Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Koh Samui?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Samui or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $55Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $55, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $24Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $48Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Whitsundays? 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 $17Whitsundays $55
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$2.05
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Gas for Scooter$1.09
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Airport Taxi$12
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$11
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.27
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: $147
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $110
- Ethical Elephant Home Guided Tour with Transfers: $81
- Flyboard 15 minutes in Koh Samui beach + Roundtrip Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $74
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Cruise Port to Ko Samui Hotels: $74
- Private Arrival Transfer: Koh Samui Airports to Hotel by Minivan: $69
- Private Departure Transfer: From Hotel to Airport Koh Samui by Minivan: $69
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $66
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui island hotels to Ko Samui Port: $66
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Taling Ngam: $63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $19Whitsundays $30
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)$5.86
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:
- Romantic 4-Course Dinner for Two on the Beach by the Amari Samui: $43
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise by RED BARON: $60
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $61
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $68
- Thai Cooking Class & Organic Micro Farm Experience - Farm to Table. Since 2015: $69
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $69
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $71
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $72
- Koh Samui Jungle Kitchen - Half Day Cooking Class: $77
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour: $80
- Red Baron Romantic Sunset Dinner Cruise: $88
- 4-Hour Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise (SHA Plus): $106
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $10Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- 6 Hrs Off Road 4x4 Adventure of Hidden Gems In Koh Samui Hills 1 - 4 persons: $118
- 6 Hrs Off Road 4x4 Adventure of Hidden Gems In Koh Samui Hills 5 - 8 Persons: $146
- Koh Samui Island ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $50
- Koh Samui Nauti Ark Bar Boat Party Cruise: $97
- Pig Island Experience By Speed Boat, Snorkeling, Kayaking Relaxing on the Beach: $49
- Private Tour in Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple: $198
- koh samui island and water fall tour: $43
- zip line adventure on mountain (8 Platforms 1200 m.): $50
- 2 Day Halfmoon Festival Experience General Admission Pass: $70
- 2 Islands Sightseeing and Snorkeling Trip From Koh Samui: $46
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $51
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $107
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $4.63Whitsundays $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays is in Pacific, 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In the summer, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samui in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In July, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin January. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In October, Koh Samui is generally around the same temperature as Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (75°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundaysin April. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year. December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui. October to December is the rainy season in Koh Samui.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
Koh Samui is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
In January, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin July. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter. December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Whitsundays in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Whitsundays. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samui in April average around 24°C (76°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
Koh Samui usually gets more rain in April than Whitsundaysin October. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.