Which place is cheaper, Koh Lanta or Koh Samet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samet or Koh Lanta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Koh Lanta, 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 Koh Lanta?
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?
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
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 $96Koh Lanta $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Koh Lanta is $48. 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 Koh Lanta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $32Koh Lanta $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $64Koh Lanta $48
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Koh Lanta
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Koh Lanta? 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 Koh Lanta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $68Koh Lanta $5.66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:
- One-Way Transfer from Koh Lanta to Krabi Town or Airport by Minivan: $11
- Pravate Transfer Lanta Island to Krabi Airport, Krabi Town, Ao nang: $74
- Koh Lanta :Krabi Airport Private Transfer:From Airport or Hotel: $111
- Koh lanta to phuket any hotel Private transfer: $172
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Koh Lanta?
Prices for flights to both Koh Lanta 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 $27Koh Lanta $11
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$4.36
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Casual Lunch$7.36
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Casual Dinner$12
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koh Lanta.
- Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $48
- Sukho Cuisine Thai Cooking School From Koh Lanta: $52
- Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $54
- Cooking Class & Market Tour with Thai Master Chef at Sukho Cuisine, Lanta: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $8.96Koh Lanta $31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$19
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$9.55
Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day 2 Caves Ko Skull Tour Ko Lanta and Kayaking Ko Talabeng: $25
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $26
- Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $26
- 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $28
- Half Day Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $29
- Tung Yee Peng Mangrove Forest Tour By Longtail Boat From Koh Lanta: $30
- Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $31
- Koh Ngai, Koh Muk + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour by Classic Longtail Boat: $32
- Sea Cave and Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $36
- 4 Islands Snorkeling + Mangrove Forest From Lanta by Tin Adventure Sea Tour: $37
- Lanta Old Town and Mangrove Forest Sightseeing Tour: $40
- Snorkel Tour to Phi Phi Islands by Speed Boat from Koh Lanta: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $4.68Koh Lanta $3.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Koh Lanta, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lanta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Lanta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta.
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 Koh Lanta Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Koh Lanta?
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 Koh Lanta in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Koh Lanta. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Koh Lanta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Lanta this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Lanta during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Lanta receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Koh Lanta in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Koh Lanta fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Koh Lanta 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Lanta in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Koh Lanta. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lanta throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Lanta. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Koh Lanta. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Koh Lanta. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Lanta receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Koh Lanta. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Lanta averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Koh Lanta 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Lanta in the Winter?
Both Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Lanta is January to April. In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Koh Lanta. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Koh Lanta. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Koh Lanta during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Lanta receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Koh Lanta. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Lanta fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Koh Lanta 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Lanta in the Spring?
Both Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta year-round.
January to April is the dry season in Koh Lanta. June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Koh Lanta. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Lanta, 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 Koh Lanta. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Lanta receives 249 hours of full sun.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Koh Lanta in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Koh Lanta fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Koh Lanta 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Lanta and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Koh Lanta | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.