Which place is cheaper, Melbourne 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 Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Melbourne, 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 Melbourne?
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?
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
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 Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Koh Samet Prices
Thailand PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $133Melbourne $195
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $195. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $37Melbourne $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $74Melbourne $238
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $79Melbourne $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$10
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Tram Ride$2.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport: Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center: $16
- Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $19
- Melbourne CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer 4 or more: $32
- Melbourne Airport(Tullamarine): Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $32
- MEL Airport to CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $33
- Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport: Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $33
- MEL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $40
- Melbourne Airport Private Transfer to City: $44
- Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
- Airport to City Private Transfer (One-way): $66
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $69
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 $54Melbourne $53
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.62
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Pizza$4.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $10Melbourne $27
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.81
- Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.41
- Melbourne City Centre Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
- Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.20
- Melbourne Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Upside Down House Photo Experience in Australia: $13
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $5.38Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch & Gin/Beer Option: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samet and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne 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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Melbourne?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the Summer?
Both Melbourne 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Koh Samet is a little warmer than Melbourne in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F)in January.
In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 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 Melbournein January. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Melbourne averages at about 15°C (60°F)in April.
Koh Samet usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Melbourne during autumn. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 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 Melbournein April. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Melbourne in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Melbourne. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Melbournein July. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°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 Melbournein July. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.
Koh Samet usually gets more rain in January than Melbournein July. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne 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 travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city.
Koh Samet is much warmer than Melbourne in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Melbourne. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during spring. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.