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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Yaeyama Islands?

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

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

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?

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Yaeyama Islands, 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. 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 Yaeyama Islands Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Yaeyama Islands?

Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Koh Samet is generally around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 279 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Yaeyama Islands for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 177 hours of full sun.

Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Yaeyama Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the museums and the cuisine.

In the winter, Koh Samet is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 18°C (64°F).

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 97 hours of full sun in the winter.

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

In April, Koh Samet is generally a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 23°C (74°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 Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 154 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Yaeyama Islands. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year. May to June in Yaeyama Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Koh Samet