Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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 Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Roatan? 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 Roatan?
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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $74Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $74, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Roatan? 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 $18Roatan $17
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$2.22
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Gas for Scooter$1.18
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Airport Taxi$13
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$12
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.55
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: $9.00
- Private Transfer from Koh Samui Airport to Your Hotel: $12
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $15
- Koh Samui Private Airport Transfer: $15
- Private Koh Samui Airport Transfer with Meet & Greet: $17
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $17
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $17
- Koh Samui Shared Airport Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $18
- Koh Samui Airport to Hotel Transfer – Arrival & Departure: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui island hotels to Ko Samui Port: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Island Hotels: $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $150
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- Extreme Zipline, City Tour, Chocolate, Rum Factory, Beach Break, Transfer: $105
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $95
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $80
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $79
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $65
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $59
- Roatan to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Airport, Hotel or Cruise Port, Ferry Roatan Private Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $36Roatan $15
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)$6.37
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 Phangan Private Group Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $58
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Coconut Corners Samui Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $75
- Idyllic Half Day Sunset Cruise and Dinner in Koh Samui: $75
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $76
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $76
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $77
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $78
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Buffet & Transfer: $78
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $79
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $11Roatan $25
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.: $2.28
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.60
- Koh Samui Paris Follies Cabaret Spectacular Evening Show Ticket: $16
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui: $17
- Paris Follies Cabaret Evening Entertainment Ticket from Koh Samui: $19
- Create Your Own Crystal Aroma Oil Ritual Experience: $20
- Koh Samui Half Day Island Guided Tour: $23
- Top Sights of Samui City Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Nightlife Walking Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $25
- Koh Samui City & Temples Tour with Na Muang Waterfall: $27
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 3-Hours Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $66
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break: $80
- ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
- ATV Off Road Tour and Cultural Experience in Roatan: $129
- ATV Ride and Animals Park Tour Mahogany Bay and Ports Roatan: $135
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $132
- ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $159
- Animal Sightings and Walking Tour at Gumbalimba Park with Addons: $115
- Beer and Food Tasting Experience at Roatan Island Brewing Company: $100
- Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
- Costumed tours in paradise: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.03Roatan $6.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
- Roatan Coffee and Chocolate Tour with Brewery Stop: $90
- Roatan Horseback Ride, Island Tour and Brewery Tasting: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Roatan, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samui is in Asia and Roatan is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
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 Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Roatan?
Koh Samui has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Roatan, 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.