Koh Chang vs Koh Samui: Thailand's Gulf Islands Compared for Every Budget
Thailand has too many islands. That's a good problem, but it creates real decisions — and the one I get asked about most is Koh Chang versus Koh Samui. Both are large Gulf of Thailand islands. Both have beaches, jungle, waterfalls, and Thai food that makes you question every meal you've eaten at home. But they deliver wildly different experiences.
I've spent a combined five weeks between them. Here's the honest comparison.
Why These Two?
Koh Chang is Thailand's third-largest island, sitting near the Cambodian border in the eastern Gulf. Koh Samui is the second-largest, in the western Gulf near Koh Phangan. Both are accessible by ferry, both have developed tourist infrastructure, and both get overlooked by travelers heading straight to Phuket or the Andaman coast.
But where Samui has matured into a polished resort destination with an airport, Koh Chang has stayed rougher — part of its charm is that it still feels like it hasn't quite decided what it wants to be.
Beaches
Koh Chang: The west coast has the beaches — White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) is the longest at 2.5km, with fine sand and calm water. Lonely Beach (Hat Tha Nam) is the backpacker hangout. Kai Bae and Klong Prao offer a mid-range sweet spot. The east coast is barely developed — fishing villages, mangroves, and quiet.
Koh Samui: Chaweng Beach is the main event — 7km of white sand, crystal water, and wall-to-wall development. Lamai is the second beach, slightly less crowded. Bophut's Fisherman's Village is charming. Mae Nam is quiet and good for families.
Winner: Samui has better sand. Chang has less crowding. Depends on your priority.
Accommodation
Type
Koh Chang
Koh Samui
Budget bungalow
300-800 THB ($8-22)
500-1,200 THB ($14-34)
Mid-range hotel
1,000-2,500 THB ($28-70)
1,500-4,000 THB ($42-112)
Luxury resort
3,000-8,000 THB ($84-224)
5,000-25,000 THB ($140-700)
Koh Chang is 30-50% cheaper across every category. The east coast of Chang is particularly good value — half the price of the west coast and much quieter.
Winner: Koh Chang for budget and mid-range. Samui for luxury.
Getting There
Koh Chang: Fly to Trat Airport (TDX) — small turboprop flights from Bangkok, about 1 hour, from 2,500 THB (~$70) one-way. Or drive/bus from Bangkok (5 hours) to the Centerpoint Pier, then a 30-minute ferry. Total road+ferry: about 500-800 THB ($14-22).
Koh Samui: Samui has its own airport (USM) with direct flights from Bangkok (1 hour). But it's operated by Bangkok Airways, which has a monopoly and charges accordingly — flights start at 3,500 THB (~$98) one-way and often exceed 5,000 THB. Budget alternative: fly to Surat Thani (URT) and take a ferry (2 hours), total about 2,000 THB ($56).
Winner: Koh Chang is cheaper and easier from Bangkok. Samui's airport is convenient but expensive.
Food
Koh Chang: Thai food here is excellent and affordable. The restaurants along White Sand Beach serve proper Thai cooking — green curry, pad krapao, som tam — for 80-150 THB ($2.20-4.20). The seafood at Bang Bao fishing village (built on stilts over the water) is outstanding. Night markets at Klong Prao and Kai Bae serve street food for 40-80 THB ($1.10-2.20).
Koh Samui: More variety — Thai, international, Japanese, Italian, Indian — but higher prices. Chaweng has restaurants charging 200-500 THB ($5.60-14) for mains. The Fisherman's Village night market in Bophut is excellent for variety. Local Thai food can still be found cheap off the main tourist strips.
Winner: Koh Chang for value and authentic Thai food. Samui for international variety.
Winner: Chang for nature and jungle. Samui for nightlife and cultural sights.
The Vibe
Koh Chang feels like Thailand did fifteen years ago on the islands that have since been fully developed. Parts of it are polished (White Sand Beach is lined with resorts), but large sections — the east coast, the interior, the southern tip — are genuinely wild. The roads through the jungle interior are steep, winding, and not for nervous drivers. Motorbike accidents are common.
Koh Samui is mature island tourism. Everything works: taxis, restaurants, airports, hospitals. There's a Tesco Lotus, a Central Festival mall, and more 7-Elevens than you can count. It's comfortable but can feel like the island has been smoothed out for tourist consumption.
Nature lovers: Koh Chang. Wilder jungle, better waterfalls, less development.
Party seekers: Koh Samui. Chaweng's nightlife is leagues ahead.
Honeymooners: Either — Chang for intimate quiet, Samui for luxury resorts.
Digital nomads: Koh Samui. Better WiFi, more cafes, coworking spaces exist.
First-time Thailand visitors: Start with Samui (easier), discover Chang later.
The Verdict
Koh Chang is the island for travelers who want Thailand to still feel like an adventure. The jungle is real, the roads are dangerous, the east coast is undeveloped, and you can find bungalows on the beach for $10/night. It rewards effort and punishes laziness.
Koh Samui is the island for travelers who want comfort and variety without the roughness. It's polished, reliable, and delivers a guaranteed good time at a higher price point.
I prefer Chang. But I understand why most people pick Samui.
For Thailand's best diving, head south to Koh Tao. Starting in Bangkok makes Koh Chang an easy first island stop, or combine with northern Thailand and Chiang Mai.
