For 2 and a half wonderful years, I had the pleasure of dwelling on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, Thailand. To this present day, I take into account it my favourite place I’ve ever been to on earth (thus far). There are such a lot of execs to dwelling on Koh Samui, however, in fact, there are some challenges as effectively.
A number of the execs may appear apparent, however when spending time abroad, it’s necessary to not be blinded by the magical enchantment. The cons of dwelling in Koh Samui ought to all the time be thought of, particularly if you happen to plan on staying there long-term.
15 Execs and Cons of Dwelling in Koh Samui
After spending a considerable period of time in Koh Samui, I’ve a variety of private expertise with life on the island. My listing under comes from that non-public expertise, talking and befriending different expats, and creating relationships with the locals.
Thailand, general, is an unbelievable and distinctive nation – in my view, there really is not any different place prefer it. Right here’s my listing of execs and cons of dwelling in Koh Samui:
What (The place) is Koh Samui?
Recognized for its postcard-perfect seashores, laid-back vibes, posh resorts, and vibrant tradition, Koh Samui is understood to be a haven for backpackers, digital nomads, and vacationers alike. Additionally it is extremely popular amongst expats, particularly from Europe, the UK, Australia, and Russia.
Positioned off the jap coast of Thailand within the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is accessible by airport, ferry, and personal boat providers. The island is pretty small and may simply be pushed round by way of the loop highway, which is about 32 miles lengthy.
Execs of Dwelling in Koh Samui
Koh Samui has been one in all my favourite, if not my most favourite, locations I’ve ever lived. These are the professionals of dwelling in Koh Samui.
1. It’s Completely Gorgeous
One of many largest execs of dwelling in Koh Samui is that it’s breathtakingly stunning. It’s just like the areas you see in motion pictures and tropical screensavers. I even have the view from my bungalow tattooed on my arm – I beloved it a lot, I wished to see it ceaselessly!
The island has white sand seashores, lush rainforest, and tremendous clear turquoise waters – excellent for anybody who loves nature. However other than the seashore, inland, you’ll discover sprawling coconut groves, numerous waterfalls, and mountain climbing trails.
Irrespective of the place you’re on the island, you’ll simply be in awe of all the pure magnificence.
2. Insanely Low-cost Price of Dwelling
One of many fundamental causes a variety of expats head to Thailand, together with Koh Samui, is the extraordinarily reasonably priced value of dwelling. In comparison with most Western nations, Thailand’s housing, meals, and healthcare prices are very low.
After I was dwelling there, I had a one-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow with an unbelievable view, and paid $350/month, which is about common for a price range house. Mid-range flats value round $600-$800/month.
Meals can also be extraordinarily low-cost. I may go right down to the evening market and have a scrumptious meal for lower than $3. Shopping for meals from contemporary markets can also be very low-cost in comparison with grocery retailer costs.
3. Thai Individuals are Extremely Good
Thailand is named the “Land of Smiles,” and the locals really ship. They’re tremendous pleasant, welcoming, and extremely heat. Regardless of often having a language barrier, communication and connection nonetheless appears to return simply and feels real.
In some nations, there are stereotypes of the locals being impolite or having disdain for overseas guests and expats. Thailand is certainly not a type of nations. Irrespective of the place you go, you’ll see smiling faces.
I discovered this to be an enormous professional of dwelling in Koh Samui as a result of I all the time felt welcome on the island. I additionally rapidly made associates with among the sweetest Thai girls who ran a pop-up bar within the city of Lamai.
4. It has One thing for Everybody
What I completely beloved about dwelling in Koh Samui was the truth that it actually had one thing for everybody. Whether or not you’re searching for a calming surroundings or one stuffed with journey, you’ll discover it on the island. You’ll find every little thing from budget-friendly to posh and indulgent – there are many issues to do right here.
