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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Nanjing?

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

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

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?

Nanjing

Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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 Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Nanjing 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 Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Samet $32
    Nanjing $46
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Samet $64
    Nanjing $92
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Nanjing

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Nanjing? 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 Nanjing


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
    Nanjing $38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:

  • Huangshan Tunxi International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $20
  • Nanjing Railway Station Private Transfer from City Center: $32
  • Private Arrival Transfer to Nanjing City from Railway Station : $32
  • Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
  • Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Nanjing Any Railway Station: $34
  • Nanjing Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $35
  • Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $36
  • Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
  • Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
  • Private Departure Transfer from Nanjing City Center to Lukou Int'l Airport: $45
  • Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
  • Nanjing Railway Station Private Transfer to Lukou International Airport: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Nanjing?

Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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
    Nanjing $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.

  • 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
  • Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
  • Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
  • Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
  • Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Samet $8.96
    Nanjing $9.27

Tours and Activities in Nanjing

Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
  • Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $70
  • Nanjing Private English Tour Guide Service: $75
  • Private Amazing Nanjing City Day Tour in Your Way: $75
  • Nanjing Professional English Tour Guide Service: $91
  • Half-Day Nanjing Purple Mountain Private Tour in Your Way: $94
  • Yangzhou Self-Guided Tour from Nanjing with Private Car and Driver Service : $94
  • 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
  • Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
  • 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
  • Nanjing Private Flexible Day Tour with Ancient and Modern History: $119
  • Half-Day Private Customized Nanjing City Tour: $122

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Samet $4.68
    Nanjing $9.46


When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Nanjing Expensive?.



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

Nanjing 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 Nanjing in the Summer?

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

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Nanjing in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Nanjing fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

Nanjing 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 around the same amount of rain as Nanjing. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Samet 28°C (82°F) 
    Nanjing 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nanjing in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Nanjing. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Nanjing averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Nanjing. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Samet 27°C (81°F) 
    Nanjing 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nanjing in the Winter?

Both Nanjing 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.

It's quite cold in Nanjing in the winter. In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Nanjing. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Samet 25°C (77°F) 
    Nanjing 3°C (37°F)

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nanjing in the Spring?

Both Nanjing 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.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Nanjing in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Nanjing fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

Nanjing gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Nanjing. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Samet 29°C (84°F) 
    Nanjing 15°C (60°F)

Typical Weather for Nanjing and Koh Samet

Koh Samet Nanjing
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 3°C (37°F) 27 mm (1.1 in)
Feb 26°C (80°F) 63 mm (2.5 in) 4°C (40°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in) 9°C (48°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 15°C (60°F) 101 mm (4 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 189 mm (7.4 in) 21°C (69°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 25°C (77°F) 114 mm (4.5 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 174 mm (6.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 174 mm (6.9 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 206 mm (8.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 158 mm (6.2 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 158 mm (6.2 in) 23°C (74°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 276 mm (10.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 380 mm (15 in) 11°C (52°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 5°C (41°F) 25 mm (1 in)