Which place is cheaper, Milford Sound or Koh Samet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samet or Milford Sound?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Milford Sound, 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 Milford Sound?
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?
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a fjord in Fiordland that was created by a glacier. The area is known for rain, but if you end up here on a rainy, know that you are seeing the waterfalls at their fullest.
People go to Milford Sound for the natural beauty. It is unlike any other place on earth. If you're the adventurous type, get yourself a kayak to explore the area. Also, if you have the chance, take a cruise to Milford Deep Underwater Observatory.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $96Milford Sound $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Milford Sound is $117. 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 Milford Sound in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $32Milford Sound $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $64Milford Sound $134
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Milford Sound
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Milford Sound? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $68Milford Sound $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Milford Sound?
Prices for flights to both Milford Sound 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 $27Milford Sound $34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $8.96Milford Sound $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $4.68Milford Sound $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Milford Sound, we can see that Milford Sound is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samet is in Asia and Milford Sound is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Samet would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samet 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 Milford Sound would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milford Sound than you might in Koh Samet.
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 Milford Sound Expensive?.
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.