Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand and is located in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is a popular tourist destination for a variety of reasons such as the amazing beaches, nightlife, and more. In terms of planning to budget for a trip to Koh Samui, you need to decide on what you want to see and do on Koh Samui. But is Koh Samui expensive?
Generally speaking, Koh Samui is cheaper than Phuket or Bangkok but compared to places like Krabi or Chiang Mai it is more expensive. It depends a lot on what you are planning on doing for example if you are planning on enjoying the nightlife every night as it will get costly, or if you only plan to relax by the beach, then it will be reasonably cheap.
In this post, we will go through is Koh Samui expensive. Let’s get started!
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Is Koh Samui Expensive?
Koh Samui is cheaper than Phuket, Bangkok, or Koh Lipe but compared to other places such as Krabi, Pattaya, or Chiang Mai it is more expensive. Expensive is very subjective as this can depend on a number of factors such as.
- The type of traveling you are planning. Is it budget backpacking traveling or more high-end wealthy traveling?
- Are you looking to party?
- The activities do you plan on doing? For example, scuba diving or go touring the island.
How Much Is Accommodation In Koh Samui?
The high season runs from October to February, this pulls in the crowds particularly around the Christmas period and New Year period. The low season runs from May to October this is when prices of accommodation are much cheaper.
There are a number of popular locations on Koh Samui, that are suitable for families while others are more suitable for party-goers. These are as follows.
- Chaweng – Generally Chaweng attracts young couples and young travelers who are looking to party. It can it very busy at night, especially on the beach.
- Lamai – Generally Lamai attracts families and Budget travelers. People who like a good but not hectic nightlife.
- Bophut – Generally Bophut attracts families and more wealthy travelers. It is never too busy or quiet.
- Maenam – Generally Maenam attracts couples and beach lovers. This is more for travelers who want fancy resorts.
- Big Buddha – Generally Big Buddha area attracts backpackers and families, simply the more budget-conscious travelers.
The table below shows roughly average prices in those particular areas. The prices are based on a double room with a bathroom. The budget rooms are of a good standard with no swimming pool and at least 10 mins walk from the beach.
While the mid-range is near the beach and has swimming pools and restaurants. And the high-end has everything you would expect from paying a premium price.
| Location | Budget | Mid-Range | High-End |
| Chaweng | $16 – $24 | $85 – $125 | $232 – $370 |
| Lamai | $14 – $20 | $95 – $120 | $220 – $1370 |
| Bophut | $15 – $21 | $100 – $125 | $205 – $1170 |
| Maenam | $21 – $28 | $95 – $120 | $210 – $420 |
| Big Buddha | $10 – $16 | $95 – $120 | $210 – $2170 |
How Do You Get Around In Koh Samui?
Traveling around Koh Samui generally is not really a problem. There are plenty of options with the main ones are as follows.
- Songthaews – Songthaews are like buses and they are the cheapest way of getting around Koh Samui. The start price is from 50 baht per person and increases the further you go.
- Taxis – Taxis are definitely the most comfortable method of transport in Koh Samui. The taxis in Koh Samui are colored in yellow and maroon. The with taxis on Koh Samui is that there is only one taxi company which means they can set any price they want. All taxi drivers instead of negotiating a fixed price for the journey, do have meters but they will not use them.
- Motorbike Taxis – Motorbike taxis are cheaper than normal taxis but less comfortable. You can spot them by looking for drivers with very colorful vests.
- Rent A Moped – Renting a moped is the most economical way to get around Samui. And is the most convenient method of transport. The daily rental can range from around 150 to 300 baht, while gasoline costs about 30 baht per liter.
It is important to note that you need an international driving permit to legally drive a moped in Thailand.
| Transport | Average Cost |
| Songthaews | Starts at 50 THB ($1.60) and increases the further you go |
| Taxis | A short 5 to 10 minutes drive can cost 200 THB |
| Motorbike taxis | Starts at 50 THB ($1.60) to 100 THB ($3.30) for short distances |
| Rent Moped | Starts from 150 THB to 300 THB |
How Much Does A Beer Cost In Koh Samui?
If you are planning on enjoying the nightlife every night, then it can get expensive. The local beers which are Singha, Leo, and Chang are the cheapest especially compared to the European beers. Buy a Chang beer from the local shop or the 7-Eleven, which will set you back 50 baht, with 3 packs costing around 155 baht.
While imported beer, such as Heineken, or Carlsberg, where a small can cost around 50 baht to 60 baht from the local shop. While in the bar they will be closer to 200 baht.
| Beer | Bar/Restaurants Prices (baht) | Nightclub Price (baht) |
| Chang Beer 640 ml Bottle | 80 – 140 | 150 + |
| Leo Beer 640 ml Bottle | 80 – 140 | 150 + |
| Singha 640 ml Bottle | 90 – 150 | 160 + |
How Much Does A Food Cost In Koh Samui?
The food on Koh Samui is not too expensive. If you get a one-course dinner with a beer at a restaurant you can expect to pay around 240 baht. If you go for western food expect to pay closer to 400 baht.
Street food and food got at a market are cheap but the food at fast food places like McDonald’s or Burger King is expensive.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, Koh Samui is not an expensive destination considering it is a popular tourist island. There are a number of factors that will affect how expensive your visit to Koh Samui will be. The main factor is the activities you decide to do is it enjoy the nightlife, or relax on the beach or go exploring the island.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on is Koh Samui’s expensive has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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