Which city is cheaper, Pattaya or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pattaya? 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.
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.
Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.
Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $49, while the average daily cost in Pattaya is $59. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koh Samui and Pattaya in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Pattaya? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Pattaya 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Pattaya, we can see that Pattaya 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 Pattaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pattaya than you might in Koh Samui.
Both destinations experience a tropical climate with warm weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Both Pattaya and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In July, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Pattaya. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Koh Samui is generally cooler than Pattaya. Temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Pattaya stays around 29°C (84°F).
Both Pattaya and Koh Samui during the autumn are popular places to visit. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.
December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui. October to December is the rainy season in Koh Samui. Pattaya gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samui. Koh Samui usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Pattaya. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Koh Samui is cooler than Pattaya in the autumn. The temperature in Koh Samui is usually 24°C (75°F) in October, and Pattaya stays around 28°C (82°F).
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Pattaya. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samui because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season. In January, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Pattaya. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Koh Samui is cooler than Pattaya. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samui in January are around 22°C (72°F), and Pattaya is about 27°C (80°F).
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Pattaya. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
Koh Samui usually gets less rain in April than Pattaya. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Koh Samui is generally cooler than Pattaya. Temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Pattaya stays around 30°C (86°F).
Koh Samui | Pattaya | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 202 mm (7.9 in) |
Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 232 mm (9.1 in) |
Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
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