🇹🇭Koh Samui
Thailand's second-biggest island, and its most polished — coconut groves giving way to resort strips, a golden Big Buddha watching over the northeast coast, and an easy, no-boat-required flight straight in.
Mid-range figures, per person
Per person, no flights — those are just below. The mid-range figure is researched; budget and luxury scale it, so treat the two as rough. The trip calculator and hotels below break the day down properly.
Fares are into Bangkok. Islands and the north add a domestic hop, usually $30–80 each way on AirAsia, Nok or Thai Vietjet. Ranges are typical fares booked 1–3 months out, checked mid-2026 — school-holiday peaks run higher, and patient shoppers beat the bottom end.
Prices checked · how we work these out
Entry & visa
Most Western passports currently get 60 days visa-exempt on arrival. Rules shift — check the official Thai immigration site before booking.
Visa rules turn on your nationality and change often — always confirm the current requirement for your own passport with an official government source before you book.
Quick facts
Money & what things cost
Samui is more built-up than Krabi or Koh Lanta — cards are widely accepted at resorts, restaurants, and dive shops. You'll still want cash for songthaews, beach vendors, and the Fisherman's Village and Lamai night markets.
What locals earn
| Average monthly salary (Koh Samui, tourism) | ≈ ฿14,000–18,500 ($400–530) | the island's economy is almost entirely resorts, dive tourism, and hospitality |
| Minimum wage | ≈ ฿370/day ($10.60) | provincial rate, similar to Phuket's |
Food & drink
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Street-food plate, away from the beach road | ฿50–90 | $1.40–2.60 |
| Casual Thai restaurant, per person | ฿150–300 | $4.30–8.60 |
| Beachfront seafood dinner, per person | ฿400–900 | $11–26 |
| Coffee at a Fisherman's Village café | ฿70–120 | $2–3.40 |
| Local beer at a beach bar | ฿100–180 | $2.90–5.10 |
| Fresh coconut from a roadside stand | ฿40–60 | $1.10–1.70 |
Transport
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Shared songthaew, short island hop | ฿30–60 | $0.85–1.70 |
| Songthaew, longer route around the ring road | ฿80–150 | $2.30–4.30 |
| Scooter rental, per day | ฿200–300 | $5.70–8.60 |
| Metered/app taxi across the island | ฿150–400 | $4.30–11 |
| Airport (USM) taxi transfer | ฿400–700 | $11–20 |
| Ferry to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao | ฿300–600 | $8.60–17 |
Where to sleep & what it costs
| Tier | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | ฿350–600 ($10–17) | Concentrated in Chaweng and Lamai |
| Budget guesthouse | ฿700–1,400 ($20–40) | Simple a/c room, usually a short walk to the beach |
| Mid-range resort | ฿1,800–4,000 ($51–115) | Pool access is standard at this tier |
| Luxury beachfront | ฿7,000+ ($200+) | Choeng Mon and the northeast coast concentrate the top-end resorts |
Trip cost calculator
$121 per person per day · 4 nights of lodging (Mid-range resort)
A rough estimate from this page’s daily budget and hotel prices — not a quote. Lodging assumes one room for the group; flights use the midpoint of the Getting there ranges above.
Getting around
- From the airport
- Samui International (USM) is small, palm-thatched, and privately owned by Bangkok Airways — which is why flights and the fixed-rate taxi desk both run pricier than elsewhere in Thailand. Expect ฿400–700 for a taxi into Chaweng or Bophut.
- Songthaews
- Open-air shared trucks loop the ring road connecting all the main beaches — flag one down, confirm the fare (often ฿30–150 depending on distance), and hop off wherever.
- Scooter rental
- The best way to explore beyond your beach — viewpoints, waterfalls, and the Big Buddha are all spread around the island. Roads are decent but hilly in places; wear a helmet.
- Taxis & ride apps
- Metered taxis are rare — most quote a flat, often steep, fare. Grab has patchy but growing coverage in the main tourist zones and is usually cheaper and more transparent.
- Ferries
- Regular ferries link Samui to Koh Phangan (Full Moon Party island, about 30–45 minutes away) and Koh Tao, plus the mainland at Surat Thani for onward bus/train travel.
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Neighborhoods to stay in
- Chaweng
- The island's main strip — longest beach, densest nightlife and restaurants, most convenient base.
- Fisherman's Village (Bophut)
- Boutique and low-key, with a atmospheric Friday walking street and a slower pace than Chaweng.
- Lamai
- Second-biggest beach town, cheaper than Chaweng, mellower but still lively at night.
- Maenam / Bang Rak
- Quiet, near the airport and the mainland ferry pier, popular with longer-stay visitors.
- Choeng Mon
- Small, upscale, and calm in the island's northeast — the luxury-resort corner.
Things to do
Beach clubs
Restaurants
Nightlife
Tipping & etiquette
- Dress modestly at temples like Wat Phra Yai and Wat Plai Laem: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering.
- The head is sacred and feet are lowly: don't touch anyone's head, don't point your feet at people or Buddha images.
- Topless or nude sunbathing isn't culturally accepted, even on the more touristy beaches.
- Respect flag warnings and lifeguard advice, especially during the October–December monsoon swells.
- If you go to a Full Moon Party on nearby Koh Phangan, book your return ferry in advance — they sell out.
Safety & common scams
Generally very safe, with the everyday risks being practical rather than criminal: scooter accidents among inexperienced riders, rip currents in rougher months, and Samui's well-known unmetered-taxi overcharging. Petty theft is uncommon but not unheard of on busy beaches.
Scams to know
- Fixed 'taxi mafia' fares — Samui's taxis are famously unmetered and pricey; agree the price first or use Grab where it's available.
- Jet-ski damage claims — photograph every angle of the vehicle before riding, as with Phuket.
- Scooter rental damage disputes — video the bike on pickup, including small existing scratches.
- Overpriced 'VIP' ferry or Full Moon Party packages sold on the beach — compare a couple of operators before booking.
Emergency numbers: 1155 tourist police (English-speaking) · 191 police · 1669 ambulance
Phone & internet
Grab an AIS or TrueMove tourist SIM at the airport or a 7-Eleven (roughly ฿300–500 for 8–15 days), or set up an eSIM before flying. Coverage is strong across the developed east coast, with some dead spots inland and on outer islands.
First-timer FAQs
Chaweng, Lamai, or Bophut — where should I stay?
Chaweng for nightlife and convenience, Lamai for a calmer but still lively alternative, and Fisherman's Village in Bophut if you'd rather have boutique charm than a party scene.
Should I fly or take the ferry to Samui?
Flying direct into Samui Airport is fastest but pricier; flying into Surat Thani on the mainland and taking a ferry across is the budget route and adds about 2–3 hours.
Is the rainy season really different here than the rest of Thailand?
Yes — Samui's peak rain falls October–December, opposite the west-coast islands like Phuket and Krabi. Plan around that if you're combining destinations.
How many days do I need?
Four to five days covers the main beaches, Big Buddha, Fisherman's Village, and a day trip to Koh Phangan or Ang Thong Marine Park comfortably.
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Koh Samui or…?
Side-by-side cost comparisons with the other Thailand guides.