Which place is cheaper, Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Gold Coast, 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 Gold Coast?
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?
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier destinations. Famous for gorgeous beaches, warm weather, watersports, and plenty of activities for all ages, millions of tourists from Australia as well as everywhere in the world flock to this region every year. With beaches, national parks, theme parks, shopping and dining, nice resorts, boating, fishing, diving, theme parks and more, the Gold Coast offers something for everyone.
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 Honeymoon Tours in Australia, and The Best Photography Tours in Australia.
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Koh Samet Prices
Thailand PricesGold Coast Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $133Gold Coast $119
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Gold Coast is $119. 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 Gold Coast in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $37Gold Coast $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $74Gold Coast $110
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Gold Coast
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Gold Coast? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $79Gold Coast $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gold Coast
Also for Gold Coast, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gold Coast Airport: Shared Transfer to Gold Coast: $21
- Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport: Shared Transfer Sydney CBD: $22
- OOL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $42
- Private Transfer Gold Coast Airport OOL to City Centre/Brisbane: $48
- Private Transfer from Gold Coast Airport - Surfers Paradise: $50
- Mt Tamborine Shuttle Service - Gold Coast Return Transfer: $66
- Chill Out at Byron Bay Bus Transfer: $72
- Gold Coast to Byron Bay scenic One Way Transfer: $81
- Departure Private Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Business Car: $108
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Business Car: $108
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast in Business Car: $108
- Arrival Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast by Business Car: $113
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Gold Coast?
Prices for flights to both Gold Coast 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 $54Gold Coast $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gold Coast
For Gold Coast, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Brisbane/Sunset, Dinner, Stars/Premium Telescope: $79
- Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner & Show: $79
- Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $87
- Gold Coast Private Sunset Sailing Charter w/ dinner & drinks: $310
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $10Gold Coast $19
Tours and Activities in Gold Coast
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gold Coast.
- Spring Brook National Park Self Guided Driving Tour: $15
- Spring Brook National Park Driving Tour with an APP: $15
- Surfers Paradise: Sightseeing Midday River and Canal Cruise: $15
- Surfers Paradise: Sightseeing Morning River and Canal Cruise: $21
- Surfers Paradise Sightseeing City Lights Cruise: $21
- SkyPoint Observation Deck Ticket: $22
- SkyPoint Observation Deck Ticket: $23
- Surfers Paradise: Cruise, HOTA Gallery Entry, & Dining Pass: $26
- Surfers Paradise: Sightseeing Sunset River Cruise: $29
- Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Cruise: $30
- Surfers Paradise: IceBar Entry Ticket and Drink: $32
- Aquaduck City Tour and River Cruise: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $5.38Gold Coast $5.23
Sample the Local Flavors in Gold Coast
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gold Coast:
- Granddad Jack's Distillery Gin Tasting & Talk: $43
- Queensland Distillery Tour: $76
- Craft Distillery and Brewery Tour on Gold Coast: $77
- Sirromet Wine Tasting and Blending Workshop for 2: $84
- Wine, Distillery & Rainforest Day Tour: $151
- Private Bespoke Hinterland Heritage Wine Tour: $161
- Tamborine Mountain Wine Tour with 2-Course Lunch: $165
- Full-Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Gold Coast : $167
- Luxury Wine Tour with Gourmet Lunch & Distillery: $198
- Gold Coast and Craft Brewery VIP Tour from Brisbane: $959
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Gold Coast, we can see that Koh Samet is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Koh Samet is in Asia and Gold Coast is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Gold Coast Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Gold Coast?
Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Gold Coast. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Gold Coast for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Gold Coast. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samet in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Gold Coast averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Gold Coast. In the summer, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Gold Coastin January. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gold Coast receives 256 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Gold Coast. Koh Samet receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samet usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Gold Coastin January. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Gold Coast 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Gold Coast in the Autumn?
Both Gold Coast and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Gold Coast because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, and the shopping scene.
In October, Koh Samet is generally a little warmer than Gold Coastin April. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 27°C (81°F), and Gold Coast fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
It's quite sunny in Gold Coast. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Gold Coast during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Gold Coast receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Gold Coast. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In October, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Gold Coastin April. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Gold Coast 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Gold Coast in the Winter?
Both Gold Coast and Koh Samet during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samet because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Gold Coast this time of year.
Koh Samet is much warmer than Gold Coast in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Gold Coast fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.
In Gold Coast, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Samet. In the winter, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Gold Coastin July. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Gold Coast receives 226 hours of full sun.
Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Gold Coastin July. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Gold Coast 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Gold Coast in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Gold Coast. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Gold Coast for the beaches and the activities around the city.
In the spring, Koh Samet is a little warmer than Gold Coast. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samet in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Gold Coast averages at about 21°C (69°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gold Coast this time of the year. In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Gold Coast during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Gold Coast receives 259 hours of full sun in the spring.
Gold Coast receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Gold Coastin October. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Gold Coast receives 103 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Gold Coast 21°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Gold Coast and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Gold Coast | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 103 mm (4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 129 mm (5.1 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.