Which place is cheaper, Phuket or Koh Samet?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samet or Phuket?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Phuket, 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 Phuket?
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?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $96Phuket $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $96, while the average daily cost in Phuket is $105. 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 Phuket in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $32Phuket $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $64Phuket $112
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Phuket
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Phuket? 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 Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $68Phuket $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Phuket Airport Bus Transfer from/to Karon Beach: $5.33
- Gun Shooting Range in Phuket (Transfer Only): $6.79
- Airport Transfer To / From Hotel & Free Wifi: $10
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $12
- Phuket Airport Transfer (SHA Plus) : $13
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $14
- Airport Transfer To / From Hotel & Free Wifi: $15
- Phuket International and Domestic Airport - Departure Transfer : $16
- Phuket International Airport (HKT): Transfer to/from Phuket: $17
- Private Phuket Departure Transfer - Hotel to Phuket Airport : $17
- Phuket Shared Arrival Transfer: $17
- Phuket Shared Departure Transfer: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Phuket?
Prices for flights to both Phuket 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 $27Phuket $22
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 3 Dishes Menu): $39
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $44
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $47
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Twilight Stylish Sky Set Dinner - The SIS Kata Resort : $54
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $8.96Phuket $42
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Botanic Garden Admission Ticket: $3.04
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self Guided Scavenger Hunts and Gamified Tours: $11
- Phuket to Phi Phi Tonsai Ferry by Royal Jet Cruiser with Pickup Service: $13
- Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $14
- The Selfie Experience Phuket Admission Ticket: $14
- Phuket Trickeye Museum Day Admission Ticket: $15
- Baan Teelanka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $16
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Original Discovery Tour: $17
- Simon Cabaret Show Phuket (Ticket Only): $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $4.68Phuket $6.35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $78
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $98
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $98
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Phuket, we can see that Phuket 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 Phuket Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Phuket?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Koh Samet or Phuket in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Phuket. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Phuket 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 less rain than Phuket. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Phuket during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Phuket in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Phuket in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Phuket. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. June to October in Phuket is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Phuket. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in October than Phuket. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Phuket. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Phuket. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Phuket averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Phuket 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Phuket in the Winter?
Both Phuket 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. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Phuket is December to March. In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Phuket. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Phuket. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Phuket during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Phuket. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Phuket in the Spring?
Both Phuket 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.
June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Phuket. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Phuket. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 249 hours of full sun.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Phuket in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Phuket fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Phuket 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Phuket and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Phuket | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
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.