149
  • 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Doha $18
    Koh Samet $9.81

Tours and Activities in Doha

Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Dhow Boat Cruise with Sun Set at Al Safliya Island: $20
  • 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $23
  • Doha Complete Experience: City Tour,Desert & InlandSea in One Day: $28
  • Doha 4 Hours City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $29
  • Doha City Sightseeing Tour To All Main Attractions: $29
  • Guided City Tour with Airport and Hotel Pickup: $29
  • Doha Desert Safari Adventure CamelRide, DuneBashing & Inland Sea: $29
  • Half Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Inland Sea Tour: $29
  • Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
  • Doha Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $30
  • Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure: $30
  • Doha Adventure Sandbord Buggy Sunset Sunrise stargazing: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Doha $15
    Koh Samet $5.12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Koh Samet, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Koh Samet is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Samet would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samet and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Koh Samet.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Koh Samet Expensive?.


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