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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,248 per month in Koh Samui vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,238 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,228 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Koh Samui costs about 44% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Koh Samui and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Koh Samui 7% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$1.94 ฿63.5

138.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.36 ฿1,514

$18.64 ฿609

148.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 ฿283

$7.82 ฿255

10.61%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ฿97.8

$1.95 ฿63.8

53.33%

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

$0.70 ฿22.72

$0.85 ฿27.77

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.81

$0.35 ฿11.58

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$2.13 ฿69.6

14.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ฿118

$3.73 ฿122

-2.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ฿72.5

$1.71 ฿56.0

29.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 ฿61.6

$1.63 ฿53.2

15.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.8

$1.14 ฿37.15

92.98%

Eggs

$2.31 ฿75.3

$1.93 ฿63.1

19.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.75 ฿645

$16.21 ฿530

21.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 ฿124

$3.12 ฿102

22.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 ฿429

$10.90 ฿356

20.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 ฿105

$2.75 ฿90.0

17.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.21 ฿39.52

35.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿77.6

$1.62 ฿53.0

46.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 ฿66.1

$1.59 ฿51.8

27.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$1.40 ฿45.70

15.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 ฿49.42

$1.17 ฿38.17

29.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.20

$0.66 ฿21.60

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.06

$0.53 ฿17.22

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿143

$4.69 ฿153

-6.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.45 ฿635

$18.66 ฿609

4.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.4

$1.80 ฿58.8

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ฿87.1

$3.23 ฿106

-17.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 ฿46.85

$0.90 ฿29.26

58.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.97 ฿1,501

$19.21 ฿628

139.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 ฿103

$1.41 ฿45.91

124.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.42

$1.29 ฿42.12

-16.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.42 ฿471

$7.84 ฿256

83.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ฿45.23

$1.27 ฿41.58

9.45%

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

$29.6K ฿968.0K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

39.30%

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

$35.5K ฿1.2M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

59.60%

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

$126 ฿4,126

$69.1 ฿2,256

82.89%

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

$14.56 ฿476

$14.08 ฿460

3.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.37 ฿633

$18.00 ฿588

7.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 ฿2,089

$41.06 ฿1,341

55.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.78 ฿581

$6.96 ฿227

155.46%

Cinema Ticket

$9.43 ฿308

$5.92 ฿193

59.29%

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

$767 ฿25.1K

$299 ฿9,766

156.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K ฿564.3K

$15.0K ฿488.3K

15.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ฿1,906

$54.7 ฿1,787

6.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.05 ฿1,145

$26.77 ฿874

30.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ฿3,788

$85.0 ฿2,776

36.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.2 ฿2,783

$70.6 ฿2,306

20.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$524 ฿17.1K

$428 ฿14.0K

22.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 ฿12.5K

$237 ฿7,752

60.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,738 ฿56.8K

$801 ฿26.2K

116.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 ฿40.6K

$515 ฿16.8K

141.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,123 ฿102.0K

$1,975 ฿64.5K

58.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,263 ฿73.9K

$1,475 ฿48.2K

53.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$402 ฿13.1K

$617 ฿20.2K

-34.83%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $524 in Koh Samui versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 53% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Koh Samui versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Samui vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Koh Samui costs about 44% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,872 per month in Koh Samui and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $767 per month in Koh Samui and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Koh Samui, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Koh Samui at $1,248. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koh Samui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,248 in Koh Samui. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Koh Samui makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.