🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,241 in Koh Samui.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,908 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $2,231 in Koh Samui.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,754 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $3,221 in Koh Samui.
🌍Living in Koh Phan Ghan costs roughly 14% less than in Koh Samui, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Koh Phan Ghan21% lower, Koh Samui7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.07฿137
$4.60฿154
-11.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.11฿1,414
$45.95฿1,543
-8.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.60฿255
$8.54฿287
-11.01%
Cappuccino
$2.63฿88.3
$3.03฿102
-13.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62฿20.80
$0.68฿22.96
-8.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.84
$0.36฿12.17
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.27฿76.1
$2.52฿84.5
-9.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26฿109
$3.79฿127
-13.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.13฿71.4
$2.23฿75.0
-4.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73฿58.0
$1.83฿61.5
-5.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14฿71.7
$2.27฿76.2
-5.73%
Eggs
$2.12฿71.3
$2.24฿75.2
-5.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.40฿618
$19.51฿655
-5.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.57฿120
$3.75฿126
-4.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.48฿419
$13.49฿453
-7.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿108
$3.36฿113
-3.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61฿54.2
$1.68฿56.5
-4.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29฿76.7
$2.31฿77.7
-0.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.92฿64.5
$2.08฿69.8
-7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46฿48.91
$1.59฿53.3
-8.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39฿46.53
$1.50฿50.4
-7.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.75
$1.01฿33.95
-2.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.55
$0.52฿17.59
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07฿137
$4.33฿145
-6.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.94฿602
$18.53฿622
-3.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69฿56.7
$1.77฿59.5
-4.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61฿87.5
$2.81฿94.2
-7.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28฿43.14
$1.42฿47.81
-9.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$45.97฿1,543
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70฿90.6
$3.17฿106
-14.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93฿31.26
$1.05฿35.11
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.52฿420
$14.69฿493
-14.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23฿41.19
$1.42฿47.71
-13.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K฿831.8K
$29.5K฿991.0K
-16.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K฿997.7K
$35.0K฿1.2M
-15.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,087
$129฿4,331
-5.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.51฿454
$14.14฿475
-4.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.67฿627
$19.57฿657
-4.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,074
$63.5฿2,131
-2.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.15฿576
$17.73฿595
-3.27%
Cinema Ticket
$8.66฿291
$9.28฿311
-6.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$700฿23.5K
$763฿25.6K
-8.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.0K
$17.2K฿578.3K
-8.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9฿1,976
$58.9฿1,976
-0.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.51฿1,158
$34.45฿1,156
0.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$117฿3,925
$116฿3,896
0.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2฿2,825
$85.6฿2,875
-1.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438฿14.7K
$515฿17.3K
-14.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$309฿10.4K
$371฿12.5K
-16.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,438฿48.3K
$1,735฿58.2K
-17.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,043฿35.0K
$1,278฿42.9K
-18.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,510฿84.3K
$2,973฿99.8K
-15.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,776฿59.6K
$2,121฿71.2K
-16.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$721฿24.2K
$392฿13.1K
84.15%
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 Phan Ghan: July 14, 2026
Last update for Koh Samui: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Koh Phan Ghan and $515 in Koh Samui. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Koh Phan Ghan pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Koh Phan Ghan vs $46.00 in Koh Samui for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $277 vs $293 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 Phan Ghan vs Koh Samui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Koh Phan Ghan and in Koh Samui?
Koh Phan Ghan and Koh Samui differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($1,061 vs $1,241 including rent). Koh Phan Ghan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Koh Phan Ghan or Koh Samui?
Average pay runs 84% 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 Koh Samui?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $515 in Koh Samui. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Koh Samui. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Koh Phan Ghan or Koh Samui?
All in, you'll spend $1,061 per month in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,241 in Koh Samui – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,061 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,241 in Koh Samui, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Koh Phan Ghan but tight or insufficient in Koh Samui. The gap between the two cities makes Koh Phan Ghan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Koh Phan Ghan and Koh Samui?
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 Koh Samui safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Koh Phan Ghan and Koh Samui 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 Koh Samui?
Expats usually find Koh Phan Ghan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Koh Samui. 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