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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,096 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,248 in Koh Samui.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,945 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $2,238 in Koh Samui.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,794 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $3,228 in Koh Samui.

Living in Koh Phan Ghan costs roughly 12% less than in Koh Samui, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Koh Phan Ghan 18% lower, Koh Samui 7% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.22 ΰΈΏ138
$4.63 ΰΈΏ151
-8.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.00 ΰΈΏ1,339
$46.36 ΰΈΏ1,514
-11.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.88 ΰΈΏ257
$8.65 ΰΈΏ283
-8.90%
Cappuccino
$2.76 ΰΈΏ90.3
$2.99 ΰΈΏ97.8
-7.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ΰΈΏ19.95
$0.70 ΰΈΏ22.72
-12.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ΰΈΏ11.63
$0.36 ΰΈΏ11.81
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 ΰΈΏ73.4
$2.44 ΰΈΏ79.8
-7.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 ΰΈΏ109
$3.62 ΰΈΏ118
-7.46%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ΰΈΏ67.0
$2.22 ΰΈΏ72.5
-7.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 ΰΈΏ57.0
$1.89 ΰΈΏ61.6
-7.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.08 ΰΈΏ68.1
$2.20 ΰΈΏ71.8
-5.45%
Eggs
$2.12 ΰΈΏ69.2
$2.31 ΰΈΏ75.3
-8.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.91 ΰΈΏ618
$19.75 ΰΈΏ645
-4.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 ΰΈΏ118
$3.81 ΰΈΏ124
-5.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 ΰΈΏ419
$13.12 ΰΈΏ429
-2.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.16 ΰΈΏ103
$3.22 ΰΈΏ105
-1.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 ΰΈΏ50.4
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.7
-6.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ΰΈΏ74.9
$2.38 ΰΈΏ77.6
-3.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 ΰΈΏ62.4
$2.02 ΰΈΏ66.1
-5.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ΰΈΏ47.61
$1.61 ΰΈΏ52.7
-9.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 ΰΈΏ46.72
$1.51 ΰΈΏ49.42
-5.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ΰΈΏ29.93
$0.99 ΰΈΏ32.20
-7.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ΰΈΏ16.08
$0.52 ΰΈΏ17.06
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.24 ΰΈΏ138
$4.38 ΰΈΏ143
-3.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.11 ΰΈΏ592
$19.45 ΰΈΏ635
-6.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 ΰΈΏ56.6
$1.76 ΰΈΏ57.4
-1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 ΰΈΏ83.7
$2.67 ΰΈΏ87.1
-4.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 ΰΈΏ41.41
$1.43 ΰΈΏ46.85
-11.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$45.97 ΰΈΏ1,501
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 ΰΈΏ87.8
$3.16 ΰΈΏ103
-14.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 ΰΈΏ28.57
$1.08 ΰΈΏ35.42
-19.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.31 ΰΈΏ402
$14.42 ΰΈΏ471
-14.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ΰΈΏ38.23
$1.39 ΰΈΏ45.23
-15.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K ΰΈΏ805.1K
$29.6K ΰΈΏ968.0K
-16.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5K ΰΈΏ997.3K
$35.5K ΰΈΏ1.2M
-13.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ΰΈΏ3,984
$126 ΰΈΏ4,126
-3.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.49 ΰΈΏ441
$14.56 ΰΈΏ476
-7.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.78 ΰΈΏ614
$19.37 ΰΈΏ633
-3.05%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.1 ΰΈΏ1,964
$64.0 ΰΈΏ2,089
-5.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.94 ΰΈΏ553
$17.78 ΰΈΏ581
-4.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.15 ΰΈΏ299
$9.43 ΰΈΏ308
-2.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ΰΈΏ22.6K
$767 ΰΈΏ25.1K
-9.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.0K ΰΈΏ522.2K
$17.3K ΰΈΏ564.3K
-7.46%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 ΰΈΏ1,892
$58.4 ΰΈΏ1,906
-0.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.07 ΰΈΏ1,113
$35.05 ΰΈΏ1,145
-2.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 ΰΈΏ3,775
$116 ΰΈΏ3,788
-0.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4 ΰΈΏ2,723
$85.2 ΰΈΏ2,783
-2.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$425 ΰΈΏ13.9K
$524 ΰΈΏ17.1K
-18.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 ΰΈΏ10.2K
$382 ΰΈΏ12.5K
-18.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 ΰΈΏ46.8K
$1,738 ΰΈΏ56.8K
-17.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,044 ΰΈΏ34.1K
$1,243 ΰΈΏ40.6K
-16.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,558 ΰΈΏ83.5K
$3,123 ΰΈΏ102.0K
-18.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,826 ΰΈΏ59.6K
$2,263 ΰΈΏ73.9K
-19.32%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Koh Phan Ghan
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$744 ΰΈΏ24.3K
$402 ΰΈΏ13.1K
84.90%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Koh Samui: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Koh Phan Ghan and $524 in Koh Samui. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Koh Phan Ghan pays 85% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $41.00 in Koh Phan Ghan vs $46.00 in Koh Samui for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 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 Koh Samui?
Koh Phan Ghan and Koh Samui differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,096 vs $1,248 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?
Koh Phan Ghan pays 85% more on average, 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 Koh Samui?
Rent for a central apartment: $425 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $524 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 5% 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 $1,096 per month in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,248 in Koh Samui – a 14% 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 $1,096 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,248 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 14% less than in Koh Samui. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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