Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Samui and Nizhny Novgorod Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Samui and Nizhny Novgorod

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,248 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,131 in Nizhny Novgorod, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,238 per month in Koh Samui vs $1,776 in Nizhny Novgorod, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,228 per month in Koh Samui vs $2,420 in Nizhny Novgorod, rent included.

Koh Samui costs about 10% more than Nizhny Novgorod, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Koh Samui and Nizhny Novgorod are more affordable than the global median – Koh Samui 7% lower, Nizhny Novgorod 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

$11.28 ₽823

-58.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.36 ฿1,514

$38.77 ₽2,830

19.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 ฿283

$5.60 ₽409

54.46%

Cappuccino

$2.99 ฿97.8

$2.66 ₽194

12.41%

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

$0.70 ฿22.72

$1.30 ₽94.7

-46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.81

$0.42 ₽30.99

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$1.03 ₽75.5

136.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 ฿118

$3.14 ₽230

15.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.22 ฿72.5

$1.05 ₽76.7

111.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 ฿61.6

$0.57 ₽41.81

231.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 ฿71.8

$1.31 ₽96.0

67.94%

Eggs

$2.31 ฿75.3

$1.53 ₽112

50.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.75 ฿645

$10.59 ₽773

86.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 ฿124

$4.74 ₽346

-19.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.12 ฿429

$8.94 ₽652

46.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.22 ฿105

$1.75 ₽128

84.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$1.68 ₽122

-2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 ฿77.6

$1.96 ₽143

21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 ฿66.1

$2.51 ₽183

-19.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.7

$0.71 ₽51.5

126.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 ฿49.42

$0.71 ₽52.1

112.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ฿32.20

$1.20 ₽87.9

-17.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ฿17.06

$0.78 ₽57.1

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿143

$2.92 ₽213

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.45 ฿635

$11.14 ₽813

74.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.4

$1.17 ₽85.4

50.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 ฿87.1

$2.17 ₽158

23.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.43 ฿46.85

$0.53 ₽39.01

169.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.97 ฿1,501

$16.96 ₽1,238

171.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 ฿103

$1.86 ₽136

69.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ฿35.42

$0.55 ₽40.38

96.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.42 ฿471

$7.55 ₽551

90.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 ฿45.23

$0.79 ₽57.4

75.95%

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

$29.6K ฿968.0K

$41.4K ₽3.0M

-28.43%

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

$35.5K ฿1.2M

$31.7K ₽2.3M

11.86%

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

$126 ฿4,126

$111 ₽8,115

13.62%

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

$14.56 ฿476

$5.52 ₽403

163.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.37 ฿633

$7.45 ₽544

160.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.0 ฿2,089

$31.67 ₽2,312

101.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.78 ฿581

$16.12 ₽1,177

10.30%

Cinema Ticket

$9.43 ฿308

$6.22 ₽454

51.61%

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

$767 ฿25.1K

$332 ₽24.2K

130.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K ฿564.3K

$3,874 ₽282.8K

346.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 ฿1,906

$81.6 ₽5,955

-28.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.05 ฿1,145

$77.5 ₽5,657

-54.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ฿3,788

$147 ₽10.7K

-20.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.2 ฿2,783

$113 ₽8,235

-24.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$524 ฿17.1K

$578 ₽42.2K

-9.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$382 ฿12.5K

$368 ₽26.9K

3.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,738 ฿56.8K

$984 ₽71.8K

76.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 ฿40.6K

$735 ₽53.7K

68.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,123 ฿102.0K

$4,267 ₽311.5K

-26.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,263 ฿73.9K

$2,623 ₽191.5K

-13.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$402 ฿13.1K

$948 ₽69.2K

-57.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

16.46

-67.62%

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

Last update for Koh Samui: May 31, 2026

Last update for Nizhny Novgorod: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $524 in Koh Samui versus $578 in Nizhny Novgorod. 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 136% higher in Nizhny Novgorod, 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 $39.00 in Nizhny Novgorod. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $199 – making Nizhny Novgorod 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 Nizhny Novgorod: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,248 in Koh Samui, $1,131 in Nizhny Novgorod – roughly 10% apart. Koh Samui costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,872 per month in Koh Samui and $1,697 in Nizhny Novgorod. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 47% 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 $46.00 in Koh Samui and $39.00 in Nizhny Novgorod. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nizhny Novgorod, where all-in costs run around $1,131, than in Koh Samui at $1,248. In Nizhny Novgorod 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 $1,131 in Nizhny Novgorod to $1,248 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 Nizhny Novgorod. 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.