Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Koh Samet?
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 Koh Samet or Auckland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Auckland, 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: Koh Samet or Auckland?
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?
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.
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Koh Samet Prices
Thailand PricesAuckland Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $133Auckland $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $170. 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 Koh Samet and Auckland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $37Auckland $99
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $74Auckland $198
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Auckland
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Auckland? 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: Koh Samet Hotel Prices and Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $79Auckland $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$9.47
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Airport Shuttle$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Departure Transfer: Auckland Central City Centre to Auckland Airport: $25
- Arrival Transfer: Auckland Airport to Auckland Central City Centre: $25
- AKL Airport to City Centre|Hotels Private Transfer: $26
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from Airport: $26
- Auckland:City Hotel Transfers to/from Cruise Ship in Minivan: $32
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland HTL-APT (AKL): $38
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland APT-HTL (AKL): $38
- Airport Private Transfer: $43
- Auckland City Hotel to Cruise Ship Transfer by SUV: $48
- Auckland Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels: $54
- Auckland:Private 1 way Airport transfer to/from CBD Minivan: $58
- Private One-Way Transfer: Auckland Airport to Auckland City Hotel: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Auckland?
Prices for flights to both Auckland and Koh Samet 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 dayKoh Samet $54Auckland $46
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$4.73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $93
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $101
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $102
- Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $392
- Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience: $519
- From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour: $550
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $10Auckland $27
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$33
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$119
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket: $9.27
- A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories: $12
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket: $14
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket and Guided Tour: $14
- Explore Self Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Vibrosaun Therapy Experience: $18
- Waitematā Harbour Cruise with Live Commentary: $20
- Gallery Highlights Tour and General Admission: $22
- Auckland Takapuna: Escape Game Adventure: $23
- Scenic Boat Cruise to the Riverhead Tavern: $25
- Auckland CBD: Escape Game Adventure: $26
- Scenic Harbour Cruise in Auckland : $27
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $5.38Auckland $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting: $110
- Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $119
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $159
- Kumeu Wine Tour: $165
- Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue: $168
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $180
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch: $180
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $183
- City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach: $217
- Shore Excursion from Auckland - Private Tour & Wine Tasting: $278
- Waiheke Island Scenic Wine Tour: $301
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Auckland, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samet is in Asia and Auckland is in Pacific, 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland 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 Koh Samet Expensive? and Is Auckland Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Auckland?
Auckland has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samet experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Samet or Auckland in the Summer?
Both Auckland and Koh Samet during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Auckland because of the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.
Koh Samet is a little warmer than Auckland in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Auckland fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.
In Auckland, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Aucklandin January. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auckland receives 240 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in July than Aucklandin January. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Auckland 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Auckland in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Auckland. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene are the main draw to Auckland this time of year.
In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Auckland. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Auckland averages at about 16°C (61°F)in April.
Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Auckland during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Auckland receives 162 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Koh Samet gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Aucklandin April. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Auckland 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Auckland in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Auckland. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Auckland for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Aucklandin July. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Auckland fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Aucklandin July. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Auckland receives 141 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Auckland. Koh Samet usually gets less rain in January than Aucklandin July. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Auckland 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Auckland in the Spring?
Both Auckland and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Auckland in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Koh Samet is much warmer than Auckland in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Auckland fluctuates around 14°C (58°F)in October.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Auckland during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Auckland receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Aucklandin October. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Auckland receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Auckland 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Auckland and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Auckland | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
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.