Which place is cheaper, David 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 David?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or David? 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 David?
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.
David
In the Pacific West of Panama, David is the capital city of Chiriqui province. The city's population of almost 150,000 is among the wealthiest in the country. There is a well established middle class and unemployment remains low in the area. The area has grown rapidly in recent years with growing commercial and banking sectors. The city is well connected to the rest of the country by the Pan American Highway.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best Budget Tours to Panama.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesDavid Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $75David $39
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $75, while the average daily cost in David is $39. 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 David in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25David $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50David $24
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and David
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or David? 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 David Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18David $12
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:
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $15
- Private Koh Samui Airport Transfer with Meet & Greet: $17
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Koh Samui Shared Airport Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Cruise Port to Ko Samui Hotels: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $19
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $21
- Private Taxi Transfer from Samui Airport to Koh Samui Main Areas: $23
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Koh Tao: $25
- Private Airport Transfer: Koh Samui Airport (USM) → Hotel: $28
- Private Transfer Samui Airport to InterContinental Koh Samui: $31
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or David?
Prices for flights to both David 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 $37David $17
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:
- Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $76
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $77
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise: $77
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $77
- Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Micro Organic Garden: $77
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $77
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $80
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $87
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $108
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $111
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $111
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12David $4.37
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.: $2.30
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $6.93
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour 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 Around The Island: $26
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $27
- Scenic Half Day Island Highlights Tour in Koh Samui: $29
- High Speed Karting Fun Adventure at EasyKart from Koh Samui: $30
- Half Day Highlights Koh Samui Tour: $31
- Round-the-Island Sightseeing Tour: $32
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.10David -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and David, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is David much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samui is in Asia and David is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to David would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in David and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Koh Samui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Samui than you might in David.
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 David Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or David?
David has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and David, 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.