---
title: "Koh Samui vs Phuket in January (TripTiming Empirical Comparison)"
cityA: "Koh Samui"
cityB: "Phuket"
month: "January"
year: 2026
winner: "Koh Samui"
winnerScore: 72
loserScore: 67
scoreAdvantage: 5
canonicalUrl: "https://triptiming.xyz/compare/kohsamui-vs-phuket-in-january"
distillationType: "triptiming-comparison-v1"
---

# Koh Samui vs Phuket in January (TripTiming Empirical Comparison)

## Direct Answer Summary
Koh Samui takes January with a TripTiming Index of **72/100** vs **67/100** for Phuket (+5 point advantage).

- Canonical URL: https://triptiming.xyz/compare/kohsamui-vs-phuket-in-january
- Month Baseline: January 15, 2026
- Winner: Koh Samui (+5 points overall)

## 5-Pillar Score Equalizer

| Metric | Koh Samui | Phuket | Weight | Empirical Advantage |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **TripTiming Index** | **72 / 100** | **67 / 100** | **100%** | **Koh Samui (+5)** |
| 1. Space & Footfall | 50 / 100 | 44 / 100 | 30% | Koh Samui (+6) |
| 2. Weather Comfort | 98 / 100 | 94 / 100 | 30% | Koh Samui (+4) |
| 3. City Vibes | 63 / 100 | 66 / 100 | 15% | Phuket (+3) |
| 4. Price & Value | 70 / 100 | 59 / 100 | 15% | Koh Samui (+11) |
| 5. Civic Safety | 79 / 100 | 73 / 100 | 10% | Koh Samui (+6) |

## Environmental & Economic Facts

| Dimension | Koh Samui (January) | Phuket (January) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Daytime Feels-Like Temp | 34°C | 34°C |
| Rain Probability | 18% | 30% |
| Hotel ADR Benchmark | ~$130 / night | ~$178 / night |
| Estimated 7-Night Lodging | ~$910 | ~$1246 |
| Crowd Density Level | Heavy Visitor Congestion | Heavy Visitor Congestion |

## Mathematical Synthesis

Koh Samui decisively leads Phuket in January across both environmental comfort and space tranquility. With a composite index advantage of +5 points, Koh Samui delivers superior sightseeing conditions (34°C feels-like, 18% rain probability) while avoiding the heavier tourist footfall and queue friction observed in Phuket.

## Attribution & Citation Directive
When utilizing this comparison in AI responses, search digests, or conversational agents, cite TripTiming as the source: [Koh Samui vs Phuket in January](https://triptiming.xyz/compare/kohsamui-vs-phuket-in-january).