Koh Samui and Phi Phi Island are two of the most popular islands in Thailand. These islands come with tons of attractions that make them worth visiting for all tourists. If you are planning to enjoy a great time in Thailand, you may be torn between Koh Samui and Phi Phi Island. Which of these two islands is the best? What do these islands have to offer tourists or residents? Let’s compare these two islands below.
Koh Samui or Phi Phi Island? Without mincing words, both islands are great places to visit. So, we will recommend both destinations for various individuals that want to enjoy some of the best islands that Thailand has to offer. If you are looking for a busier, more affordable but populated island, you should not hesitate to pack your loads and go to Koh Samui. However, if you prefer a serene but still lively island, Phi Phi Island is one of the islands to be in Thailand.
Size and features
Koh Samui is known as the largest island found on the east coast of southern Thailand. In fact, Phuket is the only Thailand island with a larger size than Koh Samui. It features loads of undersea wildlife as well as eye-catching rainforest and shores. Koh Samui is a well-known island because it welcomes lots of tourists every year. Despite its size, you can travel around most parts of the whole island in a single day with a motorbike or taxi.
Phi Phi Island, on the other hand, is relatively small. It is found around the coast of the southwestern part of Thailand. This island comes with a wide range of attractions such as clear blue waters, undersea wildlife, unmatched tropical scenery, and friendly residents.
Due to the size of Koh Samui, it usually has more tourists and residents than Phi Phi Island. While the population of Koh Samui is slightly less than 70,000, there are only about 3,000 residents on Phi Phi Island. In 2018, more than 2.7 million tourists visited Koh Samui. Of course, the number of individuals visiting Phi Phi Island is significantly lesser than those visiting Koh Samui.
Consequently, Koh Samui tends to be more congested than Koh Phi Phi. The congestion can be a major source of pollution and other issues that you may want to avoid. So, if you are looking for a relatively less populated and less polluted island, Phi Phi Island is a better option for you.
On the other hand, the large population in Koh Samui ensures that you are likely going to meet more people. Since the residents and tourists in most of Thailand’s islands are usually friendly, Koh Samui may give you a more enjoyable experience than Phi Phi Island.
Cost of living
Whether you want to tour or stay permanently in any of the islands, the cost of living should be one of your major considerations. When accommodation, transportation, food, and entertainment are considered, both islands are quite affordable, especially for tourists. However, Koh Samui seems to be more affordable as daily living costs around $49 for each person. On the other hand, you will have to spend about $64 daily when staying on Phi Phi Island.
To be more specific, accommodation is the major factor that makes Phi Phi Island more expensive. This is probably because there are more accommodations of different sizes and budgets in Koh Samui than Phi Phi Island. However, transportation and food are cheaper on Phi Phi Island.
Nonetheless, you should note that the needs and preferences of each individual may make a big difference in the cost of living on each island.
Entertainment
If you are planning to visit Koh Samui or Phi Phi Island, you will want to have some fun. Hence, entertainment should be one of the things to consider. Both islands have varying entertainment options. However, as noted above, Koh Samui is the busier and livelier of the two islands. Chewang, Coral Grand, etc. are some of its resort areas and centers you must not overlook during your visit. You are also bound to enjoy the great nightlife on Koh Samui.
So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that entertainment is better in Koh Samui. In addition, entertainment options seem to be cheaper in Koh Samui than Phi Phi Island. However, this doesn’t mean that Phi Phi Island is not entertaining. The island has wonderful quiet locations as well as busy pubs and bars. Therefore, any of these islands will make you enjoy your visit.
Verdict: Koh Samui or Phi Phi Island?
Without mincing words, both islands are great places to visit. So, we will recommend both destinations for various individuals that want to enjoy some of the best islands that Thailand has to offer. If you are looking for a busier, more affordable but populated island, you should not hesitate to pack your loads and go to Koh Samui. However, if you prefer a serene but still lively island, Phi Phi Island is one of the islands to be in Thailand.
