A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Koh Samet vs. Pattaya for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Pattaya?

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

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

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?

Pattaya

Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.

Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.

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 Bicycle Tours in Thailand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand.

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

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 Pattaya Expensive?.

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

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Pattaya in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Pattaya. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.

Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in July than Pattaya. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the summer, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Pattaya. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 176 hours of full sun.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Pattaya in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Pattaya fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Pattaya in the Autumn?

Both Pattaya and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Pattaya is December to April. The rainy season in Pattaya is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pattaya. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In October, Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pattaya. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

It's quite sunny in Pattaya. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Pattaya during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Pattaya. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Pattaya averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Pattaya in the Winter?

Both Pattaya and Koh Samet during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pattaya year-round.

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Pattaya. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Pattaya, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Pattaya. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 276 hours of full sun.

In January, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Pattaya. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Pattaya fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Pattaya in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Pattaya. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya. In April, Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pattaya. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pattaya this time of the year. In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Pattaya during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Pattaya in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Pattaya fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

Typical Weather for Pattaya and Koh Samet