Bali vs Koh Samui
The short answer
Koh Samui is the cheaper trip, by roughly 27% a day — $30–75 against $50–100 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in Apr–Aug, 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.
| 🇮🇩 Bali | 🇹🇭 Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $50–100 | $30–75cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $1.50–3 | $1.50–3 |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $40–90cheaper | $50–115 |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $1.50 | $1–4cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $250 | ≈ $480 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇮🇩 Bali
Temples on sea cliffs, surf that suits beginners, and a Hindu island culture that turns every morning into a small ceremony. This guide covers the southern beach belt — Kuta to Uluwatu; inland Ubud has its own guide.
- Uluwatu Temple & kecak dance$Temples & sights
- Kuta Beach surf schools$Surf & beaches
- Potato Head Beach Club$$$Nightlife
- Tanah Lot$Temples & sights
- Single Fin, Uluwatu$$Surf & beaches
🇹🇭 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
| Bali | Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Indonesian and Balinese; English is everywhere in the tourist belt. 'Terima kasih' (thank you) opens every door. | Thai. English is widespread in Chaweng, Bophut, and Lamai; thinner in the interior. |
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah (Rp). US$1 ≈ Rp 16,000 — everyone's a millionaire here | Thai baht (฿). US$1 ≈ ฿35 |
| Time zone | WITA (UTC+8) — one hour ahead of Jakarta and Yogyakarta | ICT (UTC+7) |
| Power | Type C/F plugs, 230V | 220V; outlets take most two-pin plugs (A/C hybrids) |
| Tap water | Not drinkable — bottled or refill stations only, and skip ice from questionable warungs | Don't drink it — bottled water is sold everywhere, often free at hotels |
| Emergency | 112 general · 118 ambulance · BIMC and Siloam are the international-standard hospitals | 191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (English) |