Which place is cheaper, Kampong Cham 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 Kampong Cham?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham?
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.
Kampong Cham
Kampong Cham is the sixth largest city in the country, located in the east of Cambodia. Just two and a half hours away from Phnom Penh is a surprisingly large province by the same name. Kampong Cham is the capital of this province, a quiet town on the west side of the Mekong River. While the town does not cater to tourists like other large cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the charm of Kampong Cham lies in the beauty and simplicity of local life. Visitors will also get a glimpse into agricultural life on the plantations of rubber trees, tobacco and cashews.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesKampong Cham Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $75Kampong Cham $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $75, while the average daily cost in Kampong Cham is $36. 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 Kampong Cham in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Kampong Cham $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Kampong Cham $40
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Kampong Cham
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18Kampong Cham $7.64
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:
- Ziplining Koh Samui at Hawk Adventure with Transfer: $58
- Thrilling 2 Hour ATV Jungle with Hotel Transfer from Koh Samui: $86
- The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $163
- The Jungle Club or The Roof Samui Table Reservation with Transfer: $92
- Smooth Koh Phangan to Phuket Transfer by Catamaran and Bus: $58
- Samui Zipline Adventure with Transfer service: $52
- Samui Michelin Guide Dining at Ban Suan Lung Khai and transfer: $92
- Private round trip Transfers from Samui Airport: $37
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $66
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Samui City: $48
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $66
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Lamai: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Kampong Cham?
Prices for flights to both Kampong Cham 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 $37Kampong Cham $11
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:
- Koh Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Half Day Pig Island Snorkeling Trip with Sunset Dinner from Samui: $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: $68
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $71
- Idyllic Half Day Sunset Cruise and Dinner in Koh Samui: $75
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $77
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $77
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $77
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $78
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Buffet & Transfer: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $11Kampong Cham $5.74
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 Hours ATV Quad Bike Popular Tour From Koh Samui: $108
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $57
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $118
- 3 Hour ATV Secret Waterfall Adventure in Koh Samui: $107
- 3.5-Hour Koh Phangan ATV Jungle Adventure with Viewpoints: $169
- 4 Hour Ultimate ATV Jungle Tour in Koh Samui Lunch Included: $138
- 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: $174
- Ang Thong Islands Tour with Snorkeling and Lunch from Koh Samui: $144
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.07Kampong Cham $5.45
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Kampong Cham, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Kampong Cham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampong Cham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampong Cham 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 Kampong Cham.
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 Kampong Cham Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Kampong Cham?
Kampong Cham has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Kampong Cham, 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.