Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Lipe and Koh Phan Ghan Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Lipe and Koh Phan Ghan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,116 in Koh Lipe versus $1,061 in Koh Phan Ghan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,146 in Koh Lipe versus $1,908 in Koh Phan Ghan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,177 in Koh Lipe versus $2,754 in Koh Phan Ghan.

Living in Koh Lipe is roughly 99% more expensive than in Koh Phan Ghan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Koh Lipe is 58% above, Koh Phan Ghan is 21% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.23 ฿243
$4.07 ฿137
77.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.4 ฿2,503
$42.11 ฿1,416
76.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.53 ฿455
$7.60 ฿256
78.03%
Cappuccino
$4.68 ฿158
$2.63 ฿88.5
77.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 ฿37.85
$0.62 ฿20.84
82.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ฿19.63
$0.35 ฿11.86
65.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.85 ฿129
$2.27 ฿76.2
69.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.94 ฿200
$3.26 ฿110
82.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.69 ฿90.4
$2.13 ฿71.5
26.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 ฿80.0
$1.73 ฿58.1
37.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.74 ฿92.2
$2.14 ฿71.9
28.04%
Eggs
$2.89 ฿97.3
$2.12 ฿71.5
36.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.71 ฿831
$18.40 ฿619
34.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.59 ฿154
$3.57 ฿120
28.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.51 ฿555
$12.48 ฿420
32.29%
Apples (1kg)
$4.10 ฿138
$3.23 ฿108
26.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.4
$1.61 ฿54.3
26.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.92 ฿98.2
$2.29 ฿76.9
27.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.47 ฿83.2
$1.92 ฿64.6
28.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.94 ฿65.3
$1.46 ฿49.00
32.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$1.39 ฿46.61
30.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 ฿43.05
$0.98 ฿32.81
30.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ฿20.45
$0.49 ฿16.58
24.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.33 ฿179
$4.07 ฿137
30.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.56 ฿792
$17.94 ฿603
31.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 ฿76.8
$1.69 ฿56.8
34.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 ฿118
$2.61 ฿87.6
34.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.11 ฿71.1
$1.28 ฿43.21
64.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.57 ฿154
$2.70 ฿90.7
69.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 ฿52.1
$0.93 ฿31.32
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.11 ฿710
$12.52 ฿421
68.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.04 ฿68.6
$1.23 ฿41.26
65.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9K ฿1.4M
$24.8K ฿833.3K
65.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$50.5K ฿1.7M
$29.7K ฿999.4K
69.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$139 ฿4,678
$122 ฿4,095
14.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.04 ฿539
$13.51 ฿454
18.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.72 ฿730
$18.67 ฿628
16.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.0 ฿2,555
$61.8 ฿2,078
22.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.26 ฿715
$17.15 ฿577
23.97%
Cinema Ticket
$11.13 ฿374
$8.66 ฿291
28.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$881 ฿29.6K
$700 ฿23.5K
25.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K ฿679.0K
$15.8K ฿531.9K
27.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.5 ฿2,035
$58.9 ฿1,979
2.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 ฿1,225
$34.51 ฿1,160
5.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$123 ฿4,122
$117 ฿3,932
4.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.3 ฿2,936
$84.2 ฿2,830
3.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,558 ฿52.4K
$438 ฿14.7K
255.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,105 ฿37.2K
$309 ฿10.4K
257.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,227 ฿175.8K
$1,438 ฿48.4K
263.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,796 ฿127.7K
$1,043 ฿35.1K
263.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,663 ฿291.3K
$2,510 ฿84.4K
245.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,272 ฿210.9K
$1,776 ฿59.7K
253.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Lipe
Koh Phan Ghan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$721 ฿24.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.33
-

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

Last update for Koh Lipe: July 13, 2026

Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,558 in Koh Lipe and $438 in Koh Phan Ghan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $74.0 in Koh Lipe vs $42.00 in Koh Phan Ghan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $364 vs $277 per month, with Koh Phan Ghan 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
Koh Lipe vs Koh Phan Ghan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Koh Lipe or Koh Phan Ghan?
Koh Phan Ghan wins on cost – living expenses run 99% lower than in Koh Lipe. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Koh Phan Ghan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Koh Lipe and in Koh Phan Ghan?
You'd need roughly $3,174 in Koh Lipe and $1,592 in Koh Phan Ghan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Koh Lipe compared to Koh Phan Ghan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,558 in Koh Lipe versus $438 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 Koh Lipe and in Koh Phan Ghan?
Childcare runs $881 in Koh Lipe versus $700 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 Koh Lipe and in Koh Phan Ghan?
Dining out is cheaper in Koh Phan Ghan – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $74.0 in Koh Lipe. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Koh Lipe or in Koh Phan Ghan?
At $1,061 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $2,116 in Koh Lipe, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Koh Phan Ghan but tight or insufficient in Koh Lipe. The gap between the two cities makes Koh Phan Ghan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe compared to Koh Phan Ghan?
Safety-wise, Koh Lipe 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 Koh Phan Ghan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Koh Lipe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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