Should you visit Koh Samui or Boracay?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Boracay? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
Which city is cheaper, Boracay or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $48, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $50. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Koh Samui and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $42 in Koh Samui For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $21. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Boracay the cost is $42 on average.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Koh Samui cost around $17 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $6.80.
In Boracay travelers spend around $13 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Koh Samui $17
Boracay $13
Typical Food prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
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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:
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Thai Akha Kitchen Cooking Class & Local Market Tour:
$23
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Tom Yum Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$23
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Asia Scenic Thai Cooking Class:
$25
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Siamese Cookery House Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok:
$26
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InFusion Cooking Classes in Koh Samui:
$26
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Sompong Thai Cooking Class:
$27
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Galangal Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$28
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Lanna Smile Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai:
$29
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Pum Thai Cooking Class in Patong Beach:
$31
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Thai Cooking Course Hua Hin:
$31
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Chocolate Cooking Class at SO Sofitel Bangkok:
$31
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Yanui Cape Sunset Catamaran Tour in Phuket with Dinner by We Love Andaman:
$31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boracay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boracay.
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Cebu Street Half Day Food Tour:
$17
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Dining Voucher at the Firehouse Pizza (of Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila):
$18
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Okada Manila Sunset Experience with Dinner Buffet:
$54
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Kwentong Dagat Stay with Full-Board Meal & Vegan Cooking Class:
$90
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Holiday Inn Manila Galleria with Breakfast & Dinner:
$100
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Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria with Breakfast & Dinner:
$110
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4D3N Casa Bianca Siargao Stay with Breakfast, Dinner at Wild Siargao & 20% Discount Coupon at KudoSurf:
$184
Local Transportation
Koh Samui's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $14 per person, per day on transportation in Koh Samui.
The cost of a taxi ride in Boracay is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $25 per person, per day, on local transportation in Boracay.
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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Private Krabi/Phuket Airport Transfers (KBV/HKT) for Krabi & More:
$15
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Private Phuket Airport Transfers (HKT) for Phuket and Other Areas by Oriental Holiday:
$18
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7 Spa Luxury Spa Treatments in Pattaya with Round Trip Transfers:
$26
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Guided Zipline Adventure in Ko Samui with Round Trip Transfer:
$87
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Kata Rocks Resort & Residences (8D7N) with free COE Application and Airport Transfers:
$2,321
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Koh Samui Paradise Park Farm Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$58
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Private Bangkok and Pattaya Airports Transfers (UTP, DMK or BKK) for Pattaya:
$31
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Private Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Transfers for Chiang Mai by TTD:
$12
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Private Chiang Mai International Airport Transfers (CNX) for Chiang Mai and More:
$16
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Private City Transfers between Ayutthaya and Bangkok by TTS:
$53
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Private City Transfers between Bangkok and Pattaya by TTS:
$53
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Private City Transfers between Bangkok and Pattaya, Ayutthaya, Hua Hin & More:
$46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
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[Stay 3, Pay 2] Mövenpick Resort & Spa Boracay with Breakfast, Resort Credits and RT Transfers:
$535
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Buy 2, Get 1 Night FREE at Casa Kalaw (Stay with Breakfast & Transfers):
$435
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Discovery Shores Boracay Stay with Dining/Spa Credits and Transfers [Valid til Dec 2022]:
$272
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Club Paradise Palawan Stay with Dining/Spa Credits and Transfers [Valid til Dec 2022]:
$268
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Ferra Hotel and Garden Suites Boracay 3D2N All-In Stay with Breakfast, Island Hopping, & Transfers:
$156
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Kalibo International Airport Transfers (KLO) for Boracay:
$132
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Private Clark International Airport (CRK) Transfers for Manila:
$113
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Private Intercity Van Transfer between Manila and Tagaytay, La Union, Baguio, and More:
$110
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Altabriza Resort Boracay 3D2N All-In Stay with Breakfast, Island Hopping, & Transfers:
$95
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Private City Transfers between Cagayan de Oro and Dahilayan Adventure Park:
$66
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Red Coco Inn de Boracay 3D2N All-In Stay with Breakfast, Island Hopping, & Transfers:
$63
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Private Transfers between Cebu Safari and Cebu City and Mactan:
$61
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Koh Samui can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.11 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Entertainment and activities in Boracay typically cost an average of $14 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
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SHOCK PRICE!! Only at THB10 for Airport Rail Link (ARL) Single Journey Ticket with FREE EMS:
$0.30
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Pattaya Pipo Pony Club Admission Ticket in Pattaya:
$1.55
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Pattaya Sheep Farm Ticket:
$2.19
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Ramayana Water Park Ticket in Pattaya:
$3.75
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Nails, Eyelash, and Waxing Beauty Experience at Ju's Nail:
$3.75
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Wakeboarding Experience at Thai Wake Park in Pattaya:
$4.19
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Pong Yang Adventure Park Experience:
$4.49
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Aquaria Phuket Ticket:
$4.95
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Rejuv Salon Beauty Experiences at Sathon Bangkok:
$5.85
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Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Ticket in Pattaya:
$5.89
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Sleep Salon & Nails Experience in Bangkok:
$6.15
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Kanchanaburi Mallika City Ticket:
$6.19
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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ATV Experience in Rizal by ATV Adventures Rizal:
$30
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2 Day North Batan and South Batan Tour:
$68
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2 Day North Batan, South Batan, and Sabtang Island Tour:
$95
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3 Day Cebu Highlights Tour:
$103
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3 Day North Batan, Sabtang, and South Batan Island Batanes Tour:
$108
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4D3N Single Fin Siargao Stay with My Siargao Guide Island Tour & Perks:
$154
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ATV Experience in Legazpi by Your Brother:
$7.90
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Adventure Beach Waterpark Ticket in Subic:
$6.35
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Anilao Awari Bay 2-Day Freedive Experience:
$80
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Anilao Awari Bay The Ultimate Freediver Certification Experience:
$300
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Anjo World and Snow World Ticket in Cebu:
$11
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Apo Island Snorkeling Tour from Dumaguete:
$62
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Koh Samui, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $4.02.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Boracay may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Koh Samui
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Koh Samui:
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PB Valley Vineyard and Wine Tasting Tour in Khao Yai:
$22
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Bangkok Pub Crawl by Pub Crawls Thailand:
$22
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Boracay, we can see that Boracay 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.
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