Which place is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi 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 Phi Phi?
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 Phi Phi, 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 Phi Phi?
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 Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
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 Phi Phi $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $72. 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 Phi Phi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $32Koh Phi Phi $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $64Koh Phi Phi $80
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Koh Phi Phi
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Phi Phi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $68Koh Phi Phi $6.89
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$15
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Longboat Taxi$2.73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket VIP Speed Boat Transfer: $22
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $24
- One-Way Departure Transfer from Phi Phi Island (Speedboat) to Phuket Airport : $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Koh Phi Phi?
Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi 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 Phi Phi $11
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.64
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Sit Down Lunch$9.27
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Casual Lunch$5.73
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Coconut Donut$0.27
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$11
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Sit Down Dinner$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $8.96Koh Phi Phi $45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $13
- Phuket Trick Eye 3D Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phi Phi Island To Phuket By Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Phi Phi Island Half Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $18
- Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $20
- Phi Phi Islands Sunset Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $22
- Half-Day Morning Bamboo Island Tour from Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $22
- Phi Phi 7 Islands Full-Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $27
- Wonderful Phi Phi Islands Highlights Tour: $50
- PHI PHI ISLAND - Sunrise Trip From Phi Phi Don By Phi Phi Local Tour: $53
- Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $57
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $4.68Koh Phi Phi $5.66
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$14
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Banana Daiquiri$5.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. And not only is Koh Phi Phi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Phi Phi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Phi Phi 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 Phi Phi.
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 Phi Phi Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Koh Phi Phi?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in July than Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. In the summer, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 206 hours of full sun.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?
Both Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Phi Phi is December to March. The rainy season in Koh Phi Phi is May to November. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In October, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Koh Phi Phi 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?
Both Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samet during the winter 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 Phi Phi year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Phi Phi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 hours of full sun.
In January, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Koh Phi Phi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi. Koh Phi Phi receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Phi Phi this time of the year. In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Phi Phi during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Koh Phi Phi 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Koh Phi Phi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.