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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Ise?

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

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

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?

Ise

A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Ise or Koh Samet?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Ise is $89. 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 Ise in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Samet $32
    Ise $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Samet $64
    Ise $84
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Ise

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Ise? 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 Ise


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 and Ise Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Samet $68
    Ise $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Ise?

Prices for flights to both Ise 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 $27
    Ise $24

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Samet $8.96
    Ise $5.83

Tours and Activities in Ise

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

  • Shirataki Takigyo Waterfall Meditation Experience in Toba: $29
  • Island Adventure Sea Kayak Tour(Ise-Shima): $39
  • Ise Grand Shrine Private Guided Tour: $88

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Samet $4.68
    Ise $4.52


When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Ise, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Ise Expensive?.



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

Ise 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 Ise in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Ise. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ise for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Ise in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Ise fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Ise during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun in the summer.

Ise 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 less rain than Ise. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Ise receives 219 mm (8.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Samet 28°C (82°F) 
    Ise 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Ise in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Ise. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Ise in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Ise. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Ise averages at about 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ise. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 160 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Ise. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Ise. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Ise receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Samet 27°C (81°F) 
    Ise 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Ise in the Winter?

Both Ise 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. Also, most visitors come to Ise for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Ise can be very cold during winter. In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Ise. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Ise fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Ise during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Ise receives 165 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Ise. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Ise receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Samet 25°C (77°F) 
    Ise 5°C (40°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Ise in the Spring?

Both Ise 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. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Ise because of the beaches.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Ise in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Ise fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).

It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Ise. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ise receives 169 hours of full sun.

Ise gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Ise. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Ise receives 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Samet 29°C (84°F) 
    Ise 13°C (56°F)

Typical Weather for Ise and Koh Samet

Koh Samet Ise
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 5°C (40°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Feb 26°C (80°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 5°C (41°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 8°C (46°F) 104 mm (4.1 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 13°C (56°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 189 mm (7.4 in) 18°C (65°F) 162 mm (6.4 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 22°C (71°F) 236 mm (9.3 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 26°C (79°F) 219 mm (8.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 176 mm (6.9 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 158 mm (6.2 in) 23°C (74°F) 238 mm (9.4 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 276 mm (10.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 145 mm (5.7 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 380 mm (15 in) 12°C (54°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 7°C (45°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)


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