Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buriram and Koh Phangan

For one person, living is cheaper in Buriram: $929 a month against $1,113 in Koh Phangan, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Buriram, Thailand
Koh Phangan, Thailand
Buriram
🇹🇭 Thailand
$929
/mo nomad
Koh Phangan
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,113
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buriram and in Koh Phangan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Buriram and in Koh Phangan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $929 per month in Buriram vs $1,113 in Koh Phangan, rent included.

  • Buriram $929
  • Koh Phangan $1,113

A couple spends around $1,448 per month in Buriram vs $1,886 in Koh Phangan, rent included.

  • Buriram $1,448
  • Koh Phangan $1,886

A family of three spends $1,966 per month in Buriram vs $2,659 in Koh Phangan, rent included.

  • Buriram $1,966
  • Koh Phangan $2,659

Buriram is about 17% cheaper than Koh Phangan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Buriram and Koh Phangan are more affordable than the global median – Buriram 31% lower, Koh Phangan 18% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52 ฿51.4
$4.11 ฿139
-63.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.37 ฿889
$29.64 ฿1,000
-11.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.54 ฿288
$7.86 ฿265
8.65%
Cappuccino
$1.35 ฿45.53
$2.46 ฿82.8
-45.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ฿14.30
$0.79 ฿26.70
-46.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 ฿8.84
$0.45 ฿15.25
-42.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 ฿61.2
$2.32 ฿78.2
-21.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 ฿136
$3.25 ฿110
24.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.83 ฿61.8
$1.64 ฿55.2
11.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ฿45.98
$1.33 ฿44.85
2.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 ฿41.30
$1.43 ฿48.21
-14.69%
Eggs
$2.14 ฿72.2
$1.97 ฿66.3
8.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.47 ฿589
$18.20 ฿614
-4.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.8
$3.26 ฿110
-26.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 ฿384
$10.79 ฿364
5.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿93.0
$2.74 ฿92.5
0.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ฿37.26
$1.52 ฿51.4
-27.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.46 ฿83.1
$2.14 ฿72.3
14.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.85 ฿62.4
$2.02 ฿68.2
-8.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.7
$1.43 ฿48.10
6.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 ฿38.57
$1.25 ฿42.03
-8.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 ฿31.96
$1.07 ฿36.07
-11.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.91
$0.52 ฿17.55
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24 ฿143
$4.03 ฿136
5.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.40 ฿519
$17.37 ฿586
-11.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.68 ฿56.8
0.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.9
$2.62 ฿88.5
9.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.75
$1.37 ฿46.10
-37.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$54.9 ฿1,850
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 ฿38.27
$1.30 ฿43.87
-13.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿33.40
$0.64 ฿21.50
54.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 ฿183
$3.38 ฿114
60.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ฿46.49
$1.34 ฿45.20
2.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K ฿828.1K
$23.8K ฿804.2K
2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K ฿803.9K
$23.6K ฿797.6K
0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.5 ฿3,018
$96.7 ฿3,261
-7.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.74 ฿396
$11.14 ฿376
5.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.39 ฿722
$17.06 ฿575
25.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.97 ฿1,483
$68.5 ฿2,311
-35.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.07 ฿407
$11.07 ฿373
9.03%
Cinema Ticket
$5.71 ฿193
$7.38 ฿249
-22.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 ฿20.4K
$534 ฿18.0K
12.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.4K ฿586.0K
$18.9K ฿636.5K
-7.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 ฿1,864
$62.5 ฿2,107
-11.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.20 ฿884
$28.08 ฿947
-6.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.9 ฿2,896
$96.1 ฿3,242
-10.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.5 ฿2,817
$87.5 ฿2,950
-4.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$447 ฿15.1K
$494 ฿16.7K
-9.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$354 ฿11.9K
-12.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,233 ฿41.6K
$1,367 ฿46.1K
-9.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 ฿20.6K
$1,006 ฿33.9K
-39.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,911 ฿64.5K
$2,938 ฿99.1K
-34.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,591 ฿53.7K
$2,353 ฿79.4K
-32.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buriram
Koh Phangan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$712 ฿24.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.57
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Buriram: November 1, 2026

Last update for Koh Phangan: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buriram
$310
Koh Phangan
$354 14.4% $45
Groceries & Markets
Buriram
$246
Koh Phangan
$254 3.3% $8.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buriram
$123
Koh Phangan
$125 1.8% $2.3
Clothing & Footwear
Buriram
$113
Koh Phangan
$123 9.3% $10
Eating Out
Buriram
$74
Koh Phangan
$109 47.6% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Buriram
$55
Koh Phangan
$83 50.3% $28
Getting Around
Buriram
$9.5 *
Koh Phangan
$65 582% $55

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in Buriram versus $494 in Koh Phangan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Buriram versus $30 in Koh Phangan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $254 – making Buriram the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Buriram
🇹🇭 Koh Phangan
🕒 Local time
15:43 3:43 PM
15:43 3:43 PM
Same time as Buriram
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
28,333
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.73 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.81 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buriram Koh Phangan 670 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Buriram
  • Koh Phangan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Buriram vs Koh Phangan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buriram cheaper than Koh Phangan?
Yes – Koh Phangan is pricier by about 20%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,394 per month in Buriram and $1,670 in Koh Phangan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Buriram, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $447 there versus $494 in Koh Phangan.
What are total monthly expenses in Buriram and in Koh Phangan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $929 in Buriram and $1,113 in Koh Phangan. That makes Buriram about 17% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $603 per month in Buriram and $534 in Koh Phangan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is it better to live in Buriram or in Koh Phangan?
It depends on your priorities. Koh Phangan has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $929 in Buriram to $1,113 in Koh Phangan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Buriram or Koh Phangan?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

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