Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pyeongchang? 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 Pyeongchang?
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.
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
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 Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesPyeongchang Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Pyeongchang $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $133. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Pyeongchang $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Pyeongchang $122
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Pyeongchang
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Pyeongchang? 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 Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Pyeongchang $24
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$2.36
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Gas for Scooter$1.26
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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$3.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $171
- Smooth Koh Phangan to Phuket Transfer by Catamaran and Bus : $54
- Samui Zipline Adventure with Transfer service: $55
- Samui International Airport (USM) Departure Shared Transfer: $9.00
- Private round trip Transfers from Samui Airport : $38
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $70
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $69
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Lamai : $39
- Private Transfer from Mae Nam to Samui (USM) Airport: $69
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Pyeongchang?
Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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 $39Pyeongchang $47
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)$6.75
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:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $77
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $80
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $81
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $82
- Sunset Dinner Cruise by Red Baron In Koh Samui : $83
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $83
- Thai Cooking Class | Since 2012 | Farm to Table: $83
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $83
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $108
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $115
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $123
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Pyeongchang $50
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Koh Madsum (Pig island) and Koh Tan Day Tour from Koh Samui: $103
- Koh Samui Island ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $99
- Pig Island Experience By Speed Boat, Snorkeling, Kayaking Relaxing on the Beach: $47
- Private Tour in Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple: $198
- Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $83
- koh samui island and water fall tour: $50
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Tour In Koh Samui : $89
- 2 Islands Sightseeing and Snorkeling Trip From Koh Samui: $48
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $59
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $123
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $27
- 4WD Buggy. Mountain Tour 3 hrs. for 1-2 people per Buggy in Samui: $252
Tours and Activities in Pyeongchang
For Pyeongchang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Alpensia 2D1N Ski Lift Tour: $141
- Balwangsan Cable Car & Samyang Ranch One Day Tour: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Pyeongchang $8.69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui or Pyeongchang?
Pyeongchang has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samui experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pyeongchang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Pyeongchang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
In the summer, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samui in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).
Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samui gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Pyeongchang 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Pyeongchang. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Koh Samui is generally much warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (75°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. Koh Samui receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samui usually gets more rain in October than Pyeongchang. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season. October to December in Koh Samui is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)Pyeongchang 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pyeongchang in the Winter?
Both Pyeongchang and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year.
The weather in Pyeongchang can be very cold. Koh Samui is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).
In January, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Samui is December to February.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)Pyeongchang 0°C (33°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pyeongchang in the Spring?
Both Pyeongchang and Koh Samui during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samui because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Koh Samui is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samui in April average around 24°C (76°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).
Koh Samui usually gets less rain in April than Pyeongchang. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Pyeongchang 12°C (54°F)
Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Pyeongchang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
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.