Which place is cheaper, Koh Samui or Tehran?
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 Tehran or Koh Samui?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Tehran and Koh Samui. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Tehran or Koh Samui?
Tehran
The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.
-
Tehran Prices
Iran PricesKoh Samui Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTehran $2.72Koh Samui $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $2.72, while the average daily cost in Koh Samui is $76. 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 Tehran and Koh Samui in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTehran $1.91Koh Samui $25
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTehran $3.82Koh Samui $50
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Koh Samui
Looking for a hotel in Tehran or Koh Samui? 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.Tehran $0.01Koh Samui $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
-
Scooter Rental$2.28
-
Gas for Scooter$1.22
-
Airport Taxi$13
-
Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
-
Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.65
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: $165
- Koh Samui Paradise Park Farm Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $138
- Paradise Park Farm Entry Ticket with Transfer: $118
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $112
- Thrilling 2 Hour ATV Jungle with Hotel Transfer from Koh Samui: $88
- Koh Samui Beginner Friendly Jungle Treetop Zipline with Transfers: $80
- Angthong Catamaran Tour from Koh Samui with Lunch and Transfers: $77
- Private Arrival Transfer: Koh Samui Airports to Hotel by Minivan: $74
- Koh Samui Tree Bridge Zipline and Jungle Cafe with Hotel Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $68
- Private Transfer from Mae Nam to Samui (USM) Airport: $68
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Koh Samui?
Prices for flights to both Koh Samui and Tehran 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 dayTehran $0.75Koh Samui $37
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.54
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:
- Koh Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Samui Suppers Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $78
- Thai Cooking Class | Farm to Table: $78
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $78
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $80
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $86
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $106
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $109
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $112
- Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $120
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tehran $0.14Koh Samui $12
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure in Koh Samui Mountain Viewpoints: $87
- 2 Hours ATV Quad Bike Popular Tour From Koh Samui: $110
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $58
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $120
- 3 Hour ATV Secret Waterfall Adventure in Koh Samui: $109
- 4 Hour Ultimate ATV Jungle Tour in Koh Samui Lunch Included: $140
- 6 Hours Elephant Care and Jungle Tour by 4WD in Koh Samui: $62
- ATV 1.5 Hours Jungle Safari Tour On Koh Phangan: $76
- ATV 2 hrs. Jungle Adventure on the Mountain Way in Koh Samui: $63
- ATV Jungle & Mountain Trails 30-Min Off-Road Adventure Koh Samui: $47
- Adventure Kayaking at Angthong Marine Park: $115
- Amazing Koh Samui "Must Visit" Private Tour: $177
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTehran -Koh Samui $5.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Koh Samui, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran is in Middle East and Koh Samui 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 Tehran would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tehran 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 Koh Samui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Samui than you might in Tehran.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tehran Expensive? and Is Koh Samui Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tehran or Koh Samui?
Tehran has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Tehran and Koh Samui, 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.