🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $747 in Hat Yai versus $1,088 in Koh Phan Ghan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,339 in Hat Yai versus $1,909 in Koh Phan Ghan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,930 in Hat Yai versus $2,730 in Koh Phan Ghan.
🙂Living in Hat Yai costs roughly 31% less than in Koh Phan Ghan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hat Yai44% lower, Koh Phan Ghan19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03฿98.5
$4.15฿135
-26.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.90฿1,527
$41.50฿1,352
13.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.22฿137
$7.88฿257
-46.45%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿91.1
$2.73฿88.9
2.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16฿37.70
$0.67฿21.74
73.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44฿14.46
$0.32฿10.58
37.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87฿60.9
$2.26฿73.7
-17.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65฿119
$3.42฿111
6.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53฿49.78
$2.03฿66.2
-24.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29฿42.15
$1.79฿58.3
-27.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29฿42.01
$2.07฿67.3
-37.68%
Eggs
$2.55฿83.1
$2.15฿70.0
18.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$22.59฿736
$18.57฿605
21.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.32฿75.5
$3.47฿113
-33.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.32฿369
$12.45฿406
-9.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60฿84.5
$3.07฿99.9
-15.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50฿48.76
$1.62฿52.7
-7.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04฿66.6
$2.18฿71.2
-6.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58฿51.4
$1.91฿62.3
-17.28%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48฿48.22
$1.51฿49.09
-1.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07฿34.69
$1.37฿44.47
-21.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿33.01
$0.92฿29.89
9.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38฿12.46
$0.47฿15.16
-19.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57฿149
$4.05฿132
12.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.17฿494
$17.76฿578
-14.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83฿59.7
$1.68฿54.7
8.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97฿64.2
$2.58฿83.9
-23.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59฿19.30
$1.23฿39.98
-52.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07฿34.73
$2.71฿88.4
-60.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20฿38.93
$0.91฿29.59
31.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.19฿202
$12.32฿401
-49.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿42.77
$1.17฿38.11
11.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K฿633.6K
$24.7K฿805.4K
-21.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.7K฿1.5M
$30.6K฿997.0K
52.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.8฿2,860
$124฿4,025
-28.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.53฿441
$13.74฿447
-1.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.04฿327
$18.91฿616
-46.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.52฿1,580
$62.0฿2,018
-21.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.16฿396
$16.67฿543
-27.05%
Cinema Ticket
$7.34฿239
$8.90฿290
-17.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$298฿9,697
$696฿22.7K
-57.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,475฿308.6K
$15.9K฿518.4K
-40.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.13฿1,242
$59.3฿1,931
-35.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.01฿912
$34.26฿1,116
-18.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6฿2,365
$115฿3,747
-36.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.3฿2,291
$86.0฿2,801
-18.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$272฿8,849
$434฿14.1K
-37.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$111฿3,614
$303฿9,882
-63.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762฿24.8K
$1,442฿47.0K
-47.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$406฿13.2K
$1,032฿33.6K
-60.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,004฿65.3K
$2,527฿82.3K
-20.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,494฿48.7K
$1,827฿59.5K
-18.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hat Yai
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$474฿15.5K
$743฿24.2K
-36.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.36
5.33
19.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hat Yai: June 9, 2026
Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $272 in Hat Yai and $434 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Koh Phan Ghan pays 57% 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: $47.00 in Hat Yai vs $41.00 in Koh Phan Ghan. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $274, with Hat Yai cheaper for home cooking.
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
Hat Yai vs Koh Phan Ghan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hat Yai or Koh Phan Ghan?
Hat Yai wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hat Yai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Hat Yai or Koh Phan Ghan?
On paper, Koh Phan Ghan earns 57% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Hat Yai vs Koh Phan Ghan?
Rent for a central apartment: $272 in Hat Yai versus $434 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Hat Yai and Koh Phan Ghan?
Childcare runs $298 in Hat Yai versus $696 in Koh Phan Ghan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Hat Yai vs Koh Phan Ghan?
Dining out is cheaper in Hat Yai – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $41.00 in Koh Phan Ghan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Hat Yai or Koh Phan Ghan?
At $747 in Hat Yai versus $1,088 in Koh Phan Ghan, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hat Yai but tight or insufficient in Koh Phan Ghan. The gap between the two cities makes Hat Yai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Hat Yai or 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.
How safe is Hat Yai compared to Koh Phan Ghan?
Safety-wise, Hat Yai 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hat Yai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Koh Phan Ghan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.