Which place is cheaper, Taiyuan 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.
Jump to 
Should you visit Koh Samui or Taiyuan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Taiyuan? 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 Taiyuan?
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.
Taiyuan
With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to China, and The Best Tours for Seniors to China.
-
Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesTaiyuan Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Taiyuan $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Taiyuan is $106. 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 Taiyuan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Taiyuan $43
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Taiyuan $86
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Taiyuan
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Taiyuan? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Taiyuan $48
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
-
Scooter Rental$2.36
-
Gas for Scooter$1.26
-
Airport Taxi$14
-
Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
-
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Taiyuan?
Prices for flights to both Taiyuan 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
-
Food Meals for one dayKoh Samui $39Taiyuan $36
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
-
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Taiyuan $15
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 Taiyuan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Taiyuan.
- Buddhist Caves, Jinci Temple & Ancient County Tour: $256
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Taiyuan $6.41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Taiyuan, we can see that Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taiyuan 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 Taiyuan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Taiyuan?
Taiyuan has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Taiyuan, 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.