Which place is cheaper, Leh 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 Leh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Leh? 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 Leh?
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.
Leh
Leh is a small town located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Today, the town is best known for its Buddhist sites and nearby trekking areas. It is situated in northern India, amidst the mountainous Himalayan range.
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 from New Delhi, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesLeh Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $75Leh $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $75, while the average daily cost in Leh is $42. 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 Leh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Leh $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Leh $30
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Leh
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Leh? 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 Leh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $18Leh $6.82
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:
- Samui International Airport (USM) Departure Shared Transfer: $9.00
- 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 Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $17
- Koh Samui Airport to Hotel Transfer – Arrival & Departure: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Island Hotels: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Cruise Port to Ko Samui Hotels: $18
- Private Taxi Transfer from Samui Airport to Koh Samui Main Areas: $21
- Private Departure Transfer: From Hotel to Koh Samui Airport by Car: $21
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:
- Ladakh: 5-Day Family Tour with Accommodation & Transfers: $338
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Leh?
Prices for flights to both Leh 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 $37Leh $21
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
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $70
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $76
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $77
- Idyllic Half Day Sunset Cruise and Dinner in Koh Samui: $77
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $79
- Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Micro Organic Garden: $81
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $82
- 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: $88
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $107
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $11Leh $12
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.: $2.29
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.64
- 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
- Top Sights of Samui City Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $25
- Koh Samui High-Speed Go Karting Adventure: $27
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $29
- Half Day Highlights Koh Samui Tour: $30
- Pig Island Tour by Teak Cruise with Snorkeling From Koh Samui: $30
Tours and Activities in Leh
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:
- "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $93
- All Inclusive Leh Full & Half Day Tour with Hotel Pickup: $48
- LADAKH TOUR: $582
- Ladakh: 14-Day Guided Motorcycle Tour with Meals & Fuel: $3,125
- Ladakh: 4N - 5Day Tour to Leh - Pangong Lake and Monasteries: $217
- Leh in a Day: Guided Tour of Iconic Landmarks and more: $79
- 6-Day Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake and Sham Valley Tour: $508
- Alchi, Likir, Moonland-Lamayuru Monasteries Tour ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: $66
- Electric Cycle Tour with Heritage Walk & Meal: $48
- Ladakh Highlights Tour with Homestay: $803
- Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake 3-Day Tour: $254
- One Night Two Days Pangong Lake Tour with Accommodation: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.07Leh $4.83
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Leh, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Leh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leh 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 Leh.
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 Leh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Leh?
Koh Samui has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Leh, 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.