Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Koh Samui?
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 Samui or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guangzhou? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Koh Samui or Guangzhou?
Koh Samui
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesGuangzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Guangzhou $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $104. 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 Samui and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Guangzhou $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Guangzhou $116
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Guangzhou? 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 Samui Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Guangzhou $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
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Scooter Rental$2.36
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Gas for Scooter$1.26
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Airport Taxi$14
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $127
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $22
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Full Moon Party by Speed Boat Transfer from Koh Samui: $38
- Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan Transfer Painting and Party: $49
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $51
- Full Moon Party in Speedboat Transfer From Samui: $47
- Guided Zipline Adventure in Ko Samui with Round Trip Transfer: $83
- Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Round Trip Private Transfer: $36
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Koh Pha Ngan to Phuket Scenic Catamaran and Bus Transfer : $50
- Koh Samui Airport (USM): Private Transfer within the Island: $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Shenzhen Day Tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Private Transfer: $255
- Guangzhou Layover Visa-Free Private Tour with Airport Transfer: $200
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $194
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $176
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $170
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $135
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel: $99
- Guangzhou Night Pearl River Cruise VIP Seating with Private Transfer: $96
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Koh Samui 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 Samui $39Guangzhou $34
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Samui
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $77
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $80
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $81
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $82
- Sunset Dinner Cruise by Red Baron In Koh Samui : $83
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $83
- Thai Cooking Class | Since 2012 | Farm to Table: $83
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $83
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $108
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $115
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $123
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Shenzhen Cantonese Dim Sum Cooking Class with Lunch: $86
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Guangzhou $18
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Coconut Soap Making Demo and Experience Koh Samui: $2.39
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.97
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui : $18
- Samui: Double Seater Karting: Share the Driving Experience: $22
- Top Sights of Samui City Tour: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island : $27
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $27
- Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience: $28
- High Speed Karting Fun Adventure at EasyKart from Koh Samui: $29
- Koh Samui City & Temples Tour with Na Muang Waterfall: $29
- Angthong National Marine Park by Highsea Tour (Official): $30
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 1-Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private City Tour: $185
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou: $91
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Flexible Private Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Options: $153
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $100
- 4-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King & Academy of Clan Chen in Guangzhou: $91
- 5-Hour Private Guangzhou Yumcha Tasting with Local Food Market Experience : $118
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- 6-Day Guangzhou to Guilin Scenic Tour: $1,598
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Guangzhou $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samui much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Samui would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samui 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou than you might in Koh Samui.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samui Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Guangzhou, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Samui experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guangzhou in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Guangzhou. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Koh Samui is cooler than Guangzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samui in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 29°C (84°F).
It's quite rainy in Guangzhou. Koh Samui receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samui usually gets less rain in July than Guangzhou. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Guangzhou 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guangzhou in the Autumn?
Both Guangzhou and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year.
In October, Koh Samui is generally around the same temperature as Guangzhou. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (75°F), and Guangzhou fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In October, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Guangzhou. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Samui is December to February. The rainy season in Koh Samui is October to December.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)Guangzhou 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guangzhou in the Winter?
Both Guangzhou and Koh Samui during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samui because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Koh Samui is much warmer than Guangzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
Koh Samui usually gets more rain in January than Guangzhou. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)Guangzhou 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guangzhou in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Guangzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
In the spring, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Guangzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samui in April average around 24°C (76°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 22°C (72°F).
Guangzhou receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Guangzhou. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Guangzhou 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Guangzhou and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Guangzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 24 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.