Travel budget and cost of living in Ko Samui (Thailand) how much does a trip cost?

Ko Samui travel budget

Ko Samui: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Ko Samui

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Ko Samui for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Ko Samui compared to United States in 2023

On average, the cost of living in Ko Samui in 2023 is 43% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Ko Samui in 2023 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Ko Samui by expense type

Restaurant budget in Ko Samui

Lunch

$ 2.9/person
($ 1.7 to $ 8)

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86% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

3 course dinner

$ 13/person
($ 9.7 to $ 26)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

McDonald's meal

$ 7.9/person
($ 6.5 to $ 8.4)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 2.3 for 500ml
($ 1.8 to $ 3.8)

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65% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.6

Imported beer

$ 2.6 for 330ml
($ 1.7 to $ 4.2)

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28% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Cappuccino

$ 2.4/cup
($ 1.4 to $ 3.8)

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54% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Fizzy drink

$ 0.8/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.7)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 1.3)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Ko Samui

1-star hotel

$ 33/night
($ 26 to $ 42)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126

2-star hotel

$ 32/night
($ 16 to $ 100)

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78% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 147

3-star hotel

$ 85/night
($ 34 to $ 390)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211

4-star hotel

$ 216/night
($ 78 to $ 660)

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31% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 316

5-star hotel

$ 367/night
($ 171 to $ 809)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 684

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 35/month
($ 15 to $ 83)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131

Room with kitchen

$ 214/month
($ 48 to $ 698)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 165/month
($ 41 to $ 582)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 193

Cottage or guest house

$ 65/month
($ 22 to $ 153)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 257

Family room

$ 223/month
($ 69 to $ 543)

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13% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 199

Supermarket food budget in Ko Samui

Milk

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 3)

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35% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1.6/500g
($ 0.8 to $ 2.9)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.6)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 1.8/12 eggs
($ 1.3 to $ 3.1)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Chicken

$ 2.6/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 4.8)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Apples

$ 3.3/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 9.7)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4

Tomatoes

$ 1.6/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 3.2)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Potatoes

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.9)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.5
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Ko Samui

Bus ticket

$ 1.7/ticket
($ 1.7 to $ 1.7)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.7/km
($ 1.3 to $ 1.9)

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12% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.6)

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23% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 1.7
($ 1.7 to $ 6.5)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Car hire

$ 8.4/24hrs
($ 4.8 to $ 14)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Leisure activity budget in Ko Samui

Cinema

$ 7.4/ticket
($ 6.5 to $ 12)

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44% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 17/hr
( $ 17)

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21% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Ko Samui

Cigarettes

$ 4.3/pack
($ 3.2 to $ 5.6)

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56% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 9.9

Levi's jeans

$ 61
($ 21 to $ 114)

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5% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58

Summer dress

$ 21
($ 12 to $ 63)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

London → Ko Samui

$ 1112
(fair price: $ 1004)

Manchester → Ko Samui

$ 1149
(fair price: $ 935)

Melbourne → Ko Samui

$ 964
(fair price: $ 796)

Sydney → Ko Samui

$ 985
(fair price: $ 812)

Dublin → Ko Samui

$ 1090
(fair price: $ 935)

Auckland → Ko Samui

$ 1131
(fair price: $ 959)