Which place is cheaper, Palawan or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Koh Samui or Palawan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Palawan? 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 Palawan?
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.
Palawan
Palawan is an archipelagic province of the Philippines, named for its largest island which measures about 450 kilometers (or 280 miles) long. The island is known as an ecological frontier with plenty of beaches and resorts as well as opportunities to see a diverse array of wildlife and their habitats on land and sea.
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 in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $55Palawan $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $55, while the average daily cost in Palawan 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 Palawan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $24Palawan $13
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $48Palawan $26
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Palawan
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Palawan? 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 Palawan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $17Palawan $16
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: Angthong Marine Park Boat Tour w/ Transfer and Meals: $36
- Samui International Airport: Private Hotel Transfer: $33
- Samui International Airport (USM) Departure Shared Transfer: $11
- Samui International Airport (USM) Arrival Shared Transfer: $11
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $63
- Private Transfer from Samui City to Samui (USM) Airport: $46
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Taling Ngam: $63
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Samui City: $46
- Private Transfer from Lamai to Samui (USM) Airport: $36
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui island hotels to Ko Samui Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Island Hotels: $66
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Cruise Port to Ko Samui Hotels: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Palawan
Also for Palawan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers Puerto Princesa To Elnido: $260
- Puerto Princesa - El Nido | Private Van Transfer: $149
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140
- Private Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $79
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- Private Puerto Princesa Airport Transfers: $29
- Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
- Airport Transfers: $20
- Arrival airport transfer-Private airport to hotel in central area: $20
- Shared Busuanga Airport to Coron Hotel Transfer: $10
- Arrival Airport transfers from Puerto Princesa Airport to Hotels: $7.50
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Palawan?
Prices for flights to both Palawan 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 $19Palawan $11
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: $44
- 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: $68
- Thai Cooking Class & Organic Micro Farm Experience - Farm to Table. Since 2015: $70
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $72
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $73
- Koh Samui Jungle Kitchen - Half Day Cooking Class: $78
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour: $81
- Red Baron Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise: $89
- Koh Samui Private Half Day Cooking Class: $98
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Palawan
For Palawan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Puerto Princesa Fireflies Watching with Dinner: $40
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $10Palawan $5.24
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- 6 Hrs Off Road 4x4 Adventure of Hidden Gems In Koh Samui Hills 1 - 4 persons: $119
- 6 Hrs Off Road 4x4 Adventure of Hidden Gems In Koh Samui Hills 5 - 8 Persons: $146
- Pig Island Experience By Speed Boat, Snorkeling, Kayaking Relaxing on the Beach: $50
- Private Tour in Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple: $198
- koh samui island and water fall tour: $44
- 2 Day Halfmoon Festival Experience General Admission Pass: $71
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $51
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $108
- 3 Night Hotel Package and 2 Day Experience at Halfmoon Festival: $287
- 3.5-Hours ATV Adventure in the Jungle of Koh Phangan: $162
- 4X4 Tour around the Island : $56
- 6 Hours Elephant Care and Jungle Tour by 4WD in Koh Samui: $52
Tours and Activities in Palawan
For Palawan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $43
- 2in1 City tour and museum with pick up at hotel or cruise port: $15
- 3 Days Coron Palawan Reefs & Wreck Multi Day Tours: $180
- 3D2N El Nido Experience: $250
- 3dayTour Underground river honda bay citytour w/ airport pick up: $125
- 5D4N Puerto Princesa & El Nido Experience: $299
- City Tour of Puerto Princesa: $35
- City tour of Puerto Princesa Palawan Philippines : $19
- Coron Busuanga Calauit Safari Tour With Black Island (Private): $225
- Coron Busuanga Calauit Safari Tour With Black Island (Shared Tour): $93
- Coron Calauit Safari Tour E: $89
- Coron Culion Island Escapade Private Tour: $132
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $4.63Palawan $7.49
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: $299
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Palawan, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Palawan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Palawan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Palawan 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 Palawan.
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 Palawan 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.