Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Shenzhen? 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 Shenzhen?
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.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
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 China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesShenzhen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Shenzhen $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $140. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Shenzhen $91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Shenzhen $182
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Shenzhen? 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 $19Shenzhen $15
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shenzhen Customized Local Tour with Transfer : $299
- Hong Kong Private Transfer to Macau hotel over Bridge: $265
- Private Transfer from Shekou Port to Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN): $175
- Luxury Private Airport Transfer: Hong Kong International Airport: $150
- Hong Kong Private Transfer — Victoria Peak ⇄ Tian Tan Big Buddha: $148
- Private Transfer: Airport HKG to Hong Kong by Luxury Van: $146
- Private Transfer: Hong Kong to Airport HKG by Luxury Van: $146
- HK Airport to Cruise Terminal Rounded-Trip Private Transfer by Lexus Luxury Car: $141
- Hong Kong Hassle free Airport Transfers in Tesla or Benz: $138
- Private Arrival Transfer from Hongkong Airport to Shenzhen City: $128
- Kai Tak Cruise Terminal to Hong Kong City - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $124
- Hong Kong Airport Transfer: $119
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 $39Shenzhen $35
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 Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $53
- Shekou Food Tour with 4 Tastings: $79
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
- Explore Hong Kong: Mid-Autumn Festival Food Tour: $103
- Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Eats on a Tin Hau Food Tour: $109
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $116
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
- Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
- Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $177
- Asian Favorites Cooking Class in Hong Kong (4-Course Meal): $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Shenzhen $17
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 Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Custom private tour of Hong Kong Island - Half day: $228
- Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket in Hong Kong: $24
- Seat-in-Coach: Macau Day Tour with Simple Lunch from Hong Kong: $185
- Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $87
- (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $89
- 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $280
- 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
- Aberdeen Fishing Village Private Tour by Minivan: $232
- Aberdeen fisherman cultural tour+dim sum by local: $140
- Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $40
- Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49
- Best Seller: VIP Lantau Tai O Tour Priority Cable Car, Big Buddha: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Shenzhen $19
Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:
- Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Shenzhen, 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 Shenzhen?
Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Shenzhen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
Koh Samui is cooler than Shenzhen in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Shenzhen fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).
Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Shenzhen 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Shenzhen in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Shenzhen. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Shenzhen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samui in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Shenzhen averages at about 26°C (78°F).
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. Koh Samui receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samui usually gets more rain in October than Shenzhen. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 143 mm (5.6 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)Shenzhen 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Shenzhen in the Winter?
Both Shenzhen 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.
In January, Koh Samui is generally a little warmer than Shenzhen. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 22°C (72°F), and Shenzhen fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
In January, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Shenzhen. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 26 mm (1 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)Shenzhen 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Shenzhen in the Spring?
Both Shenzhen 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.
Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Shenzhen in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in April, and Shenzhen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samui usually gets less rain in April than Shenzhen. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Shenzhen 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Shenzhen and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Shenzhen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 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.