Is Koh Samui Expensive?

Is Koh Samui expensive to visit?

While Koh Samui is a popular place for travelers, it is also somewhat affordable and less expensive to visit. The average daily cost is $73, which is one of the many reasons for its popularity with tourists. When compared to other destinations in Asia, many visitors find it to be a moderately priced destination. It's in the top 50% of places in Asia for its travel costs, and our cost analysis found it to be comparable to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

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How expensive is Koh Samui?

For a trip to Koh Samui, travelers spend on average $73 per day (U.S. Dollars). This is according to our calculations from previous visitors. As this is an average cost, your individual spending may vary, especially since there's a wide range of accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment options here. If you stick to moderately-priced hotels and restaurants, as well as take advantage of some of free things to do in the area, you can stick close to the average budget. See more travel costs for Koh Samui here to see how all of the average spending costs pan out.

How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Koh Samui?

On average, a weekend trip to Koh Samui costs about $218 per person. This is based on the previous expenses of actual travelers, and includes accommodation, food, activities, local transportation, and more. For two people, a weekend trip costs $437.

How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Koh Samui?

A one week trip to Koh Samui costs about $509 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $1,019.

Is it expensive to backpack in Koh Samui?

With more than 40 hostels in the area, Koh Samui is a popular backpacker destination for travelers looking to stay on a tight budget and have a fun time along the way. Here, hostels cost an average of $14 per night for a dorm bed, with private rooms being more expensive. (See hostel prices in Koh Samui here.) It's also common to see a wide range in prices, as the cheapest hostels here cost $0, but the most expensive can be more than $61 per night.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Koh Samui.

• $10 for a dorm bed at Chill Inn Lamai Hostel & Beach Cafe
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• $20 for a dorm bed at Lub d Koh Samui Chaweng Beach
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• $8 for a dorm bed at Us Hostel
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Are hotels expensive in Koh Samui?

When we look at our analysis of hotel prices in Koh Samui, we find them to be very expensive in comparison to the rest of the world. The average nightly cost for a hotel room here is approximately $109. The area boasts about 47 five-star hotels with an average rate of $442 per night. For those seeking a balance between comfort and affordability, three-star hotels offer an average rate of $87 per night, while two-star hotels provide an even more budget-friendly option at $29 per night.

How expensive are sightseeing activities in Koh Samui?

In Koh Samui, the cost of activities and things to do can vary by the type of activity, its length, and the location. To provide an estimate of what to expect during your visit, below are several popular activities that are common in the area. On average, previous travelers have spent around $11 per day on sightseeing and entertainment, which is less than the country's average of $20.

• Koh Tao VIP Snorkelling Tour : $175
• Sunrise Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) Tour in Koh Samui: $54
• Samui Elephant Kingdom Ethical Sanctuary and Skywalk Tour: $92
• X Quad Samui ATV Tour (Driver+Passenger) with lunch: $212
• X Quad Beginner Waterfall ATV Tour (Driver+Passenger): $129
• Samui ATV Jungle & Mountain Quad Tour (PRIVATE GROUP 2-4 people): $151
• Samui ATV Quad Mountain & Jungle Tour (1 and 2 hour options): $31
• Angthong Marine Park - Full Day Kayaking Tour: $80

Is food expensive in Koh Samui?

In Koh Samui, the cost of food can vary by the type of restaurant and food options available. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible. On average, previous travelers have spent around $36 per day on food, which is more than the country's average of $30.

• Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $77
• Thai Cooking Class at Melati Beach Resort & Spa: $71
• Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $110
• Thai Cooking Class experience - Farm to table since 2015: $77
• Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $77
• Koh Samui Jungle Kitchen - Half Day Cooking Class: $108

Is transportation expensive in Koh Samui?

Exploring local transportation in Koh Samui shows that the price can vary greatly by the type of transportation used. On average, previous travelers have spent $18 per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $13. If you want to save money, use public transit as it's much cheaper than taxis or private drivers.

More for Koh Samui

If you're planning a trip to Koh Samui, Thailand, check out these other informative travel guides.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.