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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Matsue?

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

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

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?

Matsue

Matsue, Japan is located on the scenic shores of Lake Shinji in the Shimane Prefecture. Matsue is the capital city of the prefecture and is known as the water city due to being located between Lake Shinji, Lake Nakaumi, and the Sea of Japan. This historically rich city is famous for being a laid back samurai village with stunning sunsets and traditional confectioneries.

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 Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.

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

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 Matsue Expensive?.

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

Matsue 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 Matsue in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Matsue. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Also, many travelers come to Matsue for the family-friendly experiences.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Matsue in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Matsue fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Matsue this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 201 hours of full sun in the summer.

Matsue 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 Matsue. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 268 mm (10.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Matsue in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Matsue. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Matsue in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Matsue. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Matsue averages at about 17°C (62°F).

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Matsue. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 173 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Matsue. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Matsue. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Matsue in the Winter?

Both Matsue 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. Also, most visitors come to Matsue for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Matsue can be very cold during winter. In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Matsue. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Matsue fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Matsue during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Matsue receives 84 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Matsue. In January, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Matsue. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Matsue in the Spring?

Both Matsue 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. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Matsue because of the natural beauty.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Matsue in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Matsue fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Matsue. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Matsue receives 194 hours of full sun.

Matsue gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Matsue. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Matsue receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Matsue and Koh Samet