A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tel Aviv vs. Koh Samet for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tel Aviv or Koh Samet?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Tel Aviv or Koh Samet, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Tel Aviv or Koh Samet?

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is situated on the Mediterranean coast 60 kilometers north of Jerusalem. It's a rapidly growing city and is one of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in Israel. The official name is Tel Aviv-Yafo because the city has grown to include the ancient port city of Yafo. If you're looking for an embassy, you are likely to find it in Tel Aviv, despite Jerusalem being the official capital of Israel.

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 Tours for Seniors to Israel, The Best 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Samet or Tel Aviv?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tel Aviv is $201, while the average daily cost in Koh Samet is $129. 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 Tel Aviv and Koh Samet in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tel Aviv $109
    Koh Samet $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tel Aviv $218
    Koh Samet $72
Compare Hotels in Tel Aviv and Koh Samet

Looking for a hotel in Tel Aviv 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.

Hotels in Tel Aviv


Hotels in Koh Samet


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: Tel Aviv Hotel Prices and Koh Samet Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tel Aviv $11
    Koh Samet $76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tel Aviv

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tel Aviv are as follows:


  • Local Bus to Central Bus Station
    $1.99
  • Taxi to Airport
    $51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tel Aviv

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tel Aviv:

  • Private Arrival Transfer: From Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv City Center: $48
  • Private Departure Transfer: From Tel Aviv City Center to Ben Gurion Airport: $48
  • Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) - Departure Private Transfer: $51
  • Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Tel Aviv - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
  • Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) - Departure Private Transfer: $52
  • Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Tel Aviv Hotels - Private Transfer: $55
  • Herzliya to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Private Departure Transfer: $56
  • Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem Hotels - Private Transfer: $85
  • suv BG airport transfer to tlv 4 people: $85
  • Tel Aviv Airport (TLV) to Jerusalem Hotels - Private Transfer: $90
  • Tel Aviv Airport TLV to Jerusalem city - Arrival Private Transfer: $93
  • Fast and Reliable Airport Transfers to Tel Aviv Hotels (or back): $94

Is it cheaper to fly into Tel Aviv or Koh Samet?

Prices for flights to both Koh Samet and Tel Aviv 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 day
    Tel Aviv $61
    Koh Samet $53
Typical Food Prices in Tel Aviv

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tel Aviv:


  • Dinner for Two
    $28
  • Dinner for 2 at Vatroshka
    $164
  • Lunch at Segev Sarona
    $43
  • Aroma Iced Coffee
    $4.73
  • Lunch at the airport
    $40

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tel Aviv $29
    Koh Samet $9.99
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tel Aviv

Here are a few typical costs in Tel Aviv for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Masada tour from Tel Aviv
    $100
  • Etzel museum
    $5.07

Tours and Activities in Tel Aviv

Here are a few actual costs in Tel Aviv for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Israel’s Neve Tzedek: $7.99
  • Trail of Independence Quest Experience: $8.15
  • Jaffa Gatekeeper’s Secret: Exploration Game and Tour: $9.33
  • The White City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the History of the Bauhaus Style: $9.99
  • The Story of Gan HaHashmal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • 30-minute Sightseeing Cruise of Tel Aviv and Jaffa Skyline: $29
  • Tel Aviv Street Art Tour (Graffiti): $35
  • Jaffa Walking Tour - Half-Day: $49
  • Discover Jaffa in a Guided Walking Tour: $50
  • Carmel Market Vegetarian Food, History & Culture Tour: $50
  • Highlights of Central Tel Aviv Walking Tour: $50
  • Tel Aviv; Jaffa Old City, Port & Shuk Hapishpishim Walking Tour: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tel Aviv $27
    Koh Samet $5.21

Sample the Local Flavors in Tel Aviv

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Tel Aviv:

  • Tel Aviv Pub Crawl: $26
  • Guided Pub Crawl Night Tour at Tel Aviv: $29


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tel Aviv and Koh Samet, we can see that Tel Aviv is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tel Aviv 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 Tel Aviv would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tel Aviv 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 Tel Aviv Expensive? and Is Koh Samet Expensive?.