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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Railay Beach?

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

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

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?

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

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

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Railay Beach?

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 Railay Beach in the Summer?

Both Railay Beach 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. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Railay Beach. Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

Both Railay Beach 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach. August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach. Railay Beach 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 less rain in October than Railay Beach. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Railay Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Railay Beach in the Winter?

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

December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Railay Beach. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Koh Samet or Railay Beach in the Spring?

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

It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Railay Beach. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun.

In April, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Koh Samet