Which place is cheaper, Pushkar or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samui or Pushkar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pushkar? 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 Pushkar?
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.
Pushkar
Pushkar is a city located in the state of Rajasthan, India. The city is considered a holy one; it's famous for its Brahma temple. It is also known for its ghats, its lake, and bazaar. Brahma is one part of the holy Hindu trinity and is known sit on a lotus flower (which is what 'Pushkar' translates to). In Hindu religion, Brahma is believed to be the creator of this world and Pushkar is the most important temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, and The Best Cultural Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $55Pushkar $28
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $55, while the average daily cost in Pushkar is $28. 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 Pushkar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $24Pushkar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $48Pushkar $24
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Pushkar
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Pushkar? 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 Pushkar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $17Pushkar $4.95
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$2.05
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Gas for Scooter$1.09
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Airport Taxi$12
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$11
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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
- Samui: Koh Samui Shared Arrival or Departure Transfer : $12
- 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 Private Airport Transfer: $13
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pushkar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pushkar:
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Ranthambore In AC Vehicle: $117
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Udaipur In AC Vehicle: $112
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Agra In AC Vehicle: $112
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To New Delhi In AC Vehicle: $112
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Mount Abu In AC Vehicle: $112
- From Pushkar : Private Transfer To Jaisalmer: $80
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Jodhpur In AC Vehicle: $71
- From Pushkar : Private Transfer To Ranthambore: $70
- Private Transfer From Jaipur To Jodhpur Via Pushkar: $66
- From Jaipur : Private Pushkar Transfer in AC Car: $66
- From Pushkar : Private Transfer To Udaipur: $65
- Private Transfers Pushkar To New Delhi Drop: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Pushkar?
Prices for flights to both Pushkar 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 $19Pushkar $10
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)$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
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise by RED BARON: $60
- 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: $69
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $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 with Local Market Tour: $80
- Red Baron Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise: $88
- 4-Hour Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise (SHA Plus): $106
Typical Food Prices in Pushkar
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pushkar are as follows:
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Lunch$2.39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pushkar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pushkar.
- Taste of Pushkar (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour Experience): $24
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $10Pushkar $8.22
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $22
- 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
- Mu Ko Ang Thong Park Cruise with Kayaking Option: $29
- Half Day Chiang Mai City Tour with Famous Temples and Viewpoint: $29
- Original Discovery Tour: $30
- Ang Thong National Marine Park Tour by Big Boat from Koh Samui: $30
- Travstore Original Samui Discovery-Shared Half Day City Tour: $32
- Private Customized Tour with Driver in Koh Samui: $33
- Admission Ticket to High Park Samui: $34
Tours and Activities in Pushkar
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pushkar are as follows:
- 10 Days Rajasthan Heritage and Culture Tour: $1,709
- 2 hours Sunset Camel Safari Adventure In Pushkar: $36
- 2 hours Sunset Camel Safari Adventure In Pushkar: $47
- 4 Days Jaipur Jodhpur Tour with Pushkar: $390
- 7 - Days Tour of Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Pushkar and Jaipur: $264
- 7 - Days Tour of Udaipur, Chittaurgarh, Pushkar and Jaipur: $348
- 7-Days Golden Triangle Tour With Tiger & Leopard Safari: $661
- Afternoon Walk Tour with Sunset & Fire Ritual -The Pushkar Route : $7.00
- Afternoon Walking tour with Sunset & Arti -The Pushkar Route: $7.19
- Amazing 3 Nights 4 Days Jaipur with Ajmer Pushkar Tour: $624
- City Walking Tour-THE Pushkar Route: $6.76
- Cultural Walk of Pushkar (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $4.63Pushkar $6.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Pushkar, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Pushkar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pushkar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pushkar 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 Pushkar.
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 Pushkar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Pushkar?
Koh Samui has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pushkar. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Pushkar, 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.