πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,088 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $738 in Nong Khai.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,909 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,385 in Nong Khai.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $2,031 in Nong Khai.
πLiving in Koh Phan Ghan is roughly 47% more expensive than Nong Khai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Koh Phan Ghan19% lower, Nong Khai45% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.15ΰΈΏ135
$3.05ΰΈΏ99.2
36.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.50ΰΈΏ1,352
$27.11ΰΈΏ883
53.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88ΰΈΏ257
$6.39ΰΈΏ208
23.32%
Cappuccino
$2.73ΰΈΏ88.9
$1.57ΰΈΏ51.1
73.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67ΰΈΏ21.74
$0.67ΰΈΏ21.78
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32ΰΈΏ10.58
$0.35ΰΈΏ11.35
-8.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.26ΰΈΏ73.7
$2.42ΰΈΏ78.8
-6.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42ΰΈΏ111
$3.73ΰΈΏ122
-8.31%
π Groceries & Markets
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03ΰΈΏ66.2
$1.74ΰΈΏ56.8
16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79ΰΈΏ58.3
$1.35ΰΈΏ43.81
32.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07ΰΈΏ67.3
$1.30ΰΈΏ42.49
59.23%
Eggs
$2.15ΰΈΏ70.0
$2.16ΰΈΏ70.3
-0.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.57ΰΈΏ605
$18.17ΰΈΏ592
2.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.47ΰΈΏ113
$2.94ΰΈΏ95.8
18.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.45ΰΈΏ406
$10.67ΰΈΏ347
16.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.07ΰΈΏ99.9
$3.27ΰΈΏ106
-6.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62ΰΈΏ52.7
$1.21ΰΈΏ39.50
33.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18ΰΈΏ71.2
$1.99ΰΈΏ64.7
9.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.91ΰΈΏ62.3
$1.53ΰΈΏ49.89
24.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51ΰΈΏ49.09
$1.47ΰΈΏ47.84
2.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37ΰΈΏ44.47
$1.20ΰΈΏ38.98
14.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92ΰΈΏ29.89
$0.97ΰΈΏ31.63
-5.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47ΰΈΏ15.16
$0.52ΰΈΏ16.98
-9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05ΰΈΏ132
$4.38ΰΈΏ143
-7.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.76ΰΈΏ578
$13.22ΰΈΏ430
34.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68ΰΈΏ54.7
$1.79ΰΈΏ58.2
-6.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58ΰΈΏ83.9
$2.76ΰΈΏ90.0
-6.52%
π Getting Around
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23ΰΈΏ39.98
$0.87ΰΈΏ28.49
41.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.4
$1.11ΰΈΏ36.19
144.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91ΰΈΏ29.59
$1.14ΰΈΏ37.08
-20.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.32ΰΈΏ401
$6.20ΰΈΏ202
98.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17ΰΈΏ38.11
$1.22ΰΈΏ39.88
-4.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KΰΈΏ805.4K
$27.7KΰΈΏ903.7K
-10.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KΰΈΏ997.0K
$28.0KΰΈΏ912.4K
9.27%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124ΰΈΏ4,025
$77.5ΰΈΏ2,524
59.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.74ΰΈΏ447
$13.57ΰΈΏ442
1.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.91ΰΈΏ616
$18.34ΰΈΏ597
3.11%
π Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.0ΰΈΏ2,018
$48.57ΰΈΏ1,582
27.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.67ΰΈΏ543
$12.02ΰΈΏ391
38.69%
Cinema Ticket
$8.90ΰΈΏ290
$7.28ΰΈΏ237
22.25%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$696ΰΈΏ22.7K
$295ΰΈΏ9,620
135.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9KΰΈΏ518.4K
$9,555ΰΈΏ311.2K
66.59%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3ΰΈΏ1,931
$33.37ΰΈΏ1,087
77.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.26ΰΈΏ1,116
$34.98ΰΈΏ1,139
-2.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115ΰΈΏ3,747
$99.3ΰΈΏ3,235
15.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.0ΰΈΏ2,801
$70.3ΰΈΏ2,289
22.37%
π Accommodation & Living
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$434ΰΈΏ14.1K
$416ΰΈΏ13.6K
4.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$303ΰΈΏ9,882
$123ΰΈΏ4,010
146.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,442ΰΈΏ47.0K
$827ΰΈΏ26.9K
74.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,032ΰΈΏ33.6K
$655ΰΈΏ21.3K
57.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,527ΰΈΏ82.3K
$2,012ΰΈΏ65.5K
25.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,827ΰΈΏ59.5K
$1,485ΰΈΏ48.4K
23.05%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$743ΰΈΏ24.2K
$465ΰΈΏ15.1K
59.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
5.45
-2.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koh Phan Ghan: June 7, 2026
Last update for Nong Khai: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $434 in Koh Phan Ghan and $416 in Nong Khai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Koh Phan Ghan pays 60% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $41.00 in Koh Phan Ghan vs $27.00 in Nong Khai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $243 per month, with Nong Khai 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 Nong Khai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Koh Phan Ghan and Nong Khai?
Koh Phan Ghan and Nong Khai differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,088 vs $738 including rent). Nong Khai is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Koh Phan Ghan or Nong Khai?
Koh Phan Ghan pays 60% 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 Nong Khai?
Rent for a central apartment: $434 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $416 in Nong Khai. 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 13% higher in Koh Phan Ghan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Koh Phan Ghan or Nong Khai?
All in, you'll spend $1,088 per month in Koh Phan Ghan versus $738 in Nong Khai β a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $738 in Nong Khai versus $1,088 in Koh Phan Ghan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nong Khai but tight or insufficient in Koh Phan Ghan. The gap between the two cities makes Nong Khai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Koh Phan Ghan and Nong Khai?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Koh Phan Ghan or Nong Khai safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Koh Phan Ghan and Nong Khai 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 Nong Khai?
Expats usually find Nong Khai gentler on the wallet β expenses run 47% 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