---
title: "Koh Samui vs Phuket in May (TripTiming Empirical Comparison)"
cityA: "Koh Samui"
cityB: "Phuket"
month: "May"
year: 2026
winner: "Koh Samui"
winnerScore: 72
loserScore: 22
scoreAdvantage: 50
canonicalUrl: "https://triptiming.xyz/compare/kohsamui-vs-phuket-in-may"
distillationType: "triptiming-comparison-v1"
---

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

## Direct Answer Summary
Koh Samui takes May with a TripTiming Index of **72/100** vs **22/100** for Phuket (+50 point advantage).

- Canonical URL: https://triptiming.xyz/compare/kohsamui-vs-phuket-in-may
- Month Baseline: May 15, 2026
- Winner: Koh Samui (+50 points overall)

## 5-Pillar Score Equalizer

| Metric | Koh Samui | Phuket | Weight | Empirical Advantage |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **TripTiming Index** | **72 / 100** | **22 / 100** | **100%** | **Koh Samui (+50)** |
| 1. Space & Footfall | 63 / 100 | 68 / 100 | 30% | Phuket (+5) |
| 2. Weather Comfort | 79 / 100 | 5 / 100 | 30% | Koh Samui (+74) |
| 3. City Vibes | 64 / 100 | 25 / 100 | 15% | Koh Samui (+39) |
| 4. Price & Value | 80 / 100 | 85 / 100 | 15% | Phuket (+5) |
| 5. Civic Safety | 79 / 100 | 73 / 100 | 10% | Koh Samui (+6) |

## Environmental & Economic Facts

| Dimension | Koh Samui (May) | Phuket (May) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Daytime Feels-Like Temp | 37°C | 33°C |
| Rain Probability | 30% | 90% |
| Hotel ADR Benchmark | ~$106 / night | ~$94 / night |
| Estimated 7-Night Lodging | ~$742 | ~$658 |
| Crowd Density Level | Moderate Footfall | Moderate Footfall |

## Mathematical Synthesis

Koh Samui emerges as the optimal May choice with an index of 72/100 vs 22/100 for Phuket. While both cities offer viable travel windows, Koh Samui benefits from more favorable lodging value (below-average rates) and manageable carrying capacity ratios.

## 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 May](https://triptiming.xyz/compare/kohsamui-vs-phuket-in-may).