Which place is cheaper, Pushkar 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 Pushkar?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pushkar? 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 Pushkar?
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.
Pushkar
Pushkar is a city located in the state of Rajasthan, India. The city is considered a holy one; it's famous for its Brahma temple. It is also known for its ghats, its lake, and bazaar. Brahma is one part of the holy Hindu trinity and is known sit on a lotus flower (which is what 'Pushkar' translates to). In Hindu religion, Brahma is believed to be the creator of this world and Pushkar is the most important temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, and The Best Cultural Tours in India.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesPushkar Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Pushkar $34
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Pushkar is $34. 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 Pushkar in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Pushkar $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Pushkar $24
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Pushkar
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Pushkar? 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 Pushkar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Pushkar $4.70
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:
- Koh Samui Airport (USM): Private Transfer within the Island: $12
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $15
- Private Transfer : Koh Samui Airport Arrival to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $15
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui: $17
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Island Hotels: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui island hotels to Ko Samui Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Cruise Port to Ko Samui Hotels: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pushkar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pushkar:
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Ranthambore In AC Vehicle: $117
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Udaipur In AC Vehicle: $112
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Mount Abu In AC Vehicle: $112
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To New Delhi In AC Vehicle: $112
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Agra In AC Vehicle: $112
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Jodhpur In AC Vehicle: $71
- Jaipur: Private Transfer to Jodhpur with Pushkar tour: $62
- Private Transfers Pushkar To Udaipur Drop: $58
- Jodhpur :Private Transfer to Jaisalmer, Jaipur, Pushkar: $47
- Private One Way Transfer From Pushkar To Jaipur In AC Vehicle: $45
- Private Transfer from Pushkar to Jaipur: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Pushkar?
Prices for flights to both Pushkar 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 $39Pushkar $17
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:
- Romantic 4-Course Dinner for Two on the Beach by the Amari Samui: $67
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $78
- 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: $81
- Sunset Dinner Cruise by Red Baron In Koh Samui : $81
- Koh Samui Sunset Dinner Cruise: $82
- Thai Cooking Class | Since 2012 | Farm to Table: $82
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group : $82
- Sunset Dinner Cruise: $82
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $113
- Koh Samui Red Baron Sunset Dinner Cruise with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $122
Typical Food Prices in Pushkar
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pushkar are as follows:
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Lunch$2.27
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Pushkar $7.80
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: $2.37
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.97
- Samui: Double Seater Karting: Share the Driving Experience: $22
- Koh Samui Half Day Island Guided Tour: $24
- Top Sights of Samui City Tour: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island : $27
- Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience: $28
- Koh Samui City & Temples Tour with Na Muang Waterfall: $28
- Angthong National Marine Park by Highsea Tour (Official): $30
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $30
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $30
Tours and Activities in Pushkar
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pushkar are as follows:
- 10-Day Jaipur, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour: $574
- 7-Day Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Pushkar & Jaipur Tour: $402
- Afternoon Walk Tour with Sunset & Fire Ritual -The Pushkar Route : $7.00
- Ajmer City Walking tour - The Pushkar Route: $35
- Cultural Walk of Pushkar (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Evening Walking tour with Fire Ceremony - The Pushkar Route : $8.00
- Experience Private Food And Culture Walk-The Pushkar Route: $15
- Explore Pushkar in a Day from Jaipur, Private Tour: $62
- Food Walk Tour Pushkar (2 hours guided food tasting walk): $23
- From Jaipur : Ajmer Pushkar Private Tour by Cab with Guide: $56
- From Jaipur : Private Ajmer Pushkar Tour by Cab: $68
- From Jaipur: Private Ajmer and Pushkar Guided Tour: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Pushkar $6.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Samui and Pushkar, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. And not only is Pushkar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pushkar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pushkar 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 Pushkar.
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 Pushkar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Pushkar?
Koh Samui has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Pushkar. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Pushkar, 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.
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.