🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Cha-am versus $1,096 in Koh Phan Ghan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,416 in Cha-am versus $1,945 in Koh Phan Ghan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,909 in Cha-am versus $2,794 in Koh Phan Ghan.
🙂Living in Cha-am costs roughly 16% less than in Koh Phan Ghan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cha-am31% lower, Koh Phan Ghan18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.00฿98.0
$4.22฿138
-28.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.36฿698
$41.00฿1,339
-47.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.02฿294
$7.88฿257
14.47%
Cappuccino
$2.03฿66.2
$2.76฿90.3
-26.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64฿20.95
$0.61฿19.95
4.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45฿14.70
$0.36฿11.63
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.53฿82.5
$2.25฿73.4
12.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80฿124
$3.35฿109
13.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75฿57.3
$2.05฿67.0
-14.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39฿45.41
$1.75฿57.0
-20.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26฿41.22
$2.08฿68.1
-39.42%
Eggs
$1.83฿59.6
$2.12฿69.2
-13.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.48฿440
$18.91฿618
-28.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26฿107
$3.60฿118
-9.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.00฿359
$12.82฿419
-14.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16฿103
$3.16฿103
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.34฿43.88
$1.54฿50.4
-12.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89฿61.8
$2.29฿74.9
-17.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51฿49.40
$1.91฿62.4
-20.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.68฿54.9
$1.46฿47.61
15.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27฿41.40
$1.43฿46.72
-11.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22฿39.76
$0.92฿29.93
32.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46฿14.86
$0.49฿16.08
-6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64฿152
$4.24฿138
9.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.61฿543
$18.11฿592
-8.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81฿59.0
$1.73฿56.6
4.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53฿115
$2.56฿83.7
37.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.88฿28.72
$1.27฿41.41
-30.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05฿34.44
$2.69฿87.8
-60.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75฿24.59
$0.87฿28.57
-13.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.37฿110
$12.31฿402
-72.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32฿43.14
$1.17฿38.23
12.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K฿653.8K
$24.7K฿805.1K
-18.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K฿675.5K
$30.5K฿997.3K
-32.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.3฿2,394
$122฿3,984
-39.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.18฿430
$13.49฿441
-2.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.40฿601
$18.78฿614
-2.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.52฿801
$60.1฿1,964
-59.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.42฿406
$16.94฿553
-26.68%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81฿255
$9.15฿299
-14.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$141฿4,591
$693฿22.6K
-79.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,354฿305.5K
$16.0K฿522.2K
-41.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.97฿979
$57.9฿1,892
-48.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.69฿643
$34.07฿1,113
-42.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.9฿2,023
$116฿3,775
-46.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.07฿1,407
$83.4฿2,723
-48.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$455฿14.8K
$425฿13.9K
6.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368฿12.0K
$313฿10.2K
17.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$783฿25.6K
$1,432฿46.8K
-45.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689฿22.5K
$1,044฿34.1K
-33.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,558฿83.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,826฿59.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cha-am
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$368฿12.0K
$744฿24.3K
-50.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.45
5.33
2.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cha-am: June 1, 2026
Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Cha-am and $425 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Koh Phan Ghan pays 102% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Cha-am vs $41.00 in Koh Phan Ghan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 vs $279 per month, with Cha-am cheaper across the board.
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
Cha-am vs Koh Phan Ghan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cha-am and Koh Phan Ghan?
Cha-am and Koh Phan Ghan differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($922 vs $1,096 including rent). Cha-am is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Koh Phan Ghan earns 102% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Cha-am and Koh Phan Ghan?
Rent for a central apartment: $455 in Cha-am versus $425 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cha-am and Koh Phan Ghan?
Childcare runs $141 in Cha-am versus $693 in Koh Phan Ghan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cha-am – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $41.00 in Koh Phan Ghan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $922 in Cha-am versus $1,096 in Koh Phan Ghan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cha-am but tight or insufficient in Koh Phan Ghan. The gap between the two cities makes Cha-am the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cha-am and Koh Phan Ghan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cha-am or Koh Phan Ghan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cha-am and Koh Phan Ghan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Cha-am or Koh Phan Ghan?
Expats usually find Cha-am gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Koh Phan Ghan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.