Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Koh Samui Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Koh Samui

Name: Koh Samui
Address: Koh Samui, TH

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $988 per month in Pattaya vs $1,242 in Koh Samui, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,558 per month in Pattaya vs $2,228 in Koh Samui, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,129 per month in Pattaya vs $3,215 in Koh Samui, rent included.

Pattaya is about 20% cheaper than Koh Samui, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pattaya and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Pattaya 26% lower, Koh Samui 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 ฿122

$4.51 ฿147

-17.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.45 ฿996

$45.54 ฿1,489

-33.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.39 ฿307

$8.77 ฿287

7.07%

Cappuccino

$2.08 ฿68.1

$2.95 ฿96.5

-29.49%

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

$0.81 ฿26.56

$0.68 ฿22.25

19.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.12

$0.36 ฿11.84

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 ฿78.2

$2.48 ฿81.0

-3.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 ฿82.6

$3.63 ฿119

-30.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 ฿56.9

$2.15 ฿70.3

-19.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ฿44.41

$1.86 ฿61.0

-26.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.42

$2.25 ฿73.4

-43.56%

Eggs

$2.35 ฿76.9

$2.34 ฿76.4

0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.41 ฿504

$19.40 ฿634

-20.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 ฿107

$3.66 ฿120

-10.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.07 ฿362

$13.55 ฿443

-18.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿110

$3.22 ฿105

4.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.96

$1.69 ฿55.3

-24.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 ฿63.5

$2.28 ฿74.7

-14.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.07

$2.05 ฿67.1

-28.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.84

$1.53 ฿50.2

-0.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.50 ฿49.09

-19.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.02 ฿33.26

61.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.36

$0.52 ฿16.90

1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.61 ฿151

$4.39 ฿143

5.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.44 ฿603

$19.64 ฿642

-6.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

$1.76 ฿57.6

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ฿74.7

$2.77 ฿90.7

-17.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ฿10.62

$1.49 ฿48.83

-78.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.81 ฿615

$47.03 ฿1,538

-60.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.56

$3.17 ฿104

-55.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.82

$1.10 ฿35.85

19.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 ฿110

$14.28 ฿467

-76.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 ฿43.49

$1.36 ฿44.52

-2.21%

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

$25.9K ฿845.5K

$29.5K ฿966.2K

-12.49%

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

$27.2K ฿889.4K

$34.9K ฿1.1M

-21.98%

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

$78.1 ฿2,554

$131 ฿4,270

-40.18%

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

$13.91 ฿455

$14.15 ฿463

-1.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.20 ฿595

$19.24 ฿629

-5.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.87 ฿1,435

$63.5 ฿2,075

-30.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.13 ฿560

$18.08 ฿591

-5.25%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿245

$9.41 ฿308

-20.51%

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

$294 ฿9,616

$776 ฿25.4K

-62.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,071 ฿296.6K

$17.7K ฿579.8K

-48.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.33 ฿992

$57.4 ฿1,878

-47.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.90 ฿651

$34.57 ฿1,131

-42.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.8 ฿3,263

$116 ฿3,802

-14.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.74 ฿1,430

$86.0 ฿2,811

-49.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$553 ฿18.1K

$521 ฿17.0K

6.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 ฿11.3K

$378 ฿12.4K

-8.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,321 ฿43.2K

$1,775 ฿58.0K

-25.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ฿22.0K

$1,255 ฿41.1K

-46.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,998 ฿98.0K

$3,140 ฿102.7K

-4.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,658 ฿54.2K

$2,254 ฿73.7K

-26.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$479 ฿15.7K

$404 ฿13.2K

18.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

5.33

2.25%

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

Last update for Pattaya: April 27, 2026

Last update for Koh Samui: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $553 in Pattaya versus $521 in Koh Samui. 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 19% higher in Pattaya, 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 $30.00 in Pattaya versus $46.00 in Koh Samui. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $293 – making Pattaya 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

Pattaya vs Koh Samui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $988 in Pattaya, $1,242 in Koh Samui – roughly 26% apart. Koh Samui costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,482 per month in Pattaya and $1,863 in Koh Samui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $30.00 in Pattaya and $46.00 in Koh Samui. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pattaya, where all-in costs run around $988, than in Koh Samui at $1,242. In Pattaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koh Samui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Pattaya has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $988 in Pattaya to $1,242 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 Pattaya. 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.