A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Samet vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Samet or Katoomba?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Katoomba, 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 Katoomba?

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?

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.

When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Katoomba?

Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba and Koh Samet are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samet throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Katoomba in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Koh Samet is generally a little warmer than Katoombain January. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 28°C (82°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Katoomba. Koh Samet usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Katoombain January. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Katoomba in the Autumn?

Both Katoomba and Koh Samet during the autumn 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, most visitors come to Katoomba for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Koh Samet is a little warmer than Katoomba in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Katoombain April. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually gets more rain in October than Katoombain April. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Katoomba. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Koh Samet is much warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samet in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Katoomba averages at about 11°C (51°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Katoomba during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Katoombain July. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Koh Samet or Katoomba in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Katoomba. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

In April, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Katoombain October. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 29°C (84°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Katoombain October. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun.

Koh Samet usually gets more rain in April than Katoombain October. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Koh Samet