Koh Samui vs Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Cost of living comparison for 2026. Koh Samui is roughly 13% more affordable than Santa Cruz de Tenerife (index 27 vs 31, New York = 100). Data sourced live via AI — updated regularly.

Koh Samui
More affordable overall
13% cheaper than Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Cost index: 27 vs 31

Life Power at $3,000/mo

The same salary ranks differently depending on where you live — from Beggar to King.

Merchant
Koh Samui
58Merchant
Captain
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
43Captain
Check your own salary's Life Power →

Head-to-Head Stats

Koh SamuivsSanta Cruz de Tenerife
27✓Cost Index31
840Median Income /mo1,100✓
68Safety Index78✓
5✓Income Tax %20
85Internet (Mbps)120✓
195Coworking /mo175✓

Price Breakdown

Koh SamuiCategorySanta Cruz de Tenerife
$690/month
1-BR Apartment (Center)
23% cheaper →
$900/month
$1.05/liter
Meal for One
10% ← cheaper
$0.95/liter
$4.2/meal
Restaurant (Mid-range)
65% cheaper →
$12/meal
$32/month
Monthly Transit Pass
47% cheaper →
$60/month
$84/month
Utilities (Monthly)
24% cheaper →
$110/month
$56/visit
Doctor Visit
20% cheaper →
$70/visit

Digital Nomad Profile

Koh Samui

Internet85 Mbps
Coworking$195/mo
Café WiFigood
Englishmoderate
Communitygrowing
Walkability55/100

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Internet120 Mbps
Coworking$175/mo
Café WiFifair
Englishmoderate
Communitygrowing
Walkability62/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Koh Samui cheaper than Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Koh Samui is cheaper than Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Koh Samui has a cost of living index of 27/100 compared to 31/100 for Santa Cruz de Tenerife (New York = 100), making it roughly 13% more affordable overall.

How much cheaper is Koh Samui than Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Koh Samui is approximately 13% cheaper than Santa Cruz de Tenerife based on cost index scores (27 vs 31, where New York = 100). A person spending $3,000/month in Santa Cruz de Tenerife could live a similar lifestyle for roughly $2,618/month in Koh Samui.

What is the rent comparison between Koh Samui and Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

In Koh Samui, a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center costs approximately $690/month. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the equivalent is around $900/month.

Which city is better for digital nomads — Koh Samui or Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

Both cities have nomad infrastructure. Koh Samui offers 85 Mbps internet and coworking at ~$195/month. Santa Cruz de Tenerife offers 120 Mbps and coworking at ~$175/month. Koh Samui has a cost advantage of 13%.

What is the average income in Koh Samui vs Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

The median net monthly salary in Koh Samui is approximately $840 USD, compared to $1,100 USD in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Compare Koh Samui with…

Popular head-to-heads — see exactly where Koh Samui wins or loses.

Koh SamuivsDubaiKoh SamuivsBarcelonaKoh SamuivsMadridKoh SamuivsLisbonKoh SamuivsTokyoKoh SamuivsBerlin
Or explore:DubaiBarcelonaMadridLisbonTokyoBerlin

Cities that cost about the same as Koh Samui

Same spending tier, different part of the world — the head-to-heads people actually weigh when relocating.

Koh SamuivsBudapestKoh SamuivsSan JuanKoh SamuivsShenzhenKoh SamuivsFlorianópolisKoh SamuivsFunchalKoh SamuivsBusan
Or explore:BudapestSan JuanShenzhenFlorianópolisFunchalBusan

Explore this comparison interactively

See radar charts, detailed category breakdowns, and compare any two cities in real time.

Open Interactive Comparison →Compare other cities

Free to start · No credit card needed

Full Koh Samui breakdown →Full Santa Cruz de Tenerife breakdown →