If you happen to’ve by no means been to Koh Samui, let me let you know, it’s probably the most unimaginable locations on the planet. I do know as a result of I lived there for 2 years and also have a tattoo on my arm of the view I had -I liked it that a lot!
The most effective issues about residing on this picturesque Thai island is the very reasonably priced residing prices. The price of residing in Koh Samui was a serious draw, and shortly you’ll see why.
Price of Dwelling in Koh Samui
One in every of my favourite issues about residing in Koh Samui was that I used to be in a position to save a ton of cash whereas residing in paradise. The price of residing in Koh Samui is insanely low (in comparison with Western nations); nonetheless, must you want to, it additionally permits the chance so that you can select to stay extra luxuriously too.
The checklist beneath comes from my very own private expertise, scouring dependable sources, and talking with different digital nomads who’ve lived on the island for just a few months. On common, the value of residing per thirty days for one individual is $1,139 and $2,497 for a household. Superb, proper?
Price of Lodging in Koh Samui
There are lots of wonderful choices in relation to lodging on Koh Samui. There are residences and bungalows, homes, villas, accommodations, and resorts – all with various costs and facilities. Right here’s a bit extra about every.
Residences/Bungalows
After I lived on the island, I selected to stay in a one-bedroom bungalow. Bungalows and residences are nice choices for these staying each quick and long-term – and they are often fairly reasonably priced. For instance, I paid $350 per thirty days within the city of Nathon.
On common, nonetheless, you may anticipate to pay about ฿14,140 ($396.52) per thirty days for a one-bedroom within the middle of Chaweng or ฿13,000 ($364.56) outdoors of town. A 3-bedroom averages ฿42,500 ($1,191.81) within the well-liked areas or ฿36,666 ($1,028.21) a bit away. Many instances, utilities should not included.
The best method to discover residences is thru Airbnb or through personal rental corporations.
Homes
If you happen to’re in search of one thing slightly extra personal or have a household and a bigger funds, renting a home is a good alternative. There are attractive homes for hire scattered throughout the island, many with facilities such personal swimming pools and outside baths.
Because it’s a complete residence you’re renting, costs are slightly extra steep. Anticipate to pay round $900-$1,800 per thirty days, relying on what you’re in search of. And also you’ll most likely should pay additional for utilities and cleansing providers.
You need to use Airbnb and personal rental corporations to seek out houses starting from the funds to the glamorous.
Villas
One factor about Koh Samui is that it’s residence to some insanely attractive villas throughout the island. As you may think about, these will be fairly costly. However in case you have the funds, why not?
Many villas are both beachfront or up within the mountains with a view. Many have infinity swimming pools, personal seashores, and even workers generally. Utilities are normally included when renting a villa however anticipate to pay wherever from ฿25,000 ($700) per thirty days for a 1-bedroom to ฿3,500,000 ($98,149) per thirty days for a 5-bedroom.
Most villas are booked by personal corporations however some actual gems will also be discovered on Airbnb.
Lodges & Resorts
In fact, accommodations and resorts are all the time an choice for shorter stays; and lots of accommodations and hostels provide reductions for long-term charges. What’s good about these lodging is that so many issues are included, like housekeeping, utilities, and even breakfast.
Very like all of the housing choices, accommodations, resorts, and hostels can fluctuate tremendously in worth. For instance, the common evening at a lodge is $21 and $452 per thirty days, the common evening at a resort is $153, and the common evening at a hostel is round $12.
Price of Groceries in Koh Samui
By selecting to purchase groceries and cooking at residence, it can save you a severe amount of cash. Groceries are low-cost, and there are supermarkets scattered all through the island – the most well-liked being Tops or Lotus. You may also discover nice offers on the contemporary markets which are held every day. Listed below are some examples of the common costs you may anticipate to pay for normal objects:
- Milk – 1 liter, 59 baht ($1.65 USD)
- Eggs – Dozen, 90 baht ($2.52 USD)
- Rice – 1 lb, 11 baht ($0.30 USD)
- Bread – 1 loaf, 42 baht ($1.18 USD)
- Beer – 0.5 liter home, 57 baht ($1.60 USD)
- Wine – 1 bottle of pink desk wine, 600 baht ($16.83 USD)
- Fruit – 1 lb assorted fruits, 14-48 baht ($0.39-$1.35 USD)
- Greens – 1 lb assorted veggies, 14-30 baht ($0.39-$0.84 USD)
- Poultry – 1 lb fillets, 39 baht ($1.09 USD)
- Beef – 1 lb spherical, 143 baht ($4.01 USD)
SIM Playing cards and WiFi
If you happen to’re planning on staying for just a few months, you’ll need to think about SIM playing cards and/or WiFi into your residing prices in Koh Samui. Each are very reasonably priced and accessible throughout the island.
