Which place is cheaper, Koh Chang or Surat Thani?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surat Thani or Koh Chang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Koh Chang can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Surat Thani or Koh Chang?
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
Koh Chang
Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $53Koh Chang $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $53, while the average daily cost in Koh Chang is $48. 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 Surat Thani and Koh Chang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $25Koh Chang $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $50Koh Chang $48
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Koh Chang
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Koh Chang? 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 Chang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surat Thani $24Koh Chang $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
- From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
- Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $115
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang
Also for Koh Chang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $215
- Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $209
- Private Transfer from Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport or Don Muang Airport: $199
- Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Trat/ Koh Chang: $117
- Departure Private Airport Transfer : Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport: $117
- Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Koh Chang?
Prices for flights to both Koh Chang and Surat Thani 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 daySurat Thani $14Koh Chang $17
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Khao Sok: Elephant Day Care, Cooking Class, & Bamboo Raft: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surat Thani $4.97Koh Chang $5.46
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- 5 island tour: $459
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
- From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
- From Phuket: Cheow Lan Lake 2Day Guided Tour with Activities: $203
- From Phuket: Full-Day Private Tour to Khao Sok Highlights: $170
- Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
- Khao Sok: Private Longtail Boat Tour at Cheow Lan Lake: $214
- Koh Phangan: Private Land Tour with Snorkeling: $241
- Koh Phangan: Snorkeling and Beach Hopping Boat Tour: $217
- Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
- Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple Tour: $241
- Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Koh Chang
For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Adventure in Diving in Koh Chang: $283
- Bubblemaker, experience dive for kids from 8 to 10 years old (Koh Chang): $84
- Full-Day Koh Chang Tour with Lunch : $54
- PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $153
- Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $4.96Koh Chang $4.68
When comparing the travel costs between Surat Thani and Koh Chang, we can see that Surat Thani is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Koh Chang Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Surat Thani or Koh Chang?
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 Surat Thani or Koh Chang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Surat Thani and Koh Chang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surat Thani gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Surat Thani usually receives less rain than Koh Chang. Surat Thani gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Koh Chang receives 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Koh Chang in the summer. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Koh Chang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySurat Thani 28°C (82°F)Koh Chang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Koh Chang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Surat Thani as well as Koh Chang. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year.
Also, November to February in Koh Chang is the dry season. June to October in Koh Chang is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. Surat Thani receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Surat Thani usually gets less rain in October than Koh Chang. Surat Thani gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Koh Chang receives 280 mm (11 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Koh Chang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Surat Thani in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Chang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSurat Thani 27°C (81°F)Koh Chang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Koh Chang in the Winter?
Both Koh Chang and Surat Thani are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. In January, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Koh Chang. Surat Thani gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Koh Chang receives 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Surat Thani is generally around the same temperature as Koh Chang. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Chang fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySurat Thani 25°C (77°F)Koh Chang 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Koh Chang in the Spring?
Both Koh Chang and Surat Thani during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round.
June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang. Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Surat Thani usually gets less rain in April than Koh Chang. Surat Thani gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Koh Chang receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Koh Chang in the spring. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Koh Chang fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSurat Thani 29°C (83°F)Koh Chang 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Chang and Surat Thani
| Surat Thani | Koh Chang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 356 mm (14 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 513 mm (20.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 440 mm (17.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 514 mm (20.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 476 mm (18.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.