For 2 and a half wonderful years, I had the pleasure of residing on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, Thailand. To today, I think about it my favourite place I’ve ever been to on earth (thus far). There are such a lot of execs to residing on Koh Samui, however, after all, there are some challenges as effectively.
Among the execs may appear apparent, however when spending time out of the country, it’s essential to not be blinded by the magical attraction. The cons of residing in Koh Samui ought to all the time be thought-about, particularly in the event you plan on staying there long-term.
15 Professionals and Cons of Residing 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 checklist beneath comes from that non-public expertise, talking and befriending different expats, and creating relationships with the locals.
Thailand, general, is an unimaginable and distinctive nation – for my part, there really is not any different place prefer it. Right here’s my checklist of execs and cons of residing in Koh Samui:
What (The place) is Koh Samui?
Identified for its postcard-perfect seashores, laid-back vibes, posh resorts, and vibrant tradition, Koh Samui is thought to be a haven for backpackers, digital nomads, and vacationers alike. Additionally it is highly regarded amongst expats, particularly from Europe, the UK, Australia, and Russia.
Situated 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 street, which is about 32 miles lengthy.
Professionals of Residing in Koh Samui
Koh Samui has been one among my favourite, if not my most favourite, locations I’ve ever lived. These are the professionals of residing in Koh Samui.
1. It’s Completely Gorgeous
One of many largest execs of residing in Koh Samui is that it’s breathtakingly stunning. It’s just like the areas you see in films and tropical screensavers. I even have the view from my bungalow tattooed on my arm – I beloved it a lot, I needed to see it perpetually!
The island has white sand seashores, lush rainforest, and tremendous clear turquoise waters – excellent for anybody who loves nature. However other than the seaside, inland, you’ll discover sprawling coconut groves, plenty of waterfalls, and mountain climbing trails.
Irrespective of the place you might be on the island, you’ll simply be in awe of all the pure magnificence.
2. Insanely Low cost Price of Residing
One of many fundamental causes a variety of expats head to Thailand, together with Koh Samui, is the extraordinarily reasonably priced price of residing. In comparison with most Western nations, Thailand’s housing, meals, and healthcare prices are very low.
Once I was residing there, I had a one-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow with an unimaginable view, and paid $350/month, which is about common for a funds house. Mid-range flats price round $600-$800/month.
Meals can be extraordinarily low-cost. I may go all the way down to the evening market and have a scrumptious meal for lower than $3. Shopping for meals from recent markets can be very low-cost in comparison with grocery retailer costs.
3. Thai Individuals are Extremely Good
Thailand is called the “Land of Smiles,” and the locals really ship. They’re tremendous pleasant, welcoming, and extremely heat. Regardless of normally having a language barrier, communication and connection nonetheless appears to come back 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 unquestionably not a kind of nations. Irrespective of the place you go, you’ll see smiling faces.
I discovered this to be an enormous professional of residing 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 residing in Koh Samui was the truth that it actually had one thing for everybody. Whether or not you’re in search of a calming surroundings or one filled with journey, you’ll discover it on the island. You could find all the things from budget-friendly to posh and lavish – there are many issues to do right here.
The most important metropolis on the island is named Chaweng, the place you will discover nightclubs, seaside 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 aspect 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 Nations
Relying on the kind of visa you could have when getting into the nation, you might 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 aspect of the island and is likely one of the cutest airports I’ve ever been to. Flights will be costlier from right here versus taking a ferry to the mainland and flying out from Surat Thani, however it’s tremendous handy.
Probably the most budget-friendly possibility is to take a ferry, then a shuttle, to the Surat Thani airport. From there, you may fly out to your vacation spot or take a brief flight as much as Bangkok, the place you may catch a flight to virtually wherever your coronary heart needs.
6. The Meals is Completely Scrumptious
A significant advantage of residing in Koh Samui is all the scrumptious meals. You could 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 bit of extra elevated, there are many different eating places and cuisines to be discovered. Italian and British eating places appear to be well-liked choices, however you will discover all the things from Indian, Greek, burger spots, and fantastic eating.
7. It’s Nice for Digital Nomads
Whereas I used to be residing 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 incredible neighborhood of on-line employees.
I usually all the time had quick WiFi in my bungalow house. Sometimes it might go down on account of a storm, but when ever this occurred, I simply took a experience 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 residing in Koh Samui is its heat, tropical climate. All through your entire 12 months, you may 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 normally the most well liked month, with December and January being the good. This implies year-round entry to seashores and suntans. It’s essential to remember the fact that since it’s a tropical local weather, it additionally comes with a wet and stormy season (extra on this beneath).
9. The Tradition is Palpable
One other factor I beloved about residing in Thailand was how sturdy the Thai tradition is. Whether or not it’s their faith (most Thai persons 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 competition of some type occurring. My favourite festivals are the Songkran competition, which is principally a 3-day-long water battle, and the Loy Krathong competition, the place individuals ship hundreds 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 items 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 everywhere in the world flock to this island, which already means you could have one thing in widespread!
Almost each time I went out, I’d strike up a dialog with a fellow nomad. I now have associates who dwell everywhere in the world that I nonetheless meet up with repeatedly.
Despite the fact that lots of the locals don’t communicate English, until you’re in additional of the heavily-touristed areas, a lot of the expats do. Due to English being such a common language, it’s straightforward to speak throughout your keep.
Cons of Residing in Koh Samui
Regardless of my love for Koh Samui, it, after all, comes with its downfalls. These are among the challenges and drawbacks of residing in Koh Samui.
1. It’s a Small Island
Earlier than contemplating a transfer to Koh Samui, you’ll wish to remember the fact 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 from time to time.
2. The Climate will be Intense
In the course of the moist months of September by 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.
Once I knew a storm was going to be coming by, I’d all the time fill up on meals and water as a result of I knew I wouldn’t wish to drive round or be outdoors for just a few 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 hurricane got here by 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 street, the driving circumstances in Koh Samui generally is a bit sketchy. Almost each expat can let you know a narrative about being in a motorcycle crash – together with myself.
Sadly, there are almost 3,000 accidents, involving principally bikes, each single 12 months. 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, a lot of which are inclined to disregard dashing and different driving legal guidelines. At all times hold 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 may keep on the island and within the nation. Many youthful (below 50) vacationers merely arrive on a vacationer visa that permits you 90 days of entry. After that, you’ll want to go away the nation earlier than you may come again. Some individuals go away 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 normally simply requires a set amount of cash arrange in a Thai checking account.
Now you can additionally buy a long-term visa that means that you can dwell in Thailand for as much as ten years. The catch is that you just’ll have to show that you just revamped $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 residing in Koh Samui is that it positively feels a bit Westernized within the greater 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 notice that tourism brings in a ton of cash to the economic system of Koh Samui, however it’s considerably disappointing to see so many Western names and companies make such a press release on the island. I’m positive it supplies a way of “dwelling” for some individuals, however I discovered it a bit of annoying. For these of you in want of the occasional creature consolation, this will truly be a professional for you!
Is Residing in Koh Samui Value It?
General, residing in Koh Samui is a really magical and life-changing expertise. Regardless of the cons, the professionals of residing in Koh Samui far outweigh them. When you ever get the possibility to spend time on this stunning island, I extremely advocate it.
