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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Hefei?

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

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

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?

Hefei

While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.

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 Adventure Tours to China, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Hefei or Koh Samet?

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 Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Hefei is $78. 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 Koh Samet and Hefei in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Samet $37
    Hefei $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Samet $74
    Hefei $58
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Hefei

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Hefei? 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 Koh Samet


Hotels in Hefei


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: Koh Samet Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Samet $79
    Hefei $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Hefei?

Prices for flights to both Hefei and Koh Samet 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
    Koh Samet $54
    Hefei $36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Samet $10
    Hefei $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Samet $5.38
    Hefei $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Hefei, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. And not only is Hefei much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hefei would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hefei 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 Hefei.

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 Hefei Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Hefei?

Hefei 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 Hefei in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Hefei. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Hefei in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Hefei fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Hefei receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hefei. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Samet 28°C (82°F) 
    Hefei 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Hefei in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Hefei. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Hefei. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Hefei averages at about 18°C (64°F).

Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Hefei. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Samet 27°C (81°F) 
    Hefei 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Hefei in the Winter?

Both Hefei and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year.

It's quite cold in Hefei in the winter. In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Hefei. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Hefei fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Hefei. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Samet 25°C (77°F) 
    Hefei 3°C (38°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Hefei in the Spring?

Both Hefei and Koh Samet during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Hefei in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Hefei fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Hefei. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Samet 29°C (84°F) 
    Hefei 16°C (61°F)

Typical Weather for Hefei and Koh Samet

Koh Samet Hefei
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 3°C (38°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Feb 26°C (80°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 5°C (40°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 10°C (50°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 16°C (61°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 189 mm (7.4 in) 22°C (71°F) 97 mm (3.8 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 25°C (78°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 29°C (83°F) 171 mm (6.7 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 29°C (83°F) 111 mm (4.4 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 158 mm (6.2 in) 23°C (74°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 276 mm (10.9 in) 18°C (64°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 380 mm (15 in) 11°C (53°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 5°C (42°F) 25 mm (1 in)