Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Samui and Da Nang

For one person, living is cheaper in Da Nang: $863 a month against $1,176 in Koh Samui, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

57

Cost of Living Index in Koh Samui
Learn more

Koh Samui Living Index
42

Cost of Living Index in Da Nang
Learn more

Da Nang Living Index

Jump to prices

Koh Samui

🇹🇭 Thailand

$1,176

/mo nomad

Da Nang

🇻🇳 Vietnam

$863

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Koh Samui and in Da Nang

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Koh Samui and in Da Nang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Koh Samui vs $863 in Da Nang, rent included.

Koh Samui $1,176
Da Nang $863

A couple spends around $1,957 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,404 in Da Nang, rent included.

Koh Samui $1,957
Da Nang $1,404

A family of three spends $2,737 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,945 in Da Nang, rent included.

Koh Samui $2,737
Da Nang $1,945

Koh Samui costs about 36% more than Da Nang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Koh Samui and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Koh Samui 13% lower, Da Nang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 ฿153

$2.30 ₫59.4K

99.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.92 ฿1,100

$19.62 ₫508.0K

67.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.45 ฿282

$4.60 ₫119.1K

83.70%

Cappuccino

$2.82 ฿94.2

$1.66 ₫43.0K

69.88%

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

$0.90 ฿30.10

$0.61 ₫15.7K

47.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ฿15.49

$0.34 ₫8,877

35.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 ฿84.0

$1.34 ₫34.6K

87.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 ฿126

$2.36 ₫61.1K

60.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.5

$1.60 ₫41.5K

3.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ฿48.46

$1.21 ₫31.3K

19.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.8

$1.00 ₫25.9K

52.00%

Eggs

$2.15 ฿71.9

$1.51 ₫39.1K

42.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿655

$12.90 ₫333.9K

51.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ฿113

$4.29 ₫111.1K

-20.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.12 ฿372

$9.06 ₫234.6K

22.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ฿98.4

$2.73 ₫70.6K

7.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.2

$1.19 ₫30.8K

36.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 ฿74.8

$1.29 ₫33.4K

73.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 ฿71.3

$1.60 ₫41.3K

33.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿49.15

$1.18 ₫30.4K

24.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ฿45.48

$1.33 ₫34.3K

2.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ฿35.70

$1.01 ₫26.1K

5.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.28

$0.53 ₫13.7K

-1.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 ฿141

$1.56 ₫40.3K

170.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 ฿627

$7.93 ₫205.2K

136.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 ฿58.3

$0.88 ₫22.9K

97.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 ฿94.1

$2.12 ₫54.9K

33.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.07 ฿69.1

$0.32 ₫8,182

546.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.70 ฿1,494

$4.99 ₫129.3K

795.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 ฿107

$1.05 ₫27.1K

204.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 ฿37.09

$0.55 ₫14.3K

101.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.87 ฿129

$19.50 ₫504.8K

-80.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.95 ₫24.5K

58.95%

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

$28.2K ฿942.7K

$30.9K ₫799.2M

-8.62%

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

$27.8K ฿928.1K

$28.0K ₫724.6M

-0.78%

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

$104 ฿3,459

$76.6 ₫2.0M

35.17%

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

$11.87 ฿397

$6.47 ₫167.6K

83.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.04 ฿603

$8.08 ₫209.1K

123.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.4 ฿1,818

$24.98 ₫646.6K

117.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.61 ฿388

$5.35 ₫138.6K

117.01%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ฿274

$3.07 ₫79.4K

166.78%

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

$603 ฿20.1K

$161 ₫4.2M

273.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ฿420.9K

$15.2K ₫392.3M

-16.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 ฿2,075

$45.38 ₫1.2M

36.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.12 ฿973

$27.22 ₫704.7K

6.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.2 ฿3,180

$100 ₫2.6M

-4.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.0 ฿2,907

$80.9 ₫2.1M

7.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$627 ฿21.0K

$529 ₫13.7M

18.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 ฿13.3K

$349 ₫9.0M

13.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,778 ฿59.4K

$1,053 ₫27.3M

68.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,032 ฿34.5K

$811 ₫21.0M

27.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 ฿99.6K

$3,834 ₫99.3M

-22.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,113 ฿70.6K

$1,308 ₫33.9M

61.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$398 ฿13.3K

$363 ₫9.4M

9.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.72

-48.04%

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

Last update for Koh Samui: October 12, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Koh Samui

$397 33.8%

Da Nang

$349 40.4% 12.1% $48

Groceries & Markets

Koh Samui

$268 22.8%

Da Nang

$201 23.2% 25.3% $68

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Koh Samui

$133 11.4%

Da Nang

$91 10.6% 31.7% $42

Clothing & Footwear

Koh Samui

$123 10.5%

Da Nang

$114 13.2% 7.3% $8.9

Eating Out

Koh Samui

$121 10.3%

Da Nang

$67 7.8% 44.6% $54

Sport & Entertainment

Koh Samui

$71 6%

Da Nang

$31 3.6% 56% $40

Getting Around

Koh Samui

$62 5.3%

Da Nang

$10 1.2% 83.7% $52

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $627 in Koh Samui versus $529 in Da Nang. 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 9% higher in Koh Samui, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Koh Samui versus $20.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $201 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Koh Samui

🇻🇳 Da Nang

🕒 Local time

22:53 10:53 PM

Same time as Koh Samui

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

62,110

1,245,200

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Vietnamese Dong VND ₫

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100,000 VND = 3.86 USD

100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,108 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Koh Samui Da Nang 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight

From you

Koh Samui
Da Nang

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,176 in Koh Samui, $863 in Da Nang – roughly 36% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,764 per month in Koh Samui and $1,295 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 34% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Koh Samui and $20.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $863, than in Koh Samui at $1,176. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koh Samui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Koh Samui has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $863 in Da Nang to $1,176 in Koh Samui. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Da Nang. 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.