Which place is cheaper, Koh Samet or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai or Koh Samet?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Koh Samet can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Koh Samet?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Koh Samet $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Koh Samet is $104. 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 Dubai and Koh Samet in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Koh Samet $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Koh Samet $70
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Koh Samet
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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.
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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Koh Samet Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Koh Samet $74
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Transfer from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Airport: $14
- Global Village Entry Ticket with Hotel Transfer: $14
- Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber: $18
- Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ): $18
- Global Village Dubai Tickets with Transfers Option: $18
- Dubai Airport to DXB and Abu Dhabi Private Transfer: $18
- Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $20
- Dubai Frame Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $20
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Dubai Airport (DXB): $20
- Dubai Airport Private one way Arrival or Departure Transfer: $22
- Dubai Airport Shuttle - One Way Departure Transfer: $22
- Airport Transfer: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Koh Samet?
Prices for flights to both Koh Samet and Dubai 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
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Food Meals for one dayDubai $56Koh Samet $30
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.53
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old Town, Creek, Museums, Souks, & Street Food Tour: $8.71
- Al-Seef Premium Dinner Cruise: $13
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $15
- Dubai Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner at Dubai Al Seef: $15
- Dhow Boat Dinner Cruise in Dubai: $16
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $16
- Deira Creek: Dhow Cruise Dinner: $16
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Catamaran Cruise with Dinner at Al Jaddaf Waterfront Dubai: $17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Koh Samet $9.74
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- Dubai Fountain Boardwalk Entry Ticket: $5.45
- A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.68
- Al Fahidi Guided Walking Tour with Street Food: $7.00
- Old Town, Souk, Street Food, Museums Tour & Abra Ride: $7.00
- Old Dubai & Souks Guided Tour with Tastings & Cruise: $7.90
- Old Dubai with Museums, Abra Cruise, & Souks Tastings: $8.17
- Dubai in a nutshell a Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $8.19
- Dubai Fountain Walk Bridge Ticket: $9.49
- Old Guided Tour with Boat Ride, Souks and Museums: $9.80
- Discover Old Dubai Walking Tour With Food Tasting : $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Koh Samet $5.08
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $69
- Pub Crawl Private, Birthdays & Corporate Events: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Koh Samet, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Koh Samet Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Dubai or Koh Samet?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Dubai or Koh Samet in the Summer?
Both Koh Samet and Dubai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Dubai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round.
June to August is the dry season in Dubai. Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Dubai usually gets less rain in July than Koh Samet. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Dubai can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Dubai is generally a little warmer than Koh Samet. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 35°C (95°F), and Koh Samet fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyDubai 35°C (95°F)Koh Samet 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Koh Samet in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dubai and Koh Samet. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Dubai year-round. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Dubai usually receives less rain than Koh Samet. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Dubai is around the same temperature as Koh Samet in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dubai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Koh Samet fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberDubai 29°C (84°F)Koh Samet 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Koh Samet in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Dubai as well as Koh Samet. Dubai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year.
January to March in Dubai is the rainy season. Dubai usually gets less rain in January than Koh Samet. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Dubai is cooler than Koh Samet. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dubai in January average around 19°C (66°F), and Koh Samet averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryDubai 19°C (66°F)Koh Samet 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Dubai or Koh Samet in the Spring?
Both Koh Samet and Dubai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Dubai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Dubai is June to August. In April, Dubai usually receives less rain than Koh Samet. Dubai gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Dubai is generally around the same temperature as Koh Samet. Daily temperatures in Dubai average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Samet fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilDubai 26°C (79°F)Koh Samet 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Samet and Dubai
| Dubai | Koh Samet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 20°C (68°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 35°C (95°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 36°C (97°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 33°C (91°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.