Cost of Living

Koh Samui, Thailand

Live cost-of-living data for Koh Samui — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
27/ 10073% cheaper than New York
+25% rent since Jul 2026
$840/mo
Median Income
68/100
Safety
5%
Income Tax
tropical monsoon
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
45/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$690/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$370/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,500/month
Food & Groceries
30/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.05/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0.9/kg
Transportation
35/100
Monthly Transit Pass$32/month
One-Way Ticket$1.12/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.84/km
Utilities
40/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$84/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$32/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$14/month
Healthcare
65/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$56/visit
Dentist Visit$70/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10.5/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$350/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,400/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$280/course
Entertainment
42/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$7/ticket
Theater Ticket$28/ticket
Museum Entry$10.5/ticket
Clothing
45/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$28/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$63/pair
Personal Care
38/100
Haircut (Men)$8.4/cut
Haircut (Women)$17.5/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2.8/bottle
Dining Out
32/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$4.2/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$28/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5.6/meal
Childcare
50/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$560/month
Babysitter (per hour)$7/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$14/pack
Fitness & Sports
40/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$28/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$14/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$5.6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

85 Mbps
Internet Speed
$195
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
55/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Bophut, Chaweng Noi, Bangrak

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Koh Samui cheap to live in?

Koh Samui has a cost of living index of 27/100, where New York = 100. It is 73% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $960–$1,344 per month.

How much does rent cost in Koh Samui?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Koh Samui costs approximately $690/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $370/month.

Is Koh Samui good for digital nomads?

Koh Samui has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 85 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $195/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Koh Samui?

The median net monthly salary in Koh Samui is approximately $840 USD. The income tax rate is around 5%.

How does Koh Samui compare to New York for cost of living?

Koh Samui (cost index 27) is 73% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,825/month by moving from New York to Koh Samui.

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