Probably the most well-liked choices for SIM playing cards are usually AIS, DTAC, TrueMove, and CAT (4G & 5G). The primary three make up 97% of the market in Thailand, and so they’re probably the most dependable. Cellular knowledge can value round $1.93 per thirty days for 10GB. If you need to pay for WiFi in your house, anticipate to pay about ฿506 ($14.09) for 60Mbps per thirty days.
Price of Coworking Areas
There are fairly just a few nice coworking areas on Koh Samui, which are perfect for digital nomads planning on staying just a few months. Some well-liked decisions on the island embody Be Productive, Natural Coworking Membership, and Desk and Chair.
Be Productive gives month-to-month plans for ฿6800 ($190.69 USD) per thirty days, Natural Coworking Membership has residences for hire which are particularly for digital nomads (message for costs), and Desk and Chair’s day-rate is ฿500 ($14.02 USD), ฿1,750 ($49.07 USD) for the week, and ฿6,895 for the month ($193.35 USD).
Public Transportation Prices
Getting across the small island of Koh Samui is tremendous simple, and you’ve got fairly just a few choices. The most typical alternative for digital nomads who’re staying for some time is a scooter. Different choices embody taxis, automobile leases, songthaews (extra beneath), and shuttles.
- Scooter: Many digital nomads issue into their residing prices a month-to-month scooter rental. You possibly can work out offers for long-term charges, however the 3-day fee is normally round ฿200 ($5.61 USD).
- Taxi: Relying on the place you’re staying on the island, you would possibly be capable of stroll to many locations. Nevertheless, if you wish to get a taxi, charges begin at ฿50 ($1.40 USD) and about ฿58 ($1.63 USD) per mile.
- Automotive Rental: Renting a automobile can be an choice; nonetheless, it’s normally the costliest alternative. Automotive leases normally begin at round $21 USD per day.
- Songthaew: A songthaew is a well-liked choice for locals to get across the island and also you’re greater than welcome to hop on as properly. These vans with a lined mattress with benches value about ฿50-100 ($1.40-2.80 USD) relying on the place you’re going.
- Shuttle: If you happen to occur to be heading to the airport, a shuttle is a good choice. There’s normally a set worth relying on the place you’re staying, and regular charges are about ฿500 ($14.02 USD).
Meals and Drinks in a Restaurant
The meals is one in all my favourite issues about residing in Koh Samui. Thai meals is genuine and reasonably priced, however yow will discover all types of cuisines starting from avenue meals to Michelin-star eating places.
For instance, the price of a meal at a cheap native restaurant can value simply ฿100 ($2.80) per individual, whereas the price of a meal at a mid-range restaurant for 2 folks can value round ฿800 ($22.43). Excessive-end eating places will be nearly as costly as you’re prepared to spend!
What I like in regards to the island is that consuming out will be one of many most cost-effective residing prices in Koh Samui. I had a few of the greatest meals of my life on the native evening markets, nevertheless it was all the time good to splurge each every now and then. In any case, you may afford it because you’re spending so little elsewhere!
If you happen to’re in search of an alcholic beverage together with your meal, anticipate to pay round $16 for a bottle of wine, $2 for a big bottle of home beer, and $5 for a cocktail. Hold an eye fixed out for 2-for-1 offers, pleased hour specials, and lunch units at many eating places and cafes.
Healthcare in Koh Samui
Common medical care and pressing care is obtainable in Koh Samui, in addition to many dentists. I truly bought a set of crowns fitted on the island and completely love them (they have been a fraction of the price of what I’d pay within the States!).
