Which place is cheaper, San Juan 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 San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or San Juan? 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 San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or San Juan? 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 San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19San Juan $14
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
- Koh Samui Paradise Park Farm Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $140
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $127
- Paradise Park Farm Entry Ticket with Transfer: $118
- Guided Zipline Adventure in Ko Samui with Round Trip Transfer: $83
- Full Moon Party Entry Tickets & Round Trip Transfers: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: From Hotel to Airport Koh Samui by Minivan: $76
- Private Arrival Transfer: Koh Samui Airports to Hotel by Minivan: $75
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $70
- Private Transfer from Mae Nam to Samui (USM) Airport: $69
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $69
- Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport ( USM ) to Conrad Kohsamui : $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $289
- Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
- Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
- Carabali Rain Forest Round Trip Private Taxi Transfer: $200
- Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
- Private Airport Transfers to Ceiba Ferry Terminal and Airport: $155
- Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, 16Pax Mercedes Van, Select Zone: $130
- Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Private Transfers, 14Pax Lux Sprinter Van: $124
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
- Arrival Private Transfer SJU Airport to Old San Juan by Sedan: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $39San Juan $62
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
- FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
- Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
- Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12San Juan $49
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
- El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
- Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
- Puerto Rican Food Experience: $99
- "Exclusive Tour": VIP Rum Tasting at San Juan Artisan Distillers: $150
- "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
- 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
- 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
- 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
- 30-Minute Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
- ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
- ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and San Juan, we can see that San Juan is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samui much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samui is in Asia and San Juan is in Caribbean Islands, 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 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and San Juan, 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.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui or San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Koh Samui or San Juan in the Summer?
Both San Juan and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In July, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than San Juan. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Koh Samui is cooler than San Juan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samui in July average around 24°C (76°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Koh Samui during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samui because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round.
December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui. October to December is the rainy season in Koh Samui. San Juan 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 more rain in October than San Juan. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Koh Samui is generally cooler than San Juan. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (75°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or San Juan in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season. In January, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than San Juan. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Koh Samui is cooler than San Juan in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as San Juan. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Koh Samui usually gets less rain in April than San Juan. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samui in April average around 24°C (76°F), and San Juan averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.