Which place is cheaper, Koh Samet or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Koh Samet?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Koh Samet can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Koh Samet?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
Koh Samet
The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Koh Samet $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Koh Samet is $96. 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 Petra and Koh Samet in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Koh Samet $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Koh Samet $64
Compare Hotels in Petra and Koh Samet
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Koh Samet? 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Koh Samet Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Koh Samet $68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Koh Samet?
Prices for flights to both Koh Samet and Petra 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 dayPetra $38Koh Samet $27
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Koh Samet $8.96
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Koh Samet $4.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Koh Samet, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Koh Samet is in Asia, 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 Samet would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samet 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Koh Samet.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Koh Samet Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Koh Samet?
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 Petra or Koh Samet in the Summer?
Both Koh Samet and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Koh Samet. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Koh Samet during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Samet receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Koh Samet. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Koh Samet fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Koh Samet 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koh Samet in the Autumn?
Both Koh Samet and Petra during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round.
Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in October than Koh Samet. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the autumn, Petra often gets more sunshine than Koh Samet. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Samet receives 167 hours of full sun.
Petra is around the same temperature as Koh Samet in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Koh Samet fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Koh Samet 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koh Samet in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Koh Samet. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Petra usually receives less rain than Koh Samet. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives less sunshine than Koh Samet during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Samet receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Petra is much colder than Koh Samet. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Koh Samet averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Koh Samet 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koh Samet in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Petra as well as Koh Samet. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year.
Petra usually gets less rain in April than Koh Samet. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Koh Samet. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Samet receives 239 hours of full sun.
In April, Petra is generally cooler than Koh Samet. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Koh Samet fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Koh Samet 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Samet and Petra
| Petra | Koh Samet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.