A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Samet vs. Longsheng for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Longsheng?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Longsheng, 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 Longsheng?

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?

Longsheng

A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Longsheng or Koh Samet?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Longsheng is $78. 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 Longsheng in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Samet $32
    Longsheng $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Samet $64
    Longsheng $40
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Longsheng

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Longsheng? 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.

Hotels in Koh Samet


Hotels in Longsheng


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Samet $68
    Longsheng $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Longsheng?

Prices for flights to both Longsheng 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Koh Samet $27
    Longsheng $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Samet $8.96
    Longsheng $8.38

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Samet $4.68
    Longsheng $7.89


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

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 Longsheng Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Longsheng?

Longsheng has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samet experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Longsheng in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Longsheng. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Longsheng in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Longsheng fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

It's quite rainy in Longsheng. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in July than Longsheng. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Samet 28°C (82°F) 
    Longsheng 30°C (86°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Longsheng in the Autumn?

Both Longsheng 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.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is a little warmer than Longsheng. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Longsheng averages at about 23°C (73°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In October, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Longsheng. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Samet 27°C (81°F) 
    Longsheng 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Longsheng in the Winter?

Both Longsheng 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.

In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Longsheng. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Longsheng fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Longsheng. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Samet 25°C (77°F) 
    Longsheng 10°C (49°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Longsheng in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Longsheng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round.

Koh Samet is a little warmer than Longsheng in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Longsheng fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

Longsheng receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Longsheng. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Samet 29°C (84°F) 
    Longsheng 20°C (68°F)

Typical Weather for Longsheng and Koh Samet

Koh Samet Longsheng
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 26°C (80°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 189 mm (7.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 158 mm (6.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 276 mm (10.9 in) 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 380 mm (15 in) 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)