Ayutthaya vs Koh Samui
The short answer
Ayutthaya is the cheaper trip, by roughly 42% a day — $20–45 against $30–75 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in Dec–Feb, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇹🇭 Ayutthaya | 🇹🇭 Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $20–45cheaper | $30–75 |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $1.20–2.50cheaper | $1.50–3 |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $25–55cheaper | $50–115 |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $0.30–1cheaper | $1–4 |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $400 | ≈ $480 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇹🇭 Ayutthaya
The ruined former capital of the Siamese kingdom — brick chedis and headless Buddhas scattered across a bicycle-friendly park, an easy 1.5-hour train ride from Bangkok's chaos.
- Wat Mahathat$Temples & culture
- Bann Kun Pra$$Restaurants
- Hua Raw Night Market$Markets
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram$Temples & culture
- Baan Mai Rim Nam$$Restaurants
🇹🇭 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.
- Ark Bar$$Beach clubs
- The Shack$$Restaurants
- Green Mango$$Nightlife
- Nikki Beach$$$Beach clubs
- 2 Fishes$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Ayutthaya | Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Thai. English is limited outside the main historical park and station area — a translation app helps. | Thai. English is widespread in Chaweng, Bophut, and Lamai; thinner in the interior. |
| Tap water | Don't drink it — bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere | Don't drink it — bottled water is sold everywhere, often free at hotels |
The same in both:
- Currency
- Thai baht (฿). US$1 ≈ ฿35
- Time zone
- ICT (UTC+7)
- Power
- 220V; outlets take most two-pin plugs (A/C hybrids)
- Emergency
- 191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (English)