Koh Samui vs Sukhothai
The short answer
Sukhothai is the cheaper trip, by roughly 49% a day β $18β40 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 Koh Samui | πΉπ Sukhothai | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $30β75 | $18β40cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $1.50β3 | $1β2.20cheaper |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $50β115 | $20β46cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $1β4 | $0.30β1.10cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | β $480 | β $380 |
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 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$$Restaurants
πΉπ Sukhothai
The ruined first capital of Siam, and Ayutthaya's much quieter cousin β weathered brick chedis reflected in lotus ponds, bicycle paths instead of tour buses, and almost none of the crowds.
- Wat Mahathat$Temples & culture
- Dream CafΓ©$$Restaurants
- Sukhothai Night Market$Markets
- Wat Si Chum$Temples & culture
- Poo Restaurant$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Koh Samui | Sukhothai | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Thai. English is widespread in Chaweng, Bophut, and Lamai; thinner in the interior. | Thai. English is limited β Sukhothai sees far fewer foreign visitors than Ayutthaya, so a translation app is genuinely useful. |
| Tap water | Don't drink it β bottled water is sold everywhere, often free at hotels | Don't drink it β bottled water is cheap and widely available |
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)