Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil?
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.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesGuayaquil Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Guayaquil $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $116. 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 Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Guayaquil? 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 and Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Guayaquil $15
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:
- The Red Baron Luxury Yacht Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $171
- Smooth Koh Phangan to Phuket Transfer by Catamaran and Bus : $54
- Samui Zipline Adventure with Transfer service: $54
- Private round trip Transfers from Samui Airport : $38
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $70
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $69
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Lamai : $39
- Private Transfer from Mae Nam to Samui (USM) Airport: $69
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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 $39Guayaquil $50
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
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $79
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $79
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $82
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $82
- Thai Cooking Class | Since 2012 | Farm to Table: $82
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $82
- Romantic Evening on Koh Samui’s Sunset Dinner Cruise: $108
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $113
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Transfer: $122
- Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Guayaquil $21
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Koh Madsum (Pig island) and Koh Tan Day Tour from Koh Samui: $101
- Koh Samui Island ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $99
- Koh Tan and Pig Island Half-Day Tour by Speed Catamaran : $64
- Pig Island Experience By Speed Boat, Snorkeling, Kayaking Relaxing on the Beach: $46
- Private Tour in Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple: $198
- Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $83
- koh samui island and water fall tour: $50
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Tour In Koh Samui : $89
- 2 Islands Sightseeing and Snorkeling Trip From Koh Samui: $48
- 2-Hour Koh Samui ATV Quad Tour: $59
- 2.5-Hours ATV Jungle Adventure Experience from Koh Phangan: $123
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Guayaquil $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Guayaquil, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samui much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Samui is in Asia and Guayaquil is in South America, 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 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Guayaquil, 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 Guayaquil?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guayaquil in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Guayaquil. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Guayaquil receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samui gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Guayaquil. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Guayaquil in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Guayaquil. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
Also, December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season. October to December in Koh Samui is the rainy season. Koh Samui receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Samui usually gets more rain in October than Guayaquil. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Koh Samui is around the same temperature as Guayaquil. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samui in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guayaquil in the Winter?
Both Guayaquil and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Samui is December to February. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. In January, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Koh Samui is generally cooler than Guayaquil. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 22°C (72°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Guayaquil in the Spring?
Both Guayaquil and Koh Samui during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Samui because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Koh Samui usually gets less rain in April than Guayaquil. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Koh Samui is cooler than Guayaquil in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in April, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 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.