Which place is cheaper, Freeport 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 Freeport?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Freeport? 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 Freeport?
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.
Freeport
When you picture the Bahamas you likely picture the beaches, resorts and playgrounds of Nassau. Just to the northwest of this tourist paradise is a tropical city founded on industry. Freeport began as mostly swampland and is now the second most populous city in the Bahamas.
This city is less of a tourist attraction - a place where you'll find the true Bahaman culture mixed in with some relaxing spots to help you unwind and get into your island vacation.
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 Bahamas, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Bahamas.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesFreeport Prices
Bahamas Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $75Freeport $291
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $75, while the average daily cost in Freeport is $291. 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 Freeport in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Freeport $141
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Freeport $282
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Freeport
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Freeport? 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 Freeport Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18Freeport $59
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$2.24
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Gas for Scooter$1.19
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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$3.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Koh Samui Guided Jet Ski Safari Adventure Tour with Transfer: $196
- The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $162
- Koh Samui Paradise Park Farm Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $135
- Samui Michelin Guide Dining at Ban Suan Lung Khai and transfer: $92
- The Jungle Club or The Roof Samui Table Reservation with Transfer: $92
- Thrilling 2 Hour ATV Jungle with Hotel Transfer from Koh Samui: $86
- Koh Samui Beginner Friendly Jungle Treetop Zipline with Transfers: $79
- Koh Samui Zipline 11 Lines with Jungle Views and Transfers: $74
- Private Arrival Transfer: Koh Samui Airports to Hotel by Minivan: $73
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $66
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $66
- Koh Pha Ngan to Phuket Scenic Catamaran and Bus Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Freeport
Also for Freeport, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from FPO to Old Bahama Bay resort: $245
- Freeport Private One-Way Airport or Cruise Port Car Transfer: $180
- Private Transfer from FPO to Freeport hotels or resorts: $175
- Shared Round Trip Limousine Transfer: $150
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Old Bahama Bay -Round-Trip Transfer: $149
- Grand Bahama Airport(FPO) to Freeport -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $149
- Luxury SUV Transfer from Airport, cruise port, Celebration Key: $133
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Old Bahama Bay - Private Transfer: $74
- Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) to Freeport - Arrival Private Transfer: $74
- Old Bahama Bay to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) - Private Transfer: $74
- Freeport to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO) Departure Private Transfer: $74
- Private Transfer from Freeport Port to Grand Bahama Airport (FPO): $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Freeport?
Prices for flights to both Freeport 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 $37Freeport $110
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)$6.42
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:
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $68
- 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: $77
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $80
- Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Micro Organic Garden: $81
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $84
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $86
- Koh Samui Thai Cooking Small-Group Class with Daily Rotating Menu: $98
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $107
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $109
- Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Freeport
For Freeport, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Around Town/Bahamian Cooking Experience: $200
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $11Freeport $40
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: $86
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $56
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $118
- 3.5-Hour Koh Phangan ATV Jungle Adventure with Viewpoints: $135
- 4WD Jungle Safari Tour in Koh Samui with Lunch: $49
- 6 Hours Elephant Care and Jungle Tour by 4WD in Koh Samui: $61
- ATV 1.5 Hours Jungle Safari Tour On Koh Phangan: $67
- Adventure Kayaking at Angthong Marine Park: $113
- Amazing Koh Samui "Must Visit" Private Tour: $173
- Ang Thong Marine Park Adventure with Kayaking and Lunch: $63
- Ang Thong Marine Park Full-Day Speedboat VIP Tour: $73
- Ang Thong Marine Park: Full-Day Island Adventure from Koh Samui: $123
Typical Entertainment Prices in Freeport
For Freeport, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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10 Dive Package$300
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4 Hr. Kayak Tour$70
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1/2 Day Snorkel Trip$75
Tours and Activities in Freeport
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Freeport.
- Bahamas Sea Scooter Snorkeling Adventure: $120
- Bahamian Beer Tour with Beach stop from CelebrationKey/FPO Harbor: $52
- Clear Kayak Tour: $120
- Coopers Castle and Port Lucaya Marketplace Tour: $60
- East End Private Day Trip Experience Tour: $270
- Eleuthera Adventure: Swings, Pigs, and Reefs: $600
- Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $127
- Freeport Shore Excursion: Garden of the Groves and City Tour: $124
- Grand Bahama Culture, History & Local Flavors Tour: $280
- Junkanoo Adventure with Bahamian Cuisine Tasting: $850
- Grand Bahama Foodie Tour: $150
- Jet Ski Tour Freeport for 2 Persons @CreativeEcoAdventures: $242
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.07Freeport $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Freeport
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Freeport:
- Brewery & Taste with Beach & Shop at Largest Market on Freeport 4-hrs: $85
- Grand Bahama Brewery and Distillery Tour: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Freeport, we can see that Freeport is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samui much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samui is in Asia and Freeport is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Koh Samui would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samui 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 Freeport would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Freeport than you might in Koh Samui.
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 Freeport Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Freeport?
Koh Samui has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Freeport. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Freeport, 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.