Which place is cheaper, Hefei or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Koh Samui or Hefei? 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.
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.
While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to China, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in China.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $55, while the average daily cost in Hefei is $62. 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 Hefei in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Hefei? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Hefei 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Koh Samui:
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Hefei, we can see that Hefei 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 Hefei Expensive?.
Hefei has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Hefei, 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.
Hefei has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samui experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Hefei. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Koh Samui is generally cooler than Hefei. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Hefei fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Hefei. Koh Samui receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samui usually gets less rain in July than Hefei. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Hefei 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.
Koh Samui is a little warmer than Hefei in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Hefei fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In October, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Hefei. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Samui is December to February. The rainy season in Koh Samui is October to December.
Both Hefei 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.
Hefei can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Koh Samui is much warmer than Hefei. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samui in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Hefei averages at about 3°C (38°F).
Koh Samui usually gets more rain in January than Hefei. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Hefei. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
In April, Koh Samui is generally much warmer than Hefei. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Hefei fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
In April, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Hefei. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Hefei receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Koh Samui | Hefei | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |