Comparison · Bali vs Koh Samui · Indonesia / Thailand
Bali vs Koh Samui
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces; choose Koh Samui for Chaweng Beach, Big Buddha, free sights and a short break. Bali is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,607 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,607 km
- Less expensive
- Bali
- Best time for Bali
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Koh Samui
- February–April and June–August
Side by side
| Bali | Koh Samui | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Thailand |
| Known for | Hindu temples, Rice terraces and Surfing | Chaweng Beach, Big Buddha and Fisherman's Village |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | February–April and June–August |
| Ideal stay | 10 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$180 | $90–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | April, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | December, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 4 |
| Beaches | Seminyak and Double Six Beach | Chaweng |
| Airports | DPS | USM, URT |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bali for…
Hindu temples and Rice terraces. Bali is a Hindu island in mostly Muslim Indonesia, about 140 km across, where daily offerings sit on doorsteps and temple ceremonies close roads. The south — Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua — has the beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs, while…
Choose Koh Samui for…
Chaweng Beach, Big Buddha, free sights and a short break. Koh Samui, Thailand's second-largest island, is ringed by a coastal road of about 50 km linking a dozen beaches, from busy Chaweng and Lamai on the east coast to quieter Bophut, Maenam and the sunset-facing west. Coconut plantations and forested hills fill…
Top sights compared
| # | Bali | Koh Samui |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) |
| 2 | Tanah Lot | Wat Plai Laem |
| 3 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Fisherman's Village, Bophut |
| 4 | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | Hin Ta and Hin Yai |
| 5 | Tirta Empul | Na Muang Waterfalls |
Food compared
| Bali | Koh Samui |
|---|---|
| Babi guling | Khao yam |
| Bebek betutu | Gaeng som pla |
| Nasi campur Bali | Tom kha gai |
| Sate lilit | Seafood barbecue |
Which is cheaper?
Bali is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$180 per person there, against $90–$200 in Koh Samui (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bali on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,607 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 17 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bali or Koh Samui cheaper?
Bali is usually less expensive: about $80–$180 a day mid-range against $90–$200 (estimates).
+Is Bali or Koh Samui better for a first trip?
Pick Bali for Hindu temples and Rice terraces, or Koh Samui for Chaweng Beach, Big Buddha, free sights and a short break.
+How far is Bali from Koh Samui?
About 2,607 km in a straight line.