The most important metropolis on the island known as Chaweng, the place you could find nightclubs, seashore golf equipment, eating places, and buying. When you head south, the smaller city of Lamai has extra backpacker vibes, whereas providing a smaller but nonetheless vibrant nightlife.
I lived on the western facet of the island within the locals’ city of Nathon; it’s additionally the place most individuals arrive when coming by way of ferry. It’s quiet, it has a small city heart, and it’s about 45 minutes from Chaweng. You’ll additionally discover beautiful resorts scattered all through the island.
5. Straightforward Entry to Different International locations
Relying on the kind of visa you have got when getting into the nation, you may need to go away Thailand each few months to resume it. Fortunately, Koh Samui has quick access to different nations like Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
The Koh Samui airport is situated on the north facet of the island and is without doubt one of the cutest airports I’ve ever been to. Flights will be dearer from right here versus taking a ferry to the mainland and flying out from Surat Thani, but it surely’s tremendous handy.
Essentially the most budget-friendly possibility is to take a ferry, then a shuttle, to the Surat Thani airport. From there, you possibly can fly out to your vacation spot or take a brief flight as much as Bangkok, the place you possibly can catch a flight to virtually wherever your coronary heart needs.
6. The Meals is Completely Scrumptious
A significant good thing about dwelling in Koh Samui is all the scrumptious meals. You’ll find cheap mouthwatering meals at evening markets, in addition to Michelin-star eating places with world-renowned cooks. Even the fussiest of eaters are positive to fall in love with the cusine right here.
The evening market meals was all the time my favourite throughout my keep. It was native delicacies, cooked with conventional substances and strategies, tremendous tasty, and all the time reasonably priced. Plus, strolling across the markets was all the time a enjoyable sensory expertise.
Whenever you need one thing a little bit extra elevated, there are many different eating places and cuisines to be discovered. Italian and British eating places appear to be in style choices, however you could find every little thing from Indian, Greek, burger spots, and nice eating.
7. It’s Nice for Digital Nomads
Whereas I used to be dwelling in Koh Samui, I used to be nonetheless working on-line as a digital nomad. In actual fact, many expats who aren’t retirees are digital nomads, and there’s a improbable group of on-line staff.
I sometimes all the time had quick WiFi in my bungalow house. Sometimes it might go down because of a storm, but when ever this occurred, I simply took a trip into city and was all the time capable of finding a restaurant or coworking area that also had a connection.
Some nice spots to work are Khan Area, Natural Coworking Membership, and Desk and Chair.
8. The Climate is Tropical
An enormous perk to dwelling in Koh Samui is its heat, tropical climate. All through the whole yr, you possibly can count on temperatures with highs within the mid-80s °F and lows within the mid-70s °F. For me, it doesn’t get extra excellent than that.
Could is often the most well liked month, with December and January being the best. This implies year-round entry to seashores and suntans. It’s necessary to take into account that since it’s a tropical local weather, it additionally comes with a wet and stormy season (extra on this under).
9. The Tradition is Palpable
One other factor I beloved about dwelling in Thailand was how sturdy the Thai tradition is. Whether or not it’s their faith (most Thai individuals are Buddhist), their clothes, their meals, or their celebrations, the Thai tradition will be felt to your core.
At evening markets, you’ll discover conventional dancing and singing, and there all the time appears to be a pageant of some kind occurring. My favourite festivals are the Songkran pageant, which is principally a 3-day-long water combat, and the Loy Krathong pageant, the place individuals ship 1000’s of lanterns into the sky.
The Thai individuals even have a variety of respect for his or her Buddhist faith and the monks that belong to the temple. You’ll typically discover monks strolling the streets and receiving flowers, meals, and presents from the native individuals.
10. It’s Straightforward to Make Pals
Due to Koh Samui’s thriving expat and touring scenes, it’s extremely straightforward to make new associates while you’re out and about. Folks from all around the world flock to this island, which already means you have got one thing in widespread!
Practically each time I went out, I’d strike up a dialog with a fellow nomad. I now have associates who stay all around the world that I nonetheless meet up with repeatedly.
