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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Fraser Island?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Fraser Island, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Samet or Fraser Island?

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?

Fraser Island

Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samet is in Asia and Fraser Island is in Pacific, 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island 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 Koh Samet Expensive? and Is Fraser Island Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Fraser Island?

Fraser Island has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samet experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Fraser Island in the Summer?

Both Fraser Island and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Fraser Island in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Fraser Island in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Fraser Island. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of rain as Fraser Islandin January. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Fraser Island in the Autumn?

Both Fraser Island and Koh Samet during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Fraser Island for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is a little warmer than Fraser Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 22°C (72°F)in April.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Fraser Islandin April. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Fraser Island in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Fraser Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Fraser Island because of the cuisine.

In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Fraser Islandin July. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin July. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Fraser Island in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Fraser Island. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Fraser Island this time of year.

Koh Samet is a little warmer than Fraser Island in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 21°C (71°F)in October.

Koh Samet usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Fraser Islandin October. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Koh Samet