😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,071 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $910 in Cha-am.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,770 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,464 in Cha-am.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,469 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $2,018 in Cha-am.
🌍Living in Koh Phan Ghan is roughly 18% more expensive than in Cha-am, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Koh Phan Ghan22% lower, Cha-am34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19฿138
$3.14฿104
33.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.63฿979
$21.86฿722
35.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81฿258
$7.43฿246
5.11%
Cappuccino
$2.55฿84.3
$2.10฿69.3
21.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76฿25.04
$0.70฿23.15
8.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41฿13.49
$0.32฿10.74
28.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13฿70.3
$2.40฿79.1
-11.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45฿114
$2.97฿98.3
16.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76฿58.1
$1.75฿57.7
0.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40฿46.29
$1.50฿49.68
-6.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.52฿50.4
$1.42฿46.88
7.04%
Eggs
$2.11฿69.9
$1.88฿62.3
12.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.82฿622
$12.57฿415
49.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28฿108
$2.65฿87.5
23.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77฿356
$10.51฿347
2.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87฿94.8
$3.59฿119
-20.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64฿54.1
$1.25฿41.24
31.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16฿71.5
$1.92฿63.4
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98฿65.5
$1.87฿61.7
5.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.64
$1.79฿59.3
-17.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29฿42.51
$1.07฿35.46
20.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09฿36.00
$1.19฿39.16
-8.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56฿18.57
$0.43฿14.11
30.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15฿137
$4.39฿145
-5.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.31฿605
$18.15฿600
0.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71฿56.6
$1.71฿56.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78฿91.8
$3.08฿102
-9.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03฿67.2
$0.89฿29.48
128.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$22.37฿739
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.78฿92.0
$1.41฿46.46
97.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98฿32.25
$1.15฿37.88
-14.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.54฿117
$3.62฿120
-2.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿44.30
$1.41฿46.47
-4.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K฿815.7K
$16.8K฿556.3K
46.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.6K฿814.4K
$27.2K฿899.9K
-9.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104฿3,424
$84.2฿2,782
23.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.43฿378
$11.67฿386
-2.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.69฿585
$23.03฿761
-23.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.0฿1,752
$23.92฿790
121.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.02฿364
$6.15฿203
79.19%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84฿259
$6.65฿220
17.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$571฿18.9K
$637฿21.1K
-10.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8K฿390.4K
$10.9K฿360.6K
8.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.4฿2,159
$52.1฿1,722
25.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.41฿972
$29.55฿976
-0.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.6฿3,191
$72.2฿2,387
33.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6฿2,992
$55.2฿1,825
63.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513฿17.0K
$387฿12.8K
32.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342฿11.3K
$276฿9,128
23.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,463฿48.3K
$754฿24.9K
94.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$846฿28.0K
$660฿21.8K
28.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,507฿82.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,812฿59.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$732฿24.2K
$371฿12.3K
97.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.96
-6.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: September 7, 2026
Last update for Cha-am: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $513 in Koh Phan Ghan and $387 in Cha-am. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Koh Phan Ghan pays 97% 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: $30.00 in Koh Phan Ghan vs $22.00 in Cha-am for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $239 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
Koh Phan Ghan vs Cha-am: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Koh Phan Ghan and in Cha-am?
Koh Phan Ghan and Cha-am differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,071 vs $910 including rent). Cha-am is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Koh Phan Ghan or Cha-am?
Average pay runs 97% higher in Koh Phan Ghan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Koh Phan Ghan and in Cha-am?
Rent for a central apartment: $513 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $387 in Cha-am. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Koh Phan Ghan and Cha-am?
Childcare runs $571 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $637 in Cha-am. 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 $22.00 versus $30.00 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 $910 in Cha-am versus $1,071 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 Koh Phan Ghan and Cha-am?
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 Koh Phan Ghan or Cha-am safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Koh Phan Ghan and Cha-am 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: Koh Phan Ghan or Cha-am?
Expats usually find Cha-am gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Koh Phan Ghan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Koh Phan Ghan vs other spots: cost of living compared