Chiang Mai vs Koh Samui
The short answer
Chiang Mai is the cheaper trip, by roughly 27% a day β $25β55 against $30β75 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in DecβFeb, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way β see how we work these out.
| πΉπ Chiang Mai | πΉπ Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $25β55cheaper | $30β75 |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $1β2.50cheaper | $1.50β3 |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $30β70cheaper | $50β115 |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $0.30β1cheaper | $1β4 |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | β $450 | β $480 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds β the full lists are on the guides themselves.
πΉπ Chiang Mai
Northern Thailand's cultural heart β a moated Old City of hundreds of temples, misty mountains, laptop-friendly cafΓ©s, and a slower, cheaper pace than Bangkok's chaos.
- Zoe in Yellow$Nightlife
- Khao Soi Mae Sai$Restaurants
- North Gate Jazz Co-Op$Live music
- Spicy$$Nightlife
- Huen Phen$$Restaurants
πΉπ Koh Samui
Thailand's second-biggest island, and its most polished β 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
| Chiang Mai | Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Thai, with a distinct Northern Thai (Kham Mueang) dialect spoken locally. English is common in the Old City, Nimman, and cafΓ©s; sparser outside them. | Thai. English is widespread in Chaweng, Bophut, and Lamai; thinner in the interior. |
| Tap water | Don't drink it β bottled and filtered water is everywhere and cheap | Don't drink it β bottled water is sold everywhere, often free at hotels |
The same in both:
- Currency
- Thai baht (ΰΈΏ). US$1 β ΰΈΏ35
- Time zone
- ICT (UTC+7)
- Power
- 220V; outlets take most two-pin plugs (A/C hybrids)
- Emergency
- 191 police Β· 1669 ambulance Β· 1155 tourist police (English)