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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Nara?

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

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

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?

Nara

As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Nara, we can see that Koh Samet 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 Nara Expensive?.

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

Nara 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 Nara in the Summer?

Both Nara and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Nara for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Nara in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Nara fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nara during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 183 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nara. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Nara receives 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nara in the Autumn?

Both Nara and Koh Samet during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Nara because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

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

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nara. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 159 hours of full sun.

Nara 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 more rain in October than Nara. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Nara receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nara in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Nara. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Nara this time of year.

It's quite cold in Nara in the winter. In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Nara. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Nara fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Nara during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 140 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Nara. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Nara receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Nara in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Nara. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Nara for the natural beauty.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Nara in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Nara fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Nara. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 176 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Nara. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Nara. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Nara receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Nara and Koh Samet