Which place is cheaper, Ubud 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 Ubud?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Ubud, 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 Ubud?
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?
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
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Koh Samet Prices
Thailand PricesUbud Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $133Ubud $153
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $153. 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 Ubud in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $37Ubud $128
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $74Ubud $256
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Ubud
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Ubud? 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 Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $79Ubud $1.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- Bali Airport to Hotel: Private Arrival Transfer: $5.52
- Private Bali Airport Transfer – Fast, Safe & Comfortable Ride: $6.73
- Eco Friendly Premium Electric Vehicle Airport Transfers : $6.79
- Seamless Arrival - Bali Airport Private Transfer: $6.90
- Ubud -Airport Private Transfer: $7.00
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Hotel: $7.40
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bali Airport: $7.50
- Bali Airport Transfers Convenient Pickup to Popular Areas: $7.95
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Jimbaran Area: $8.00
- Bali Airport (DPS) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $8.02
- Bali Airport to Hotel:Arrival Private Transfer (Daytime): $8.15
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Denpasar APT-HTL(DPS) : $8.88
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Ubud?
Prices for flights to both Ubud 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 $54Ubud $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
- Ubud Cooking Class with Optional Market Visit Pickup Included: $20
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Full Day Ubud Waterfall Visit and Cooking Experience: $24
- Dance Show + Dinner at Lost City - Story of Humanity : $24
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
- Ubud Cooking Class by Lemon Grass Cooking Class: $26
- Balinese Ubud cooking school (9 Dish Cooking and Market Tour) : $26
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
- Afternoon Cooking Class & Making Bali Offering with Dinner: $29
- Uluwatu Sunset Trip with Kecak Dance Show and Jimbaran Dinner: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $10Ubud $9.84
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mangrove Tour at Nusa Lembongan : Kayak, Paddle and Boat: $8.00
- One Way Ticket Fast Boat from Sanur Bali and Nusa Penida : $8.92
- Bali Tour Customized with Private Tour Driver: $9.00
- ATV Adventure with Private Tracks and Guide in Ubud: $9.18
- Hike and Heal Mount Batur Sunrise Tour with Hot Springs Add On: $9.26
- Full-Day Private North Bali Tour with Free WiFi: $9.32
- Indonesia: Bali Bird Park Entry Ticket: $9.55
- Bali Scooter Guided Tours: $9.99
- Backlanes and Hidden Sites: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Seminyak: $9.99
- Jatiluwih's Rice Field Terraces: A Scenic Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Tour in Bali's Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple Complex: $9.99
- Sea to Summit Trekking Adventure on Mount Agung: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $5.38Ubud $6.62
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Ubud, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud 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.