Which place is cheaper, Chengdu 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.
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Should you visit Koh Samui or Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Chengdu? 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 Chengdu?
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.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesChengdu Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $75Chengdu $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $75, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $71. 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 Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Chengdu $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Chengdu $44
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Chengdu? 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 Chengdu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18Chengdu $6.34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
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Scooter Rental$2.25
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Gas for Scooter$1.20
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Airport Taxi$13
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $121
- Angthong Catamaran Tour from Koh Samui with Lunch and Transfers: $94
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $21
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Koh Tao: $25
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $58
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $48
- Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Round Trip Private Transfer: $35
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $17
- Koh Pha Ngan to Phuket Scenic Catamaran and Bus Transfer: $59
- Koh Phangan to Krabi Hassle Free Catamaran and Bus Transfer: $51
- Koh Phangan to Krabi Transfer by Catamaran and Bus: $55
- Koh Samui Airport Transfers: One Price, Anywhere on the Island: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Chengdu 3-Day Self-Guided Jiuzhaigou&Huanglong with Transfer: $412
- Algou Valley Hiking Tour with Roundtrip Transfer: $289
- Chengdu Panda & Giant Buddha Day Tour With Private Transfer: $240
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $230
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Leshan Giant buddha with Round Airport Transfer: $205
- Downtown to Leshan round way transfer for one day service: $172
- Private Day Tour of Giant Pandas and Kuanzhai Alley with Transfer: $168
- Downtown to Dujiangyan round way transfer: $161
- Leshan Buddha Optional Tours w/ Transfer or Guide: $156
- Chengdu Private Round Trip Transfer to Emei Mountain: $128
- Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City: $113
- Private Transfer from Chengdu to Mount Emei and Stops at Leshan Giant Buddha: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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 dayKoh Samui $37Chengdu $40
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)$6.46
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 Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Half Day Pig Island Snorkeling Trip with Sunset Dinner from Samui: $58
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $75
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $76
- Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Micro Organic Garden: $76
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $76
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $78
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $109
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $109
- Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $117
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Chengdu Night: VIP Seat Opera Show or Back Alley Food Tour: $40
- Chengdu Food Tour Local Delicacies and Ear Cleaning: $59
- Private Chengdu TukTuk Food Tour: Hidden Alleys & Local Eats: $59
- Eat Like a Local! Food Tour in the Hidden Alleys: $67
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu Local Eats: $68
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking with a Local Market Visit: $69
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $73
- Evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $79
- Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit: $80
- Eat with Locals Chengdu Dinner Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Chengdu $17
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Coconut Soap Making Demo and Experience Koh Samui Class@13:30 pm.: $2.28
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $6.84
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui: $17
- Paris Follies Cabaret Evening Entertainment Ticket from Koh Samui: $17
- Koh Samui Paris Follies Cabaret Spectacular Evening Show Ticket: $18
- Create Your Own Crystal Aroma Oil Ritual Experience: $20
- Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Nightlife Walking Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $26
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $26
- Half Day Highlights Koh Samui Tour: $30
- Round-the-Island Sightseeing Tour: $31
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Panda Breeding Center Plus Chengdu City Tour: $175
- 1 Day Tea Trip in Mount Mengding with Tea Making Experience: $150
- 1 Day Wolong Panda Nature Reserve Tour: $204
- 1 day Chengdu City Highlights Mini Group tour: $102
- 1-Day Chengdu Ancient History and Culture City Tour: $179
- 1-Day Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour With the Lunch and Boat tour: $242
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch: $246
- 1-Day Chengdu Panda Research Base and Sanxingdui Archeological Museum Tour: $256
- 1-Day Chengdu Private Tour: Dujiangyan Ancient River Irrigation and Temple Site: $213
- 1-Day Chengdu tour with Panda Base, Renmin Park,Wenshu Temple and Hot Pot Lunch: $193
- 1-Day Dujiangyan Self-Guided Tour: Panda Volunteer and Water Irrigation System: $123
- 1-Day Leshan Giant Buddha Private Tour with the Lunch from Chengdu: $229
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.10Chengdu $4.20
Sample the Local Flavors in Chengdu
Also in Chengdu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Chengdu Pub Crawl: $10
- Tipsy Travel: Chengdu Evening Food and Bar Crawl with Local Guide: $138
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Chengdu, 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. 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 Samui Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Chengdu, 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.
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.