A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Koh Samet vs. Hat Yai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Hat Yai?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Hat Yai, 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 Hat Yai?

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?

Hat Yai

The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.

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 Bicycle Tours in Thailand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Hat Yai, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Koh Samet would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Samet than you might in Hat Yai.

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 Hat Yai Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Hat Yai?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Hat Yai in the Summer?

Both Hat Yai 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. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Hat Yai. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Hat Yai. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hat Yai during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Hat Yai receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Hat Yai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samet in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Hat Yai averages at about 29°C (83°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Hat Yai in the Autumn?

Both Hat Yai 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round.

May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai. Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Hat Yai. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Hat Yai. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hat Yai receives 182 hours of full sun.

In October, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Hat Yai. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 27°C (81°F), and Hat Yai fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Hat Yai in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Hat Yai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season. Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hat Yai. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hat Yai this time of the year. In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Hat Yai during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Hat Yai receives 221 hours of full sun in the winter.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Hat Yai in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Hat Yai fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Hat Yai in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Hat Yai. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year.

Also, January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season. May to December in Hat Yai is the rainy season. Koh Samet usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Hat Yai. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Hat Yai. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hat Yai receives 265 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Hat Yai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samet in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Hat Yai averages at about 30°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Hat Yai and Koh Samet