Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Koh Samet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Koh Samet or Nelson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Nelson, 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 Nelson?
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?
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.
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Koh Samet Prices
Thailand PricesNelson Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $133Nelson $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $114. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $37Nelson $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $74Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Nelson? 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 and Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $79Nelson $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $54Nelson $47
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $10Nelson $23
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $55
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $64
- Abel Tasman Vista Cruise: $65
- Skywire Adventure at Cable Bay, Nelson: $65
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $69
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $71
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $74
- Half Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventure in Nelson: $74
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $74
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $77
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $5.38Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $116
- Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $231
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Nelson, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. And not only is Nelson much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samet is in Asia and Nelson 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 Nelson would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nelson 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 Nelson.
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 Nelson 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.