Which place is cheaper, Longsheng 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 Longsheng?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Longsheng? 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 Longsheng?
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.
Longsheng
A county of the city, Guilin, Longsheng is a hub of several ethnic cultures that thrive on farming and tourism. It is located about 50 or so miles north of the Guilin city center. The region is perhaps most known for the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces located in Heping Township. These, along with many other natural features like hot springs, waterfalls, and meadows are a few of the main attractions that draw visitors to Longsheng.
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 PricesLongsheng Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Longsheng $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Longsheng is $105. 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 Longsheng in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Longsheng $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Longsheng $42
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Longsheng
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Longsheng? 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 $19Longsheng $42
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
- Koh Samui Paradise Park Farm Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $140
- ATV And Zipline Experience on Koh Samui with Transfer: $127
- Paradise Park Farm Entry Ticket with Transfer: $118
- Guided Zipline Adventure in Ko Samui with Round Trip Transfer: $83
- Full Moon Party Entry Tickets & Round Trip Transfers: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: From Hotel to Airport Koh Samui by Minivan: $76
- Private Arrival Transfer: Koh Samui Airports to Hotel by Minivan: $75
- Private Transfer from Taling Ngam to Samui (USM) Airport: $70
- Private Transfer from Mae Nam to Samui (USM) Airport: $69
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Mae Nam: $69
- Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport ( USM ) to Conrad Kohsamui : $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Longsheng?
Prices for flights to both Longsheng 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 $39Longsheng $61
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Longsheng $8.51
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: $103
- Koh Samui Island ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $99
- Pig Island Experience By Speed Boat, Snorkeling, Kayaking Relaxing on the Beach: $47
- 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: $27
- 4WD Buggy. Mountain Tour 3 hrs. for 1-2 people per Buggy in Samui: $252
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Longsheng $8.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Longsheng, we can see that Longsheng 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 Longsheng would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Longsheng 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 Longsheng Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui or Longsheng?
Longsheng 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 Longsheng in the Summer?
Both Longsheng and Koh Samui are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Samui throughout the year.
In July, Koh Samui is generally cooler than Longsheng. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Longsheng fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Longsheng. It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In July, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Longsheng. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Longsheng 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Longsheng in the Autumn?
Both Longsheng and Koh Samui during the autumn 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 around the same temperature as Longsheng in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Longsheng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samui. Koh Samui usually gets more rain in October than Longsheng. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year. December to February is the dry season in Koh Samui. October to December is the rainy season in Koh Samui.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Samui 24°C (75°F)Longsheng 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Longsheng in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Longsheng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
In the winter, Koh Samui is much warmer than Longsheng. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samui in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Longsheng averages at about 10°C (49°F).
In January, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Longsheng. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. December to February in Koh Samui is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Samui 22°C (72°F)Longsheng 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Longsheng in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Longsheng. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Koh Samui is generally a little warmer than Longsheng. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Longsheng fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It's quite rainy in Longsheng. Koh Samui usually gets less rain in April than Longsheng. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Longsheng receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Longsheng 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Longsheng and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Longsheng | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 12°C (53°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.