Which place is cheaper, Hongcun 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 Hongcun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Hongcun? 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 Hongcun?
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.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesHongcun Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Hongcun $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $67. 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 Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Hongcun? 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 $19Hongcun $12
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:
- Samui International Airport (USM) Departure Shared Transfer: $9.00
- Koh Samui Airport (USM): Private Transfer within the Island: $12
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $14
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
- Koh Samui Airport Departure – Shared Transfer: $17
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui: $18
- Ko Samui Airport to Ko Samui - Arrival Private Transfer: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun 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 $39Hongcun $33
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
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.91
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.10
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Hongcun $17
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Hongcun $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Hongcun, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Koh Samui would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Samui than you might in Hongcun.
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 Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui or Hongcun?
Hongcun 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 Hongcun in the Summer?
Both Hongcun and Koh Samui during the summer 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 cooler than Hongcun in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Hongcun fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Hongcun gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samui. Koh Samui usually gets less rain in July than Hongcun. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Hongcun in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
In the autumn, Koh Samui is a little warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Samui in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Hongcun averages at about 19°C (65°F).
Koh Samui gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season. Also, October to December is the rainy season in Koh Samui.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Hongcun in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Hongcun. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Hongcun in the winter. In January, Koh Samui is generally much warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 22°C (72°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Koh Samui usually gets more rain in January than Hongcun. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Hongcun in the Spring?
Both Hongcun and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year.
Koh Samui is a little warmer than Hongcun in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (76°F) in April, and Hongcun fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. In April, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.