Which place is cheaper, Seoul 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 Seoul?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet or Seoul, 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 Seoul?
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?
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Koh Samet Prices
Thailand PricesSeoul Prices
South Korea Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samet $133Seoul $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $133, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $128. 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 Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samet $37Seoul $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samet $74Seoul $108
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet or Seoul? 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 Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samet $79Seoul $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.58
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Short Taxi Ride$5.01
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Metro Ride$0.97
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Night Views Tour with Guide and Transfers: $41
- From Round-Trip Transfer to Dae Jang Geum Park: $50
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Seoul Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $60
- Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Incheon Airport (ICN) Transfer to Seoul/Suwon/Seongnam/Yongin: $68
- Seoul to Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) - Departure Private Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer from Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Seoul hotels: $80
- Private Airport Transfer Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP) to Seoul City: $83
- Private Airport Transfer : Gimpo airport to/from Seoul (1~7pax): $89
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $90
- Private Gimpo Airport Transfer to/from Seoul(1~7pax): $94
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul 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 $54Seoul $51
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.30
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Waffle$0.72
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Dippin' Dots$1.43
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Chicken Fried Rice$3.94
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Chicken Stick$1.43
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.36
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Lunch Buffet$4.30
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Donut$0.72
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Mushroom Burger$3.72
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.36
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Udon & Sushi$5.01
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Fresh Burger$3.44
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.22
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.58
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Fried Rice$3.94
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Vietnamese Dinner$6.80
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$6.80
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Donut$1.79
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Guided Street Food Tour at Namdaemun Market: $45
- Seoul Night Run for Local-Favorite Korean BBQ Dinner: $50
- [Wine & K-BBQ] A Perfect Pairing Dinner in Sinchon: $51
- Wine & K-BBQ: A Perfect Pairing Dinner: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals; Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $53
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $57
- Kimchi Dishes Cooking Class with Wine Pairing: $61
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $64
- Namdaemun Market Food Tour: $65
- Seoul by Night: Palaces, Market & Street Food Tour (Vegan Option): $65
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $67
- Cooking Class in Seoul with Korean Grandma: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samet $10Seoul $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$5.73
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Movie Ticket$5.73
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Kimchi Museum$2.15
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- K-Culture Adventure in Seoul Self-Guided Walking Tour : $3.58
- Gyeongbokgung Palace Hanbok Rental Experience in Seoul: $7.00
- Seoul Changdeokgung Palace Hanbok Experience Hanboknam (내국인불가): $7.10
- Alternative A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Gwanghwamun Tour l 120 Minutes to Understand South Korea: $10
- [Seoul] Football Faentasium Admission Ticket (내국인 불가): $10
- Gwanghwamun Tour about Korean Society and Local Mindset: $11
- Street Hustle Adventure in Seoul: $11
- SPAREX Jjimjilbang Sauna Dongmyo branch Admission Ticket(내국인불가): $11
- Skip the Line: Figure Museum W Ticket (내국인 불가): $11
- Dynamic Maze Discount Ticket Insa-dong(내국인불가): $12
- Seoul Job Experience Theme Park Ticket for Kid (내국인 불가): $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samet $5.38Seoul $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl and Drag Show with Local Drag Queen: $28
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $42
- Rice Wine Tasting with Sommelier - Finest Makgeolli (& Soju): $46
- Soju Tasting at Distillery: $51
- Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $57
- Chunpoong Makgeolli Brewery Tour: $59
- Korean Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $60
- Craft Makgeolli Brewery Tour & Tasting Experience: $67
- Itaewon Premium Pub Crawl with Open Bottles: $73
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $78
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samet and Seoul, 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Seoul Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samet or Seoul?
Seoul 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 Seoul in the Summer?
Both Seoul 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, the summer months attract visitors to Seoul because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
Koh Samet is around the same temperature as Seoul in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Seoul fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during summer. Koh Samet gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 121 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Seoul. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. In July, Koh Samet usually receives less rain than Seoul. Koh Samet gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 369 mm (14.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samet 28°C (82°F)Seoul 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Seoul in the Autumn?
Both Seoul 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, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Seoul this time of year.
In the autumn, Koh Samet is much warmer than Seoul. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samet in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Seoul averages at about 15°C (59°F).
In Seoul, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Koh Samet often gets less sunshine than Seoul. Koh Samet gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 204 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 Seoul. Koh Samet gets 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samet 27°C (81°F)Seoul 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Seoul in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samet and Seoul. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samet year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Seoul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Seoul. In January, Koh Samet is generally much warmer than Seoul. Daily temperatures in Koh Samet average around 25°C (77°F), and Seoul fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Samet usually receives more sunshine than Seoul during winter. Koh Samet gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Seoul receives 163 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Koh Samet usually receives more rain than Seoul. Koh Samet gets 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samet 25°C (77°F)Seoul -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Koh Samet or Seoul in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samet as well as Seoul. Koh Samet attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Seoul in the spring for the activities around the city.
Koh Samet is much warmer than Seoul in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samet averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Seoul fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seoul. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In the spring, Koh Samet often gets more sunshine than Seoul. Koh Samet gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seoul receives 205 hours of full sun.
Koh Samet usually gets less rain in April than Seoul. Koh Samet gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Seoul receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samet 29°C (84°F)Seoul 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Seoul and Koh Samet
| Koh Samet | Seoul | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 369 mm (14.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 294 mm (11.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 169 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 380 mm (15 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 0°C (33°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.