Which place is cheaper, Khao Lak or Koh Samet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samet or Khao Lak?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Khao Lak, 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 Khao Lak?
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?
Khao Lak
Resiliency and relaxation. Those are the two words used to describe one of Thailand's most breathtaking cities. Khao Lak is located in southern Thailand, and when the tsunami of 2004 hit, this area saw the most damage. With more than 4,000 fatalities, 3,000 still unaccounted for and enormous structural damages, many thought Khao Lak would not be able to bounce back. They have proved everyone wrong with a strong and impressive recovery. Now it has returned to its status of vacation hotspot. Unlike neighboring Phuket, though, the resorts in Khao Lak are designed for families and some peace and quiet.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $96Khao Lak $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Khao Lak is $112. 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 Khao Lak in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $32Khao Lak $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $64Khao Lak $102
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Khao Lak
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Khao Lak? 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: Koh Samet Hotel Prices and Khao Lak Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $68Khao Lak $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- Phuket: Private One-Way Transfer to/from Khao Lak by Car: $30
- Kata Lux Transfers, Tour and Travel: $39
- Phuket Airport (HKT) Departure Transfer from Khao Lak (Shared or Private): $39
- Khao Lak/Bang Sak: 1-Way Private Transfer to Phuket Airport: $41
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $42
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $45
- 2-Hour Guided Eco-Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $56
- Khao Lak To Khao Sok Private Minivan & Car Transfer: $57
- Khao Lak any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $92
- Premium Similan Island Day Trip with lunch and transfer pick up: $97
- Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Phuket (HKT) Airport: $100
- From Carnival Magic Phuket Ticket with Transfer: $106
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Khao Lak?
Prices for flights to both Khao Lak 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
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Food Meals for one dayKoh Samet $27Khao Lak $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Market Tour by Pakinnaka School: $56
- Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $57
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour.: $60
- Thai Cooking Class in a Garden with Transfer: $60
- Thai Cooking Class in Khaolak: $61
- 3 hours Khao Lak Cooking Class and Market Visit: $68
- Half-Day Cooking Class and Ingredient Hunt: $68
- Khaolak Finger Food Tour with Cabaret Show: $83
- Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $89
- Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary, Cooking Class and Waterfall Tour: $97
- ATV Quad Bike Excursion to Stunning Waterfalls with Dinner: $97
- Khaolak Thai Culinary Cooking Class and Natural waterfall Escape: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $8.96Khao Lak $19
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guided Walk & Feed Elephant Experience with Pickup: $35
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $37
- Guide Tour to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary in Small Group: $45
- Takuapa Cultural History Half-Day Tour From Khao Lak: $48
- Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour: $52
- Khaolak: Begin the Day with Elephants - Walk and Feed Tour: $52
- Elephant Bathing and Feeding Tour: $52
- 30-Minutes ATV Quads and Waterfall Experience in Khaolak : $56
- Little Amazon Canoe Ride & Tam Nang Waterfall Tour: $56
- Sok River Canoeing | Half-Day Tour: $58
- Historical And Cultural Day Tour To Takuapa Old Town From Khao Lak: $61
- Khaosok Night Safari Experience (From Khaolak): $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $4.68Khao Lak $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Khao Lak, we can see that Khao Lak is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Khao Lak would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Khao Lak?
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 Khao Lak in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Khao Lak. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Khao Lak attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Lak this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Lak during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Lak receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Khao Lak. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Lak fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Khao Lak 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Khao Lak in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Khao Lak. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Lak throughout the year.
Also, November to April in Khao Lak is the dry season. May to October in Khao Lak is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Khao Lak. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in October than Khao Lak. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Khao Lak. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Lak receives 181 hours of full sun.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Khao Lak in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Khao Lak fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Khao Lak 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Khao Lak in the Winter?
Both Khao Lak 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. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Lak because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Khao Lak. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Khao Lak. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Khao Lak during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Lak receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Khao Lak. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Khao Lak averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Khao Lak 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Khao Lak in the Spring?
Both Khao Lak 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Lak year-round.
November to April is the dry season in Khao Lak. May to October is the rainy season in Khao Lak. Khao Lak gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Khao Lak. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Khao Lak, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Lak. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Lak receives 249 hours of full sun.
In April, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Khao Lak. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Khao Lak fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Khao Lak 29°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Khao Lak and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Khao Lak | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.