Is Koh Samui expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Koh Samui is one of Thailand's pricier islands, more expensive than Koh Phangan or Koh Tao and similar to Phuket, but still cheap by European standards. A budget day is about ฿1,750 (roughly €45) per person and a mid-range day about ฿4,600; taxis, resorts and boat tours are where money goes.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ฿500 | ฿1,600 | ฿6,000 |
| Food & drink | ฿500 | ฿1,000 | ฿2,500 |
| Sights & tickets | ฿500 | ฿1,500 | ฿3,000 |
| Local transport | ฿250 | ฿500 | ฿1,200 |
| Per person, per day | ฿1,750 | ฿4,600 | ฿12,700 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Koh Samui day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Pad thai or grilled skewers at a night market | about ฿60–120 |
| Thai curry at a beach restaurant | about ฿150–250 |
| Songthaew ride on the ring road | about ฿60–150 |
| Taxi between beaches | about ฿300–600 |
| Taxi to the airport | about ฿500–800 |
| Scooter rental per day | about ฿250–350 |
| Ang Thong Marine Park boat tour | about ฿1,800–2,800 plus about ฿300 park fee |
| Budget bungalow double in Lamai | about ฿800–1,800 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation ranges widely, from Lamai bungalows at about ฿800–1,800 to Bophut and Chaweng hotels at ฿2,000–5,000 and pool villas at ฿8,000–25,000. Transport is unusually expensive for Thailand because Samui's taxis rarely use meters; most visitors rent scooters or use Grab and Bolt. Boat trips to Ang Thong or Koh Tao (about ฿1,800–3,500) are the big sightseeing costs, plus national park fees for foreigners paid in cash. Thai food at markets is cheap; Western food and beach-club drinks are not.
When it is cheaper
Rates usually drop by roughly 20–40% in the rainier months of October to mid-December (outside Christmas) and in the quieter periods of May–June and September, though boat trips can be cancelled in rough seas in the late monsoon.
How to spend less
- Use Grab or Bolt instead of street taxis, or agree fares firmly before getting in.
- Ride songthaew pickups along the ring road by day for ฿60–150.
- Eat at night markets and walking streets in Lamai, Bophut and Maenam rather than on the Chaweng beachfront.
- Fly to Surat Thani and take the bus and ferry instead of the Bangkok Airways flight to Samui, if you have time.
- Book boat tours with your hotel or local agencies and compare what lunch and park fees include.
- Stay in Lamai or Maenam, where bungalows are cheaper than in Chaweng or Bophut.
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Common questions
Is Koh Samui expensive?
It is one of Thailand's pricier islands, but still affordable: about ฿1,750 a day on a budget and ฿4,600 mid-range.
Why are taxis so expensive on Samui?
They rarely use meters. Agree fares first, or use Grab or Bolt, which are often cheaper.
How much is an Ang Thong boat tour?
About ฿1,800–2,800 with lunch and kayaking, plus a national park fee of about ฿300 for foreigners.