Which place is cheaper, Havana 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 Havana?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Havana? 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 Havana?
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.
Havana
The city of Havana is at the top of most peoples' bucket list - mostly because of the allure of a forbidden land. Before the Communist revolution, Cuba was a popular tourist destination. Since it has reopened in the 1990s, it has drawn tourists from all over the world (except the US).
This capital city is a land trapped in the past. With 50 years of neglect, when you step off the plane, prepare to step back in time. A trip to Havana is meant for those with truly open minds - and when they arrive they'll be swept away.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesHavana Prices
Cuba Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Havana $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Havana is $74. 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 Havana in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Havana $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Havana $84
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Havana
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Havana? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Havana $19
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$2.36
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Gas for Scooter$1.26
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Airport Taxi$14
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.77
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: $127
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $22
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan Transfer Painting and Party: $49
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $46
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $50
- Guided Zipline Adventure in Ko Samui with Round Trip Transfer: $81
- Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Round Trip Private Transfer: $36
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Koh Pha Ngan to Phuket Scenic Catamaran and Bus Transfer : $50
- Koh Samui Airport (USM): Private Transfer within the Island: $12
- Koh Samui Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Havana
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Havana:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.68
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Havana?
Prices for flights to both Havana 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 $39Havana $18
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)$6.75
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:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $77
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $79
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $79
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $82
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $82
- Thai Cooking Class | Since 2012 | Farm to Table: $82
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $82
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $108
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $113
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $122
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $122
Typical Food Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Havana:
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Pizza$0.03
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Havana $11
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: $2.39
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.97
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui : $18
- Samui: Double Seater Karting: Share the Driving Experience: $22
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island : $27
- Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience: $28
- High Speed Karting Fun Adventure at EasyKart from Koh Samui: $29
- Koh Samui City & Temples Tour with Na Muang Waterfall: $29
- Angthong National Marine Park by Highsea Tour (Official): $30
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $30
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $31
Tours and Activities in Havana
Here are a few actual costs in Havana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private: City Tour with Lunch, Rum, and Chocolate: $2,000
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Havana $5.76
Typical Alcohol Prices in Havana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Havana:
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Mojito$0.15
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Havana, 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. Even though Koh Samui is in Asia and Havana is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Havana Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Havana?
Havana has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Havana, 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.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui or Havana?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Koh Samui or Havana in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Havana. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Havana throughout the year.
Koh Samui receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samui usually gets more rain in July than Havana. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Havana receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Koh Samui is cooler than Havana in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Havana fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Havana 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Havana in the Autumn?
Both Havana and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Havana because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Samui is December to February. The rainy season in Koh Samui is October to December. It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In October, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Havana. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Havana receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In the autumn, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Havana. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samui in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Havana averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)Havana 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Havana in the Winter?
Both Havana and Koh Samui during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samui because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Havana year-round.
December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui. Koh Samui usually gets more rain in January than Havana. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Havana receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In January, Koh Samui is generally around the same temperature as Havana. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 22°C (72°F), and Havana fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)Havana 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Havana in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Havana. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round. Havana attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Havana. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Havana receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Havana in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in April, and Havana fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Havana 24°C (75°F)
Typical Weather for Havana and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Havana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
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.