Which place is cheaper, Mount Everest or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Koh Samui or Mount Everest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Mount Everest? 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 Mount Everest?
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.
Mount Everest
More commonly known as Mount Everest, Qomolangma is the highest mountain in the world with a peak reaching 8,848 meters above sea level. Pilgrims trek long distances to worship its divine aura, climbing enthusiasts run great risks to challenge its high altitude, and visitors from all over come to see where the tallest reaches of earth meet the heavens.
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 Kathmandu, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Pokhara.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $55Mount Everest $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $55, while the average daily cost in Mount Everest is $40. 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 Mount Everest in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $24Mount Everest $6.84
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $48Mount Everest $14
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Mount Everest
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Mount Everest? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $17Mount Everest -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
-
Scooter Rental$2.05
-
Gas for Scooter$1.09
-
Airport Taxi$12
-
Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$11
-
Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.27
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: $11
- Samui International Airport (USM) Arrival Shared Transfer: $11
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Chaweng, Koh Samui APT-HTL (USM): $12
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer Chaweng,Koh Samui HTL-APT (USM): $12
- Koh Samui Shared Arrival or Departure Transfer : $14
- Koh Samui Airport Departure – Shared Transfer: $15
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui: $15
- Private Departure Transfer: From Hotel to Koh Samui Airport by Car: $20
- Koh Samui Airport (USM): Private Transfer within the Island: $23
- Half-Day Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $23
- Koh Samui Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $25
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Mount Everest?
Prices for flights to both Mount Everest 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
-
Food Meals for one dayKoh Samui $19Mount Everest $26
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.86
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:
- Romantic 4-Course Dinner for Two on the Beach by the Amari Samui: $43
- Cooking Class with Herbal Garden by Amari Koh Samui: $51
- Thai Cooking Class at Melati Beach Resort & Spa: $59
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $61
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $67
- Thai Cooking Class & Organic Micro Farm Experience - Farm to Table. Since 2015: $69
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $71
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $72
- Koh Samui Jungle Kitchen - Half Day Cooking Class: $77
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $78
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour: $80
- Red Baron Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise: $88
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $10Mount Everest $18
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island : $23
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $23
- Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience: $24
- Angthong National Marine Park Tour by Large Boat: $26
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $27
- Mu Ko Ang Thong Park Cruise with Kayaking Option: $29
- Half Day Chiang Mai City Tour with Famous Temples and Viewpoint: $29
- Ang Thong National Marine Park Tour by Big Boat from Koh Samui: $30
- Original Discovery Tour: $30
- Private Customized Tour with Driver in Koh Samui: $33
- Angthong National Marine Park by Tour Boat including Lunch: $35
- Koh Samui Private Customized Tour with Driver: $36
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $4.63Mount Everest -
Sample the Local Flavors in Koh Samui
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Koh Samui:
- Private 4x4 Off-Road Island Safari + Rum Distillery Visit & Tasting: $295
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Mount Everest, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Mount Everest much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mount Everest would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Everest 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 Mount Everest.
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 Mount Everest Expensive?.
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.