Which place is cheaper, Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City?
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.
Guatemala City
Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, and The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesGuatemala City Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $74Guatemala City $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $74, while the average daily cost in Guatemala City is $56. 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 Guatemala City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Guatemala City $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Guatemala City $48
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Guatemala City
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Guatemala City? 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 Guatemala City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18Guatemala City $6.27
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$2.22
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Gas for Scooter$1.18
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Airport Taxi$13
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$12
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Samui International Airport (USM) Departure Shared Transfer: $9.00
- Private Transfer from Koh Samui Airport to Your Hotel: $12
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $15
- Koh Samui Private Airport Transfer: $15
- Private Koh Samui Airport Transfer with Meet & Greet: $17
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $17
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $17
- Koh Samui Shared Airport Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $18
- Koh Samui Airport to Hotel Transfer – Arrival & Departure: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui island hotels to Ko Samui Port: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Island Hotels: $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:
- Private Transfer from Guatemala City to Panajachel or Atitlan: $254
- Private Museums Tour with Transfers: $225
- Private transfer - San Pedro la Laguna to Guatemala City: $200
- Private Transfers from Guatemala city to Panajachel: $200
- Private Transfer - Guatemala Airport (GUA) to Puerto Quetzal Port: $200
- Airport Transfer for Large Groups – Private Bus: $195
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Quetzaltenango-Arrival Transfer: $160
- Transfer Private Group Airport to Antigua or Viceversa: $120
- Private Transfer from Guatemala Airport GUA to Lake Atitlán: $96
- Private Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $90
- Private Transfer From La Aurora AirPort to Panajachel Atitlan: $84
- Private Ground Transfer Guatemala City To Panajachel, LakeAtitlan: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Guatemala City?
Prices for flights to both Guatemala City 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 $36Guatemala City $27
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:
- Koh Phangan Private Group Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $58
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $75
- 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: $76
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $77
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $78
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Buffet & Transfer: $78
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $79
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guatemala City.
- Guatemala: Wine and Pizza Tasting Experience: $35
- Antigua: Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class: $80
- Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
- Food Tour Zona 4: Dinner Date Experience: $125
- Pacaya Volcano Private Tour: Nature, Adventure and Pizza: $175
- Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $188
- Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza with Great Volcano Views: $205
- Pacaya Volcano. Tour and pizza making on Volcanic Heat: $275
- Puerto Quetzal: Private Tour Pacaya Volcano 4x4 and Pizza: $550
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $11Guatemala City $1.23
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: $7.59
- Koh Samui Paris Follies Cabaret Spectacular Evening Show Ticket: $16
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui: $17
- Paris Follies Cabaret Evening Entertainment Ticket from Koh Samui: $19
- Create Your Own Crystal Aroma Oil Ritual Experience: $20
- Koh Samui Half Day Island Guided Tour: $23
- Top Sights of Samui City Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Nightlife Walking Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $25
- Koh Samui City & Temples Tour with Na Muang Waterfall: $27
Tours and Activities in Guatemala City
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Guatemala City are as follows:
- 1 Day Lake Atitlan Tour from Guatemala City: $150
- 2-Day Tour: Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlan and Hobbitenango: $299
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $199
- 4-Hour Bike Tour Guatemala City: $70
- Antigua + Guatemala City Full Day Tour - History Lovers Favorite: $245
- Antigua City Tour Full Day From Guatemala City: $60
- Antigua City Tour from Guatemala City: $89
- Antigua Guatemala Express Half Day Colonial Charm Tour: $45
- Antigua Guatemala Full Day Tour: $85
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Shared City Tour: $83
- Antigua Guatemala Full-Day Tour from Guatemala City: $89
- Antigua Guatemala NIGHT Photo Tour FROM Guatemala City: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.03Guatemala City $6.95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Guatemala City, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Guatemala City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samui is in Asia and Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guatemala City 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 Guatemala City.
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 Guatemala City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Guatemala City?
Guatemala City has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Guatemala City, 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.