Which place is cheaper, Nanjing 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 Nanjing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Nanjing? 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 Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesNanjing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Nanjing $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $118. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Nanjing $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Nanjing $94
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Nanjing? 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 $19Nanjing $39
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 Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Private Day Tour: Nanjing City Highlights with Hotel or Railway Station Transfer: $285
- Nanjing To Huangshan Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfers: $129
- Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG) to central Nanjing: $125
- Private Nanjing Airport Transfer to Zhenjiang City: $110
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Nanjing to Suzhou Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $96
- Private Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing City Center: $94
- Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $91
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou from Nanjing City Center: $89
- Nanjing to Wuxi Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $88
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 $39Nanjing $49
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 Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Nanjing $9.41
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 Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour with Xiaoling Tomb and Sun Yatsen Mausoleum : $124
- 6-Hour Private Tour of Xiaoling Tomb,City Wall & Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $160
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $168
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Flexible Private Nanjing Layover Tour: $171
- Flexible Yangzhou Private Day Tour from Nanjing: $212
- Half Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour with Night River Cruise: $206
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Nanjing $9.61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Nanjing?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Nanjing, 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 Nanjing?
Nanjing 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 Nanjing in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Nanjing. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Koh Samui is generally cooler than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Nanjing. Koh Samui receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Samui usually gets less rain in July than Nanjing. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Nanjing 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Nanjing in the Autumn?
Both Nanjing 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.
Koh Samui is a little warmer than Nanjing in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Nanjing fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Samui. In October, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Nanjing. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 44 mm (1.7 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)Nanjing 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Nanjing in the Winter?
Both Nanjing 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.
Nanjing can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Koh Samui is much warmer than Nanjing. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Samui in January average around 22°C (72°F), and Nanjing averages at about 3°C (37°F).
Koh Samui usually gets more rain in January than Nanjing. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 27 mm (1.1 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)Nanjing 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Nanjing in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Nanjing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
In April, Koh Samui is generally much warmer than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (76°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
Nanjing receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Nanjing. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Nanjing 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Nanjing and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Nanjing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (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.