Despite the fact that most of the locals don’t communicate English, until you’re in additional of the heavily-touristed areas, many of the expats do. Due to English being such a common language, it’s straightforward to speak throughout your keep.
Cons of Dwelling in Koh Samui
Regardless of my love for Koh Samui, it, in fact, comes with its downfalls. These are among the challenges and drawbacks of dwelling in Koh Samui.
1. It’s a Small Island
Earlier than contemplating a transfer to Koh Samui, you’ll need to take into account that it’s fairly a small island. Island life is wonderful till it isn’t – it’s straightforward to really feel “caught” or out of choices for issues to do and locations to go.
It takes some time to get “bored” of Koh Samui as a result of there’s so a lot to see, however it might occur. That’s why I all the time made it a degree to get off the island each couple of months. Whether or not that was to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan, as much as Bangkok, or one other nation, it helped to get off the island and into a brand new surroundings each every now and then.
2. The Climate will be Intense
Through the moist months of September by way of November, the climate can get fairly intense with rain and storms. Despite the fact that it’s nonetheless heat out, there will be days on finish when the rain doesn’t cease.
After I knew a storm was going to be coming by way of, I’d all the time replenish on meals and water as a result of I knew I wouldn’t need to drive round or be exterior for a number of days. We’re speaking downpours and powerful, sideways wind.
One other draw back is that Koh Samui can typically fall within the path of harmful typhoons. I fled as much as Bangkok for per week when a storm got here by way of as a result of I couldn’t threat being with out web.
3. Roads will be Harmful
Despite the fact that it’s a small island with just one main ring highway, the driving circumstances in Koh Samui could be a bit sketchy. Practically each expat can inform you a narrative about being in a motorcycle crash – together with myself.
Sadly, there are practically 3,000 accidents, involving largely bikes, each single yr. There tends to be a better variety of accidents throughout main celebrations and festivals.
There’s a combination of scooters, bikes, automobiles, vehicles, songthaews, and different motor autos on the roads, lots of which are inclined to disregard dashing and different driving legal guidelines. All the time maintain your eyes open, and all the time put on a helmet. Additionally, try to keep away from driving at evening or in inclement climate.
4. Staying Lengthy-Time period will be Troublesome
The kind of visa you acquire earlier than arriving in Koh Samui will decide how lengthy you possibly can keep on the island and within the nation. Many youthful (below 50) vacationers merely arrive on a vacationer visa that enables you 90 days of entry. After that, you’ll want to go away the nation earlier than you possibly can come again. Some individuals depart for a day (though it’s frowned upon), whereas others use it as a two or 3-week trip in a neighboring nation.
Many older expats use a retirement visa, permitting them long-term or everlasting stays. This often simply requires a set sum of money arrange in a Thai checking account.
Now you can additionally buy a long-term visa that means that you can stay in Thailand for as much as ten years. The catch is that you just’ll must show that you just remodeled $80,000 USD for the 2 years previous to making use of.
5. It Feels a Little Westernized
Regardless of the colourful Thai tradition, one of many cons of dwelling in Koh Samui is that it undoubtedly feels a bit Westernized within the larger cities of Chaweng, Mae Nam, and Bophut. You’ll see chain eating places like McDonald’s and Burger King – there’s even a Hooter’s!?
I understand that tourism brings in a ton of cash to the financial system of Koh Samui, but it surely’s considerably disappointing to see so many Western names and companies make such an announcement on the island. I’m positive it offers a way of “residence” for some individuals, however I discovered it a little bit annoying. For these of you in want of the occasional creature consolation, this may increasingly really be a professional for you!
Is Dwelling in Koh Samui Price It?
Total, dwelling in Koh Samui is a very magical and life-changing expertise. Regardless of the cons, the professionals of dwelling in Koh Samui far outweigh them. When you ever get the prospect to spend time on this stunning island, I extremely advocate it.