If you wish to go to a normal practitioner on Koh Samui for normal check-ups or visits, digital nomads can anticipate to pay round ฿1,500 ($42.06) for a brief appoitment. If you wish to get your enamel cleaned at one of many dozens of dentists on the island, the fee is round ฿1200-1800 ($33.65-$50.48).
Miscellaneous Prices in Koh Samui
The price of residing in Koh Samui is tremendous reasonably priced in practically each means. Due to this, you may spend your disposable revenue on the enjoyable stuff.
- Haircut: If you happen to’re something like me, your hair will develop tremendous quick within the solar. Anticipate to spend round ฿400 ($11.22).
- Espresso at a Cafe: Getting your caffeine repair received’t break the financial institution. A cappuccino prices about ฿82 ($2.30).
- Ticket to the Cinema: Catch the newest flick on the theater for round ฿532 ($14.92) for 2 tickets.
- Fitness center Membership: There are lots of fitness center decisions on Koh Samui; the common value is round ฿1,250 ($35) per thirty days.
Ideas for Saving Prices whereas Dwelling in Koh Samui
Although the general prices of residing in Koh Samui are typically low, there are some easy tricks to prevent much more cash.
1. Eat avenue meals or at native eating places
As I discussed earlier, the road meals was a few of the most scrumptious meals I’ve ever had. And it’s so low-cost! By consuming at evening markets, avenue distributors, and native eating places, you’ll undoubtedly minimize down in your prices in Koh Samui.
2. Get round by songthaew
Hopping on a songthaew is by far the most affordable mode of transportation to get across the island. It may be slightly intimidating at first – it’s a very distinctive kind of transport – nevertheless it’s truly fairly enjoyable and undoubtedly saves you cash.
3. Take out massive sums of cash
Having money readily available is all the time a good suggestion in Koh Samui as a result of many locations and distributors don’t take playing cards, and in the event that they do, they cost a charge. Since ATMS across the island can even cost a charge, it’s greatest to take out bigger sums of cash at a time to save lots of you.
Be sure that to retailer your cash in a protected and safe space, ideally a locked protected.
4. Barter on the markets
Whether or not you’re looking for fruits and veggies, contemporary fish, or souvenirs, you can probably get your worth down with some easy bartering. Don’t be afraid to barter, because it’s fairly regular, and the Thai persons are extraordinarily good and welcoming.
5. Ask your landlord or lodge about scooter leases
There are tons of scooter rental locations all all through the island. Nevertheless, should you’ve constructed an excellent relationship together with your landlord or lodge workers, chances are high, they’ve a hook-up. When you’ve moved in and established a rapport, ask them if there are any offers on a long-term scooter rental.
Price of Dwelling in Koh Samui FAQs:
Listed below are some solutions to probably the most generally requested questions in regards to the residing prices in Koh Samui:
For one individual, the common month-to-month value of residing in Koh Samui is $1,139, and $2,497 for a household.
You possibly can stay very comfortably in Koh Samui off of round $2,000 per thirty days.
You possibly can simply stay off of $3,000 per thirty days in Koh Samui – fairly luxuriously. The common value of residing in Koh Samui is about $1,139 per thirty days for one individual.
In comparison with the U.S., Koh Samui just isn’t an costly vacation spot in any respect. Nevertheless, it is without doubt one of the costlier islands in Thailand, and there’s all the time the choice to do issues high-end.
The most affordable areas to stay in Koh Samui are Lamai, Nathon, and Mae Nam.
The most costly areas to stay in Koh Samui are Chaweng and Bo Phut.
It’s not costly to stay in Koh Samui (should you don’t need it to be). The common individual spends about $1,200 per thirty days for all their prices in Koh Samui.
In Closing
My two years of residing in Koh Samui have been a few of the most magical I’ve ever skilled. Not solely is it breathtakingly lovely, however the tradition is unimaginable, and the price of residing is particularly reasonably priced.
If you happen to’re a digital nomad in search of someplace to name residence for just a few weeks, just a few months, or extra, Koh Samui ought to be on the prime of your checklist.
