In the event you’ve by no means been to Koh Samui, let me inform you, it’s some of the unimaginable locations on the planet. I do know as a result of I lived there for 2 years and actually have a tattoo on my arm of the view I had -I beloved it that a lot!
Top-of-the-line issues about dwelling on this picturesque Thai island is the very inexpensive dwelling prices. The price of dwelling in Koh Samui was a serious draw, and shortly you’ll see why.
Price of Residing in Koh Samui
Considered one of my favourite issues about dwelling in Koh Samui was that I used to be in a position to save a ton of cash whereas dwelling in paradise. The price of dwelling in Koh Samui is insanely low (in comparison with Western international locations); nonetheless, must you want to, it additionally permits the chance so that you can select to reside extra luxuriously too.
The listing beneath comes from my very own private expertise, scouring dependable sources, and talking with different digital nomads who’ve lived on the island for a couple of months. On common, the price of dwelling per thirty days for one particular person is $1,139 and $2,497 for a household. Wonderful, proper?
Price of Lodging in Koh Samui
There are lots of wonderful choices in the case of lodging on Koh Samui. There are residences and bungalows, homes, villas, lodges, 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 reside in a one-bedroom bungalow. Bungalows and residences are nice choices for these staying each brief and long-term – and they are often fairly inexpensive. 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 heart of Chaweng or ฿13,000 ($364.56) exterior of the town. A 3-bedroom averages ฿42,500 ($1,191.81) within the widespread areas or ฿36,666 ($1,028.21) a bit away. Many instances, utilities aren’t included.
The best solution to discover residences is thru Airbnb or through personal rental corporations.
Homes
In the event you’re searching for one thing somewhat extra personal or have a household and a bigger funds, renting a home is a good selection. There are attractive homes for lease 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 somewhat extra steep. Anticipate to pay round $900-$1,800 per thirty days, relying on what you’re searching for. And also you’ll in all probability need to pay further for utilities and cleansing companies.
You need to use Airbnb and personal rental corporations to search 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 when 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 typically. Utilities are often included when renting a villa however anticipate to pay anyplace 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 may also be discovered on Airbnb.
Inns & Resorts
In fact, lodges and resorts are all the time an possibility for shorter stays; and plenty of lodges and hostels supply 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, lodges, resorts, and hostels can fluctuate enormously in worth. For instance, the common night time at a lodge is $21 and $452 per thirty days, the common night time at a resort is $153, and the common night time 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 critical sum of money. Groceries are low cost, and there are supermarkets scattered all through the island – the most well-liked being Tops or Lotus. You can even discover nice offers on the recent markets which can be held each day. Listed here 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 purple desk wine, 600 baht ($16.83 USD)
- Fruit – 1 lb various fruits, 14-48 baht ($0.39-$1.35 USD)
- Greens – 1 lb various 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
In the event you’re planning on staying for a couple of months, you’ll wish to think about SIM playing cards and/or WiFi into your dwelling prices in Koh Samui. Each are very inexpensive and accessible throughout the island.
Probably the most widespread choices for SIM playing cards are typically 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. Cell information can price round $1.93 per thirty days for 10GB. If it’s important 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 a couple of nice coworking areas on Koh Samui, which are perfect for digital nomads planning on staying a couple of months. Some widespread selections on the island embody Be Productive, Natural Coworking Membership, and Desk and Chair.
Be Productive presents month-to-month plans for ฿6800 ($190.69 USD) per thirty days, Natural Coworking Membership has residences for lease which can be 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 straightforward, and you’ve got fairly a couple of choices. The most typical selection for digital nomads who’re staying for some time is a scooter. Different choices embody taxis, automotive leases, songthaews (extra beneath), and shuttles.
- Scooter: Many digital nomads issue into their dwelling prices a month-to-month scooter rental. You may work out offers for long-term charges, however the 3-day charge is often round ฿200 ($5.61 USD).
- Taxi: Relying on the place you’re staying on the island, you may have the ability to 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 automotive can also be an possibility; nonetheless, it’s often the most costly selection. Automotive leases often begin at round $21 USD per day.
- Songthaew: A songthaew is a well-liked possibility for locals to get across the island and also you’re greater than welcome to hop on as properly. These vans with a coated mattress with benches price about ฿50-100 ($1.40-2.80 USD) relying on the place you’re going.
- Shuttle: In the event you occur to be heading to the airport, a shuttle is a good possibility. There’s often 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 dwelling in Koh Samui. Thai meals is genuine and inexpensive, however you could find all types of cuisines starting from road meals to Michelin-star eating places.
For instance, the price of a meal at an affordable native restaurant can price simply ฿100 ($2.80) per particular person, whereas the price of a meal at a mid-range restaurant for 2 folks can price round ฿800 ($22.43). Excessive-end eating places will be nearly as costly as you’re keen to spend!
What I like in regards to the island is that consuming out will be one of many least expensive dwelling prices in Koh Samui. I had a number of the greatest meals of my life on the native night time markets, but it surely 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!
In the event you’re searching for 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 a watch out for 2-for-1 offers, joyful 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 acquired a set of crowns fitted on the island and completely love them (they had 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 dwelling in Koh Samui is tremendous inexpensive in practically each method. Due to this, you may spend your disposable earnings on the enjoyable stuff.
- Haircut: In the event you’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 gained’t break the financial institution. A cappuccino prices about ฿82 ($2.30).
- Ticket to the Cinema: Catch the most recent flick on the theater for round ฿532 ($14.92) for 2 tickets.
- Gymnasium Membership: There are lots of fitness center selections on Koh Samui; the common price is round ฿1,250 ($35) per thirty days.
Ideas for Saving Prices whereas Residing in Koh Samui
Regardless that the general prices of dwelling in Koh Samui are typically low, there are some easy tricks to prevent much more cash.
1. Eat road meals or at native eating places
As I discussed earlier, the road meals was a number of the most scrumptious meals