Which place is cheaper, Lijiang 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 Lijiang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Lijiang? 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 Lijiang?
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.
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesLijiang Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $77Lijiang $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $77, while the average daily cost in Lijiang is $57. 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 Lijiang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Lijiang $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Lijiang $34
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Lijiang
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Lijiang? 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 $19Lijiang $5.98
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$2.30
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Gas for Scooter$1.23
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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$3.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Thrilling 2 Hour ATV Jungle with Hotel Transfer from Koh Samui: $88
- The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $166
- The Jungle Club or The Roof Samui Table Reservation with Transfer: $94
- Smooth Koh Samui to Krabi Catamaran and Bus or Van Transfer: $52
- Smooth Koh Phangan to Phuket Transfer by Catamaran and Bus: $66
- Private round trip Transfers from Samui Airport: $38
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Taling Ngam: $69
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Samui City: $50
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $69
- Private Transfer from Mae Nam to Samui (USM) Airport: $69
- Private Transfer from Lamai to Samui (USM) Airport: $39
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui island hotels to Ko Samui Port: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG) to Dali: $149
- Ethnic Costume Photoshoot with Hotel Transfers: $131
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
- Lijiang Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Lijiang?
Prices for flights to both Lijiang 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 $38Lijiang $31
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)$6.60
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:
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Half Day Pig Island Snorkeling Trip with Sunset Dinner from Samui: $60
- 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: $80
- Thai Cooking Class | Since 2012 | Farm to Table: $82
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $82
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $85
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $86
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $107
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $110
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Lijiang $21
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: $88
- 2 Hours ATV Quad Bike Popular Tour From Koh Samui: $111
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $58
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $121
- 3 Hour ATV Secret Waterfall Adventure in Koh Samui: $110
- 4 Hour Ultimate ATV Jungle Tour in Koh Samui Lunch Included: $141
- 4WD Jungle Safari Tour in Koh Samui with Lunch: $50
- 6 Hours Elephant Care and Jungle Tour by 4WD in Koh Samui: $62
- ATV 1.5 Hours Jungle Safari Tour On Koh Phangan: $76
- ATV 2 hrs. Jungle Adventure on the Mountain Way in Koh Samui: $63
- ATV Jungle & Mountain Trails 30-Min Off-Road Adventure Koh Samui: $47
- Adventure Kayaking at Angthong Marine Park: $116
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baisha Village Private Tour: $245
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- 1-Day Lijiang Tiger Leaping Gorge Private Tour: $240
- 1-Day Lijiang tour with Lijiang Old Town,Black Dragon Pool,Baisha Village,Shuhe: $207
- 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights: $297
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- 3days Dali Lijiang highlights tour start from Kunming: $700
- 4 Hour Private Lijiang City Highlights Walking Tour: $90
- 7-Day Yunnan Culture & Nature Tour: $1,008
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang: $221
- Biking tour&guide visit Lijiang baisha village market park: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.21Lijiang $8.42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Lijiang, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Lijiang.
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 Lijiang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Lijiang?
Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Lijiang, 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.