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 $1,241 per month in Koh Samui vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,231 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,221 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,838 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 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.60 ฿154

$1.96 ฿65.7

134.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.95 ฿1,543

$18.35 ฿616

150.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 ฿287

$7.48 ฿251

14.17%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿102

$2.02 ฿67.7

50.00%

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

$0.68 ฿22.96

$0.85 ฿28.45

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿12.17

$0.36 ฿11.94

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 ฿84.5

$2.14 ฿71.7

17.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.59 ฿121

5.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ฿75.0

$1.65 ฿55.4

35.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 ฿61.5

$1.57 ฿52.6

16.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 ฿76.2

$1.19 ฿39.95

90.76%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿75.2

$1.94 ฿65.0

15.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.51 ฿655

$16.19 ฿544

20.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 ฿126

$2.99 ฿100

25.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ฿453

$10.94 ฿367

23.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿113

$2.71 ฿91.0

23.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.5

$1.17 ฿39.18

43.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 ฿77.7

$1.69 ฿56.6

36.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿69.8

$1.60 ฿53.9

30.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿53.3

$1.38 ฿46.45

15.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.4

$1.20 ฿40.38

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿33.95

$0.67 ฿22.46

50.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.59

$0.56 ฿18.70

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 ฿145

$4.64 ฿156

-6.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.53 ฿622

$17.62 ฿591

5.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿59.5

$1.86 ฿62.4

-4.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 ฿94.2

$3.30 ฿111

-14.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.81

$0.88 ฿29.63

61.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.97 ฿1,543

$19.34 ฿649

137.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$1.36 ฿45.82

133.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿35.11

$1.34 ฿44.90

-21.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.69 ฿493

$8.21 ฿276

78.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ฿47.71

$1.22 ฿41.11

16.39%

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

$29.5K ฿991.0K

$21.4K ฿716.8K

38.24%

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

$35.0K ฿1.2M

$22.5K ฿756.3K

55.54%

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

$129 ฿4,331

$70.7 ฿2,372

82.55%

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

$14.14 ฿475

$14.04 ฿471

0.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.57 ฿657

$17.49 ฿587

11.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.5 ฿2,131

$42.15 ฿1,415

50.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.73 ฿595

$6.88 ฿231

157.70%

Cinema Ticket

$9.28 ฿311

$5.92 ฿199

56.76%

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

$763 ฿25.6K

$309 ฿10.4K

147.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.2K ฿578.3K

$14.9K ฿499.5K

15.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 ฿1,976

$55.8 ฿1,872

5.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.45 ฿1,156

$26.11 ฿877

31.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ฿3,896

$83.0 ฿2,787

39.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.6 ฿2,875

$70.5 ฿2,365

21.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿17.3K

$432 ฿14.5K

19.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 ฿12.5K

$239 ฿8,020

55.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,735 ฿58.2K

$822 ฿27.6K

110.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,278 ฿42.9K

$512 ฿17.2K

149.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,973 ฿99.8K

$1,915 ฿64.3K

55.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,121 ฿71.2K

$1,467 ฿49.3K

44.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$392 ฿13.1K

$579 ฿19.4K

-32.41%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $515 in Koh Samui versus $432 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 48% 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $243 – 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 $1,861 per month in Koh Samui and $1,292 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 $763 per month in Koh Samui and $309 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $861, than in Koh Samui at $1,241. 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 $861 versus $1,241 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.