Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Samui and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Samui and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Koh Samui is 27.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 44.9% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Koh Samui is 22.1% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 72.7% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿142

$1.97 ฿62.0

128.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.38 ฿1,458

$18.68 ฿587

148.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 ฿279

$7.92 ฿249

11.87%

Cappuccino

$3.07 ฿96.7

$2.02 ฿63.7

51.98%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ฿21.99

$0.84 ฿26.45

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿12.27

$0.35 ฿11.07

11.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ฿78.0

$2.22 ฿69.9

11.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿118

$3.59 ฿113

4.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.17 ฿68.2

$1.67 ฿52.4

29.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿57.5

$1.62 ฿51.1

12.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 ฿71.0

$1.20 ฿37.83

88.33%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿70.7

$1.93 ฿60.8

16.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.49 ฿613

$16.00 ฿503

21.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.61 ฿114

$3.16 ฿99.2

14.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 ฿410

$10.93 ฿344

19.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿106

$2.67 ฿83.8

25.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿52.9

$1.18 ฿36.99

42.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 ฿74.2

$1.64 ฿51.5

43.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 ฿64.5

$1.59 ฿49.83

28.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 ฿50.8

$1.32 ฿41.64

22.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 ฿44.98

$1.19 ฿37.49

20.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿31.85

$0.71 ฿22.20

42.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿16.47

$0.56 ฿17.75

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 ฿138

$4.64 ฿146

-5.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.58 ฿647

$18.96 ฿596

8.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿56.5

$1.77 ฿55.7

1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 ฿84.3

$3.20 ฿101

-16.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.50 ฿47.28

$0.90 ฿28.32

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.33 ฿1,457

$19.24 ฿605

140.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 ฿100

$1.36 ฿42.78

134.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿34.20

$1.35 ฿42.37

-19.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.34 ฿451

$8.15 ฿256

75.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 ฿44.85

$1.22 ฿38.43

17.21%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.1K ฿884.2K

$21.4K ฿671.8K

31.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.8K ฿1.1M

$21.7K ฿683.8K

55.28%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$127 ฿3,983

$70.3 ฿2,210

80.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.12 ฿444

$13.91 ฿437

1.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.53 ฿614

$18.00 ฿566

8.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 ฿1,998

$41.78 ฿1,314

52.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.47 ฿549

$6.80 ฿214

156.91%

Cinema Ticket

$9.44 ฿297

$5.72 ฿180

65.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$758 ฿23.8K

$308 ฿9,693

145.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ฿554.6K

$14.8K ฿465.7K

19.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 ฿1,819

$55.9 ฿1,756

3.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.40 ฿1,113

$26.71 ฿840

32.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 ฿3,669

$84.5 ฿2,658

38.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.2 ฿2,615

$70.8 ฿2,227

17.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 ฿16.4K

$431 ฿13.5K

21.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 ฿11.9K

$237 ฿7,439

60.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,719 ฿54.0K

$811 ฿25.5K

112.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 ฿39.9K

$501 ฿15.7K

153.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,743 ฿117.7K

$2,202 ฿69.2K

69.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,541 ฿79.9K

$1,600 ฿50.3K

58.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$418 ฿13.1K

$684 ฿21.5K

-38.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

6.60%

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

Last update for Koh Samui: January 11, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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