Which place is cheaper, Yichang 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 Yichang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Yichang? 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 Yichang?
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.
Yichang
Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.
Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesYichang Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $79Yichang $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $79, while the average daily cost in Yichang is $74. 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 Yichang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $26Yichang $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $52Yichang $50
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Yichang
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui or Yichang? 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 $19Yichang $14
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
- 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: $17
- 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 Airport (USM) to Ko Samui Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yichang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yichang:
- Private transfer from Yichang to Zhangjiajie: $290
- Yichang Airport Transfer Service, Yichang train station Pick up: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samui or Yichang?
Prices for flights to both Yichang 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 $39Yichang $38
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 $12Yichang $18
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
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island : $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
- 4-Hour Day Tour in Koh Samui: $30
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $31
Tours and Activities in Yichang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yichang are as follows:
- From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $993
- From 5-Day Yangtze River Cruise to Chongqing: $679
- Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
- Yichang - Chongqing Yangtze Miracle Luxury 5D4N Cruise: $720
- Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.33Yichang $14
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Yichang, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Yichang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Yichang?
Yichang has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Yichang, 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 Yichang?
Yichang 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 Yichang in the Summer?
Both Yichang 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.
In the summer, Koh Samui is cooler than Yichang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Samui in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Yichang averages at about 29°C (85°F).
Yichang 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 Yichang. Koh Samui gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Yichang 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Yichang in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Samui and Yichang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Samui year-round.
In October, Koh Samui is generally a little warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Koh Samui average around 24°C (75°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
Koh Samui gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Samui usually receives more rain than Yichang. Koh Samui gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 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)Yichang 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Yichang in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Samui as well as Yichang. Koh Samui attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Samui is much warmer than Yichang in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Samui averages around 22°C (72°F) in January, and Yichang fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Koh Samui usually gets more rain in January than Yichang. Koh Samui gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 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)Yichang 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Koh Samui or Yichang in the Spring?
Both Yichang 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.
In the spring, Koh Samui is a little warmer than Yichang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Samui in April average around 24°C (76°F), and Yichang averages at about 18°C (65°F).
In April, Koh Samui usually receives less rain than Yichang. Koh Samui gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Samui 24°C (76°F)Yichang 18°C (65°F)
Typical Weather for Yichang and Koh Samui
| Koh Samui | Yichang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.