πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,088 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $750 in Nong Khai.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,949 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $1,398 in Nong Khai.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,809 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $2,046 in Nong Khai.
πLiving in Koh Phan Ghan is roughly 45% more expensive than Nong Khai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Koh Phan Ghan19% lower, Nong Khai44% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.22ΰΈΏ138
$3.11ΰΈΏ102
35.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.27ΰΈΏ1,382
$26.91ΰΈΏ880
57.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84ΰΈΏ256
$6.13ΰΈΏ200
27.90%
Cappuccino
$2.78ΰΈΏ90.8
$1.57ΰΈΏ51.3
77.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61ΰΈΏ19.91
$0.71ΰΈΏ23.22
-14.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35ΰΈΏ11.47
$0.35ΰΈΏ11.40
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19ΰΈΏ71.8
$2.53ΰΈΏ82.8
-13.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40ΰΈΏ111
$3.68ΰΈΏ120
-7.61%
π Groceries & Markets
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03ΰΈΏ66.5
$1.74ΰΈΏ57.0
16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72ΰΈΏ56.3
$1.34ΰΈΏ43.89
28.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13ΰΈΏ69.8
$1.26ΰΈΏ41.24
69.05%
Eggs
$2.12ΰΈΏ69.3
$2.12ΰΈΏ69.4
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.46ΰΈΏ604
$18.79ΰΈΏ615
-1.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.45ΰΈΏ113
$2.95ΰΈΏ96.6
16.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.89ΰΈΏ421
$10.65ΰΈΏ348
21.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16ΰΈΏ103
$3.22ΰΈΏ105
-1.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54ΰΈΏ50.3
$1.26ΰΈΏ41.28
22.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29ΰΈΏ75.0
$1.90ΰΈΏ62.3
20.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.90ΰΈΏ62.2
$1.58ΰΈΏ51.6
20.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53ΰΈΏ50.2
$1.53ΰΈΏ50.2
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.43ΰΈΏ46.88
$1.25ΰΈΏ40.81
14.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91ΰΈΏ29.70
$0.99ΰΈΏ32.22
-8.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47ΰΈΏ15.32
$0.48ΰΈΏ15.79
-2.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20ΰΈΏ137
$4.25ΰΈΏ139
-1.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.23ΰΈΏ596
$15.61ΰΈΏ510
16.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70ΰΈΏ55.6
$1.76ΰΈΏ57.5
-3.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58ΰΈΏ84.3
$2.70ΰΈΏ88.2
-4.44%
π Getting Around
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23ΰΈΏ40.32
$0.93ΰΈΏ30.53
32.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71ΰΈΏ88.6
$1.11ΰΈΏ36.23
144.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90ΰΈΏ29.42
$1.16ΰΈΏ37.83
-22.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.70ΰΈΏ415
$6.33ΰΈΏ207
100.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18ΰΈΏ38.43
$1.23ΰΈΏ40.38
-4.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KΰΈΏ830.5K
$28.2KΰΈΏ920.9K
-9.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KΰΈΏ993.9K
$27.7KΰΈΏ906.7K
9.62%
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)
$121ΰΈΏ3,958
$76.1ΰΈΏ2,488
59.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.47ΰΈΏ441
$13.93ΰΈΏ456
-3.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.75ΰΈΏ613
$18.49ΰΈΏ605
1.41%
π Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.1ΰΈΏ1,999
$48.69ΰΈΏ1,592
25.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.83ΰΈΏ550
$12.44ΰΈΏ407
35.29%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10ΰΈΏ297
$6.98ΰΈΏ228
30.37%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698ΰΈΏ22.8K
$300ΰΈΏ9,804
132.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.7KΰΈΏ514.7K
$9,721ΰΈΏ317.9K
61.93%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4ΰΈΏ1,877
$33.03ΰΈΏ1,080
73.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.54ΰΈΏ1,129
$35.09ΰΈΏ1,147
-1.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113ΰΈΏ3,701
$100ΰΈΏ3,280
12.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3ΰΈΏ2,725
$72.1ΰΈΏ2,357
15.64%
π Accommodation & Living
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429ΰΈΏ14.0K
$427ΰΈΏ14.0K
0.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305ΰΈΏ9,985
$124ΰΈΏ4,048
146.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,435ΰΈΏ46.9K
$799ΰΈΏ26.1K
79.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,040ΰΈΏ34.0K
$657ΰΈΏ21.5K
58.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,570ΰΈΏ84.0K
$1,855ΰΈΏ60.6K
38.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,844ΰΈΏ60.3K
$1,333ΰΈΏ43.6K
38.31%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Koh Phan Ghan
Nong Khai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$751ΰΈΏ24.6K
$775ΰΈΏ25.3K
-3.05%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Nong Khai: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Koh Phan Ghan and $427 in Nong Khai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Nong Khai pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $42.00 in Koh Phan Ghan vs $27.00 in Nong Khai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $249 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 45% in total monthly costs ($1,088 vs $750 including rent). Nong Khai is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nong Khai earns 3% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Koh Phan Ghan and Nong Khai?
Rent for a central apartment: $429 in Koh Phan Ghan versus $427 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 11% 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 $750 in Nong Khai β a 45% 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 $750 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 45% 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