A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Koh Samet vs. Koh Pha Ngan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Koh Pha Ngan?

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 Pha Ngan, 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 Pha Ngan?

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 Pha Ngan

Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 2-Week Tours from Bangkok, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand.

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

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 Pha Ngan Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Koh Pha Ngan?

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 Pha Ngan in the Summer?

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

Koh Pha Ngan 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 more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In July, Koh Samet is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?

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

Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Koh Samet is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?

Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March. In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In the winter, Koh Samet is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?

Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Pha Ngan year-round.

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In April, Koh Samet is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samet