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Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Koh Samui Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Koh Samui

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 21.4% cheaper than Koh Samui without rent, and 31% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 18.1% cheaper than Koh Samui without rent, and 42.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
$4.51 เธฟ142
-56.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 เธฟ587
$46.38 เธฟ1,458
-59.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 เธฟ249
$8.86 เธฟ279
-10.61%
Cappuccino
$2.02 เธฟ63.7
$3.07 เธฟ96.7
-34.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 เธฟ26.45
$0.70 เธฟ21.99
20.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 เธฟ11.07
$0.39 เธฟ12.27
-10.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
$2.48 เธฟ78.0
-10.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 เธฟ113
$3.76 เธฟ118
-4.52%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 เธฟ52.4
$2.17 เธฟ68.2
-23.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
$1.83 เธฟ57.5
-11.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 เธฟ37.83
$2.26 เธฟ71.0
-46.90%
Eggs
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
$2.25 เธฟ70.7
-14.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 เธฟ503
$19.49 เธฟ613
-17.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
$3.61 เธฟ114
-12.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 เธฟ344
$13.05 เธฟ410
-16.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
$3.36 เธฟ106
-20.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ36.99
$1.68 เธฟ52.9
-29.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
$2.36 เธฟ74.2
-30.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ49.83
$2.05 เธฟ64.5
-22.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 เธฟ41.64
$1.62 เธฟ50.8
-18.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ37.49
$1.43 เธฟ44.98
-16.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 เธฟ22.20
$1.01 เธฟ31.85
-29.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ17.75
$0.52 เธฟ16.47
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 เธฟ146
$4.40 เธฟ138
5.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 เธฟ596
$20.58 เธฟ647
-7.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 เธฟ55.7
$1.80 เธฟ56.5
-1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ101
$2.68 เธฟ84.3
19.40%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.32
$1.50 เธฟ47.28
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.24 เธฟ605
$46.33 เธฟ1,457
-58.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ42.78
$3.19 เธฟ100
-57.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 เธฟ42.37
$1.09 เธฟ34.20
23.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.15 เธฟ256
$14.34 เธฟ451
-43.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 เธฟ38.43
$1.43 เธฟ44.85
-14.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K เธฟ671.8K
$28.1K เธฟ884.2K
-24.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ683.8K
$33.8K เธฟ1.1M
-35.60%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
$127 เธฟ3,983
-44.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91 เธฟ437
$14.12 เธฟ444
-1.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 เธฟ566
$19.53 เธฟ614
-7.83%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 เธฟ1,314
$63.6 เธฟ1,998
-34.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 เธฟ214
$17.47 เธฟ549
-61.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 เธฟ180
$9.44 เธฟ297
-39.41%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 เธฟ9,693
$758 เธฟ23.8K
-59.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ465.7K
$17.6K เธฟ554.6K
-16.02%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 เธฟ1,756
$57.9 เธฟ1,819
-3.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71 เธฟ840
$35.40 เธฟ1,113
-24.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 เธฟ2,658
$117 เธฟ3,669
-27.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 เธฟ2,227
$83.2 เธฟ2,615
-14.84%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 เธฟ13.5K
$522 เธฟ16.4K
-17.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 เธฟ7,439
$379 เธฟ11.9K
-37.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ25.5K
$1,719 เธฟ54.0K
-52.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 เธฟ15.7K
$1,269 เธฟ39.9K
-60.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
$3,743 เธฟ117.7K
-41.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
$2,541 เธฟ79.9K
-37.03%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$684 เธฟ21.5K
$418 เธฟ13.1K
63.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.33
-6.19%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Koh Samui: January 11, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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