Which place is cheaper, Tauranga 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 Tauranga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Tauranga, 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 Tauranga?
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?
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Koh Samet Prices
Thailand PricesTauranga Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $128Tauranga $120
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $128, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $120. 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 Tauranga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $35Tauranga $75
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $70Tauranga $150
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Tauranga
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $76Tauranga $6.82
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Tauranga?
Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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 $52Tauranga $37
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $9.94Tauranga $10
Tours and Activities in Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
- Geothermal Mineral Bathing Hot Pool Experience: $13
- Mount Maunganui: Hot Ocean Water Pools Entry Ticket: $16
- Mount Maunganui Harbour Sightseeing Cruise: $23
- Tauranga Harbour Scenic 90 Minute Historical Boat Cruise: $30
- Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $34
- Tauranga City & History Scenic Tour – 2 Hours: $35
- Mount Maunganui: Pohutukawa grove and Beach Walking Tour: $40
- Tauranga City & Scenic Sightseeing 2-hour Tour: $46
- TAURANGA City & Scenic Sightseeing 2-hour Local Bus Tour: $47
- Tauranga Harbour Cruise: $55
- 4hr Tauranga Scenic History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $59
- Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $5.19Tauranga $10
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Tauranga, we can see that Koh Samet 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. Even though Koh Samet is in Asia and Tauranga is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Tauranga 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.