Which place is cheaper, Datong 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 Datong?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Datong? 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 Datong?
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.
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
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 PricesDatong Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $75Datong $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $75, while the average daily cost in Datong is $75. 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 Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Datong $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Datong $50
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Datong? 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 Datong Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18Datong $13
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:
- The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $161
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $121
- Angthong Catamaran Tour from Koh Samui with Lunch and Transfers: $94
- 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 Arrival Transfer: Koh Samui Airports to Hotel by Minivan: $73
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $67
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $67
- Koh Samui Tree Bridge Zipline and Jungle Cafe with Hotel Transfer: $67
- Smooth Koh Phangan to Phuket Transfer by Catamaran and Bus: $64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall: $147
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong 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 $37Datong $37
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Datong $27
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- 2 Hours ATV Quad Bike Popular Tour From Koh Samui: $96
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $56
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $105
- 3 Hour ATV Secret Waterfall Adventure in Koh Samui: $106
- 4 Hour Ultimate ATV Jungle Tour in Koh Samui Lunch Included: $137
- 6 Hours Elephant Care and Jungle Tour by 4WD in Koh Samui: $61
- ATV 1.5 Hours Jungle Safari Tour On Koh Phangan: $74
- ATV 2 hrs. Jungle Adventure on the Mountain Way in Koh Samui: $61
- Adventure Kayaking at Angthong Marine Park: $113
- Amazing Koh Samui "Must Visit" Private Tour: $172
- Ang Thong Islands Luxury Small Group Tour From Koh Samui: $143
- Ang Thong Marine Park Adventure with Kayaking and Lunch: $62
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- 1 Day Datong Yungang Grottoes & Hanging Temple Tour/from Beijing: $275
- 1-Day Pingyao tour from Datong and ends of Beijing or Xi'an by Bullet Train: $267
- 2-Day Private Datong Tour:Hanging Temple, Yugang Grottoes,Wooden Pagoda and More: $298
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- All Inclusive Datong Private Tour to Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $238
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour to Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $208
- Datong Day Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: $203
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- Datong Private Day Tour to Deshengbu and Zhenchuankou Great Wall with Lunch: $190
- Datong Private Day Tour to Yanmenguan Great Wall and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $258
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.10Datong $13
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Datong, 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 Datong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Datong?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Datong, 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.