Which place is cheaper, Krabi or Koh Samet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samet or Krabi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Krabi, 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 Krabi?
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?
Krabi
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi. Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience.
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 $96Krabi $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Krabi is $55. 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 Krabi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $32Krabi $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $64Krabi $72
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Krabi
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Krabi? 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 Krabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $68Krabi $3.80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$2.73
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.18
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Longboat Taxi from Town$5.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Don Island: $13
- Krabi Airport (KBV) Private Transfer: $13
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $13
- Private Airport Transfers for Krabi & More: $15
- Krabi International Airport Arrival Shared Transfer To Aonang & Krabi Town: $16
- Krabi International Airport Departure Shared Transfer from Aonang and Krabi Town: $16
- Private Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport Departure: $17
- Krabi Airport: 1-Way Krabi Hotel Private Transfer: $17
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Tiger Cave Temple: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Air port, Krabi: $18
- Private Arrival Transfer : Krabi Airport to Krabi Hotel: $19
- Krabi airport to Aonang any hotel Private transfer: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Krabi?
Prices for flights to both Krabi 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 $27Krabi $13
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.82
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Drinks on the Beach$6.55
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$17
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$30
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Mango Shake$1.36
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Pad Thai$2.73
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Fruit from the Market$1.64
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Pancakes$2.73
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Coffee & Cake$2.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Snorkeling and Sunset Dinner Trip From Krabi: $33
- Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $36
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton: $38
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner and Snorkeling: $38
- Evening Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $39
- Seven Islands Snorkel Cruise with Dinner: $41
- 4 Islands Sunset Longtail Boat Tour with BBQ Dinner: $41
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour: $42
- Krabi Thai Cooking Class: $42
- Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Premium Service Trip by Speedboat + BBQ Dinner: $43
- Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $44
- Cooking Class at Thai Charm Cooking School with Meal: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $8.96Krabi $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$9.00
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Thai Massages (for Two)$22
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Bikini & Sarong$16
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$12
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$6.82
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$52
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Krabi 4 Islands Tour and Snorkeling with Shared boat: $22
- Ao Nang, Group Boat Tour to 4 Islands with Lunch: $24
- 4 Islands Separated Sea - The Unseen of Thailand Tour: $24
- Krabi 4 island tour: $26
- 4 Islands & Thale Waek's Sandbar Tour By Speedboat: $27
- Half Day Tour Mangrove Tour Kayaking Tour With Lunch: $27
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat from Krabi with Walk on Tombolo: $28
- The Krabi 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat: $28
- 4 Islands One Day Tour From Krabi: $28
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $29
- 4 Islands Tour by Longtail Boat: $29
- Shooting Range Experience in Krabi: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $4.68Krabi $4.34
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.45
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Cocktails (for Two)$8.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Railay Pub Crawl: $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Krabi, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi 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 Krabi.
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 Krabi Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Krabi?
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 Krabi in the Summer?
Both Krabi and Koh Samet during the summer 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 Krabi year-round.
August to October is the rainy season in Krabi. Krabi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in July than Krabi. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Krabi, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Krabi. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krabi receives 206 hours of full sun.
In July, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Krabi. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Krabi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Krabi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Krabi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Krabi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Krabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Krabi is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Krabi. Krabi receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Krabi. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Krabi during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Krabi receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Krabi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Krabi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Krabi 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Krabi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Krabi. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Krabi throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Krabi is the dry season. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Krabi. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krabi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Krabi. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krabi receives 287 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Krabi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Krabi averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Krabi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Krabi in the Spring?
Both Krabi and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Krabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Krabi. In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Krabi. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Krabi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Krabi during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Krabi receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Krabi. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Krabi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Krabi 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Krabi and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Krabi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.