Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Phan Ghan and Cha-am Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Phan Ghan and Cha-am

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $923 in Cha-am.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,908 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,404 in Cha-am.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,754 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,884 in Cha-am.

Living in Koh Phan Ghan is roughly 15% more expensive than in Cha-am, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Koh Phan Ghan 21% lower, Cha-am 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.07 ฿137
$3.15 ฿106
29.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.11 ฿1,416
$21.45 ฿721
96.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.60 ฿256
$8.72 ฿293
-12.84%
Cappuccino
$2.63 ฿88.5
$2.09 ฿70.4
25.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ฿20.84
$0.64 ฿21.61
-3.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.86
$0.42 ฿14.00
-16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 ฿76.2
$2.43 ฿81.7
-6.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 ฿110
$3.77 ฿127
-13.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 ฿71.5
$1.76 ฿59.0
21.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 ฿58.1
$1.37 ฿45.99
26.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 ฿71.9
$1.26 ฿42.34
69.84%
Eggs
$2.12 ฿71.5
$1.84 ฿61.8
15.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.40 ฿619
$13.58 ฿457
35.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.57 ฿120
$3.41 ฿115
4.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.48 ฿420
$10.75 ฿362
16.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿108
$3.01 ฿101
7.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿54.3
$1.34 ฿44.98
20.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ฿76.9
$1.87 ฿62.9
22.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 ฿64.6
$1.50 ฿50.4
28.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.00
$1.69 ฿56.7
-13.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.61
$1.21 ฿40.68
14.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.81
$1.21 ฿40.76
-19.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.58
$0.42 ฿14.09
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07 ฿137
$4.71 ฿159
-13.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.94 ฿603
$16.64 ฿560
7.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 ฿56.8
$1.84 ฿61.9
-8.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 ฿87.6
$3.55 ฿119
-26.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.28 ฿43.21
$0.90 ฿30.25
42.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 ฿90.7
$1.10 ฿36.88
145.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.93 ฿31.32
$0.76 ฿25.44
22.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.52 ฿421
$3.43 ฿115
265.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿41.26
$1.29 ฿43.54
-4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K ฿833.3K
$19.9K ฿668.1K
24.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K ฿999.4K
$20.7K ฿697.4K
43.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,095
$73.2 ฿2,460
66.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.51 ฿454
$12.91 ฿434
4.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67 ฿628
$18.12 ฿609
3.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,078
$24.45 ฿822
152.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15 ฿577
$12.42 ฿418
38.08%
Cinema Ticket
$8.66 ฿291
$7.67 ฿258
12.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$700 ฿23.5K
$136 ฿4,577
414.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.9K
$9,318 ฿313.4K
69.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 ฿1,979
$29.85 ฿1,004
97.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.51 ฿1,160
$19.69 ฿662
75.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ฿3,932
$61.1 ฿2,056
91.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2 ฿2,830
$43.22 ฿1,453
94.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$438 ฿14.7K
$455 ฿15.3K
-3.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ฿10.4K
$374 ฿12.6K
-17.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,438 ฿48.4K
$776 ฿26.1K
85.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,043 ฿35.1K
$690 ฿23.2K
51.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,510 ฿84.4K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,776 ฿59.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Phan Ghan
Cha-am
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$721 ฿24.2K
$357 ฿12.0K
102.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
5.45
-2.20%

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

Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: July 14, 2026

Last update for Cha-am: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Koh Phan Ghan and $455 in Cha-am. 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: $42.00 in Koh Phan Ghan vs $21.00 in Cha-am for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 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 15% in total monthly costs ($1,061 vs $923 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 102% 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: $438 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $455 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 $700 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $136 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 $21.00 versus $42.00 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 $923 in Cha-am versus $1,061 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 15% less than in Koh Phan Ghan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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