Which place is cheaper, Koh Samui or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Doha or Koh Samui?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Koh Samui can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Koh Samui?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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.
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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesKoh Samui Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Koh Samui $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Koh Samui is $79. 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 Doha and Koh Samui in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Koh Samui $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Koh Samui $52
Compare Hotels in Doha and Koh Samui
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Koh Samui Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Koh Samui $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Private Transfer from Doha City to Doha (DOH) Airport: $210
- Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $132
- Doha, Qatar : Private Airport Transfer 24/7: $120
- Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $120
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Car: $119
- Doha Airport Transfer: $99
- Hamad Airport Transfer Service – 24/7 Door-to-Door Transport: $98
- Private Transfer from Doha hotels to Doha Cruise Port: $97
- Private Transfer from Doha Cruise Port to Doha Hamad Airport(DOH): $97
- Private Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Business Car: $89
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Business Car: $86
- Private Doha City Tour and Dhow Boat Ride with Transfer: $84
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
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Scooter Rental$2.36
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Gas for Scooter$1.26
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Airport Taxi$14
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $127
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $22
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan Transfer Painting and Party: $49
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $46
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $50
- Guided Zipline Adventure in Ko Samui with Round Trip Transfer: $81
- Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Round Trip Private Transfer: $36
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Koh Pha Ngan to Phuket Scenic Catamaran and Bus Transfer : $50
- Koh Samui Airport (USM): Private Transfer within the Island: $12
- Koh Samui Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Koh Samui?
Prices for flights to both Koh Samui and Doha 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
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Food Meals for one dayDoha $106Koh Samui $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Private Souk Waqif with Lunch or Dinner Tour: $96
- Half Day Doha City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $143
- Qatar Island District Sightseeing, Boat & Food Tour – 7 Tastings: $144
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160
- Overnight Desert Safari Adventure:BBQ Dinner & Breakfast Included: $220
- Doha Overnight Camp Desert Safari Tour with Dinner and Breakfast : $230
- Desert Safari 7 Hours Tour with Dinner and Camp: $270
- Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride: $299
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.75
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:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $77
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $79
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $79
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $82
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $82
- Thai Cooking Class | Since 2012 | Farm to Table: $82
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $82
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $108
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $113
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $122
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Koh Samui $12
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Doha Night City Tour,Souq waqif, Katara, Pearl Qatar,Lusail City: $62
- Desert Safari, Sand Boarding, Camel Ride & Inland Sea Tour: $49
- Full-Day Tour Qatar North And West: $154
- Night Inland Desert Safari Qatar 4WD Tour Private: $70
- North Qatar Half-Day Tour: Al Zubarah, Purple Island & Mangroves: $50
- North Qatar Tour | Zubara Fort | Purple Island | Mangros Colony : $55
- Private Express Doha City Tour: $165
- Quad bike/Buggy, Desert Tour, Camel Ride, SandBoarding From Doha: $75
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
- 4 Hours Private Doha City Tour: $75
- 4 Hours Private Guided City Tour in Doha : $60
- 4 Hours-Doha City Private Tour from AirPort/ Hotel : $57
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Coconut Soap Making Demo and Experience Koh Samui: $2.39
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.97
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui : $18
- Samui: Double Seater Karting: Share the Driving Experience: $22
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island : $27
- Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience: $28
- High Speed Karting Fun Adventure at EasyKart from Koh Samui: $29
- Koh Samui City & Temples Tour with Na Muang Waterfall: $29
- Angthong National Marine Park by Highsea Tour (Official): $30
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $30
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Koh Samui $5.33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Koh Samui, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samui much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha 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 Koh Samui would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samui 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Koh Samui.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Koh Samui Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Koh Samui?
Doha has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.