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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Sado?

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

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

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?

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

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 Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

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

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 Sado Expensive?.

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

Sado 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 Sado in the Summer?

Both Sado 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 Sado for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Koh Samet is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sado during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Sado. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Sado in the Autumn?

Both Sado 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 Sado because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Koh Samet is much warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Sado. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun.

Sado 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 Sado. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Sado in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Sado. 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 Sado this time of year.

It's quite cold in Sado in the winter. In the winter, Koh Samet is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Sado during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Sado. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Sado in the Spring?

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

In April, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°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 Sado. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Sado. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sado and Koh Samet