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 $129. 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 $119
    Koh Samet $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Doha $238
    Koh Samet $72
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 $76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:

  • Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
  • Private Car Transfer from Doha City: $20
  • Arrival Transfer to West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
  • Departure Transfer from Lusail: $27
  • Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer: $39
  • Doha to Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) Departure Private Transfer: $40
  • Transfer from Hamad Airport to Doha City - Stress-Free Tranafer: $40
  • Private Doha Airport Transfer | Hamad Airport (DOH): $40
  • Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Qatar Doha - Private Transfer: $41
  • Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha Arrival Private Transfer: $41
  • Private Transfer from Doha Port to Doha Hamad Airport (DOH): $51
  • Doha : City Tour To All Main Attractions Including Transfers: $55

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 $53

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha

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

  • Dhow Cruise Dinner Live BBQ Buffet and Hotel Transfer: $23
  • Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $32
  • Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
  • Doha Evening Dhow Cruise with Dinner Option: $39
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
  • Qatar: Desert Dune Bashing with lunch/dinner in Desert Beach Camp: $55
  • Moonlight Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $65
  • Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
  • Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
  • 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
  • Full Day Desert Safari in Qatar with Lunch/Dinner by sea side: $159
  • Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Doha $18
    Koh Samet $9.99

Tours and Activities in Doha

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

  • 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
  • National Museum Ticket at Qatar: $23
  • Doha Desert Safari, ATV, Camels, Sandboarding and Inland Sea Tour: $28
  • Qatar Desert Safari Adventure Experience .: $28
  • Top Doha Night City Tour Including Souq Waqif , Lusail And Katara: $30
  • Doha Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $30
  • Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
  • Doha Sightseeing Tour with Optional Sunset Dhow Cruise: $34
  • Explore Heart of Qatar Doha City Tour with Professional Guide: $35
  • Guided City Tour with Traditional Dhow Cruise Skyline: $35
  • Qatar Desert Safari: Dune Bashing & Inland Sea (Shared Tour): $37
  • Arabian Dhow Cruise in Doha with Sunset and Skyline Views: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Doha $15
    Koh Samet $5.21


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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