Which place is cheaper, Mount Kailash 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 Mount Kailash?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Mount Kailash? 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 Kailash?
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 Kailash
The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesMount Kailash Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $77Mount Kailash $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $77, while the average daily cost in Mount Kailash is $95. 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 Kailash in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Mount Kailash $29
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Mount Kailash $58
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Mount Kailash
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Mount Kailash? 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 $19Mount Kailash $33
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:
- Angthong Catamaran Tour from Koh Samui with Lunch and Transfers: $77
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $21
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Koh Tao: $26
- Full Moon Party by Speed Boat Transfer from Koh Samui: $35
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $49
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $60
- Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Round Trip Private Transfer: $35
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Koh Pha Ngan to Phuket Scenic Catamaran and Bus Transfer: $61
- Koh Phangan to Krabi Hassle Free Catamaran and Bus Transfer: $52
- Koh Phangan to Krabi Transfer by Catamaran and Bus: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Mount Kailash?
Prices for flights to both Mount Kailash 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 $38Mount Kailash $45
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:
- Koh Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $77
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $78
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $78
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $79
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui Buffet & Transfer: $80
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $81
- Thai Cooking Class | Farm to Table: $81
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $85
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Mount Kailash $17
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.: $2.34
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.04
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui: $14
- Paris Follies Cabaret Evening Entertainment Ticket from Koh Samui: $20
- Create Your Own Crystal Aroma Oil Ritual Experience: $20
- Samui: Double Seater Karting: Share the Driving Experience: $22
- Koh Samui Half Day Island Guided Tour: $23
- Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Nightlife Walking Tour: $24
- Top Sights of Samui City Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.21Mount Kailash $2.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Mount Kailash, we can see that Mount Kailash is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samui much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Samui would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samui 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 Mount Kailash would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mount Kailash than you might in Koh Samui.
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 Kailash 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.