Should you visit Koh Samui or Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Antigua Guatemala? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Koh Samui or Antigua Guatemala?
Koh Samui
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
Antigua Guatemala
Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $74, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $74. 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 Samui and Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Antigua Guatemala? 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 Samui Hotel Prices and
Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer:
$161
-
Koh Samui Paradise Park Farm Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$134
-
Koh Samui ATV and Zipline Experience with Transfers:
$109
-
Samui Michelin Guide Dining at Ban Suan Lung Khai and transfer:
$91
-
The Jungle Club or The Roof Samui Table Reservation with Transfer:
$91
-
Thrilling 2 Hour ATV Jungle with Hotel Transfer from Koh Samui:
$85
-
Koh Samui Zipline 11 Lines with Jungle Views and Transfers:
$82
-
Koh Samui Beginner Friendly Jungle Treetop Zipline with Transfers:
$78
-
Private Departure Transfer: From Hotel to Airport Koh Samui by Minivan:
$72
-
Private Arrival Transfer: Koh Samui Airports to Hotel by Minivan:
$72
-
Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Taling Ngam:
$66
-
Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport:
$66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Group Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Panajachel:
$220
-
From Antigua: One way private transfer to Panajachel:
$194
-
Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Semuc Champey or Coban:
$182
-
Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Panajachel:
$180
-
Private transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport:
$90
-
Private Transfer from the Airport to Antigua:
$90
-
Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Santa Catarina Palopó:
$88
-
From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City:
$85
-
Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico Beach:
$85
-
One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten:
$79
-
One Way Shared Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Flores Peten:
$79
-
Private Transfer One Way Antigua Guatemala to El Paredon Beach:
$75
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala and Koh Samui 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 day
Koh Samui $36
Antigua Guatemala $25
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)
$6.37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Samui
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Koh Phangan Private Group Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour:
$58
-
Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$59
-
Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$59
-
Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui:
$75
-
Idyllic Half Day Sunset Cruise and Dinner in Koh Samui:
$75
-
Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family:
$76
-
Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour:
$76
-
Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui:
$77
-
Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui:
$78
-
Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Buffet & Transfer:
$78
-
Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group:
$79
-
Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer:
$82
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala
For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Mamma Yamma PACAYA COOKING CLASS by chef David Farfán:
$38
-
Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan:
$38
-
Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.:
$38
-
Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family:
$48
-
Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop:
$50
-
Pepián Plates Antigua Food Tour with 14+ Tastings:
$59
-
Mayan Meals Food Tour with 14+ Tastings:
$59
-
Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family:
$60
-
Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes:
$70
-
Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option:
$72
-
Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family:
$75
-
Guatemalan Mayan Cooking Workshop:
$75
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
-
2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure in Koh Samui Mountain Viewpoints:
$85
-
2 Hours ATV Quad Bike Popular Tour From Koh Samui:
$107
-
2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour:
$56
-
2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan:
$117
-
3 Hour ATV Secret Waterfall Adventure in Koh Samui:
$106
-
3.5-Hour Koh Phangan ATV Jungle Adventure with Viewpoints:
$168
-
4 Hour Ultimate ATV Jungle Tour in Koh Samui Lunch Included:
$137
-
4WD Jungle Safari Tour in Koh Samui with Lunch:
$49
-
4X4 Tour around the Island:
$61
-
6 Hours Elephant Care and Jungle Tour by 4WD in Koh Samui:
$60
-
ATV 1.5 Hours Jungle Safari Tour On Koh Phangan:
$74
-
Adventure Kayaking at Angthong Marine Park:
$112
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
-
¡Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua!:
$100
-
2 - Days : Tour to Acatenango Volcano from Antigua:
$150
-
2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua:
$219
-
2-Day, 1-Night Tour of Volcano Acatenango from Antigua:
$92
-
2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala:
$220
-
4 Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala:
$35
-
4-Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala:
$25
-
4WD Acatenango Volcano Tour & Fuego / All Inclusive !:
$400
-
4WD experience to Acatenango Volcano/Fuego Volcano from Antigua:
$333
-
4x4 tour from Antigua with a night camp in front of the Fuego volcano:
$1,300
-
ANTIGUA Villages Tour:
$103
-
ATV Off Road Adventure at Pacaya Volcano from Antigua:
$99
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Koh Samui 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 Samui is in Asia and Antigua Guatemala is in Central America, 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 Samui Expensive? and Is Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Antigua Guatemala?
Koh Samui has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Antigua Guatemala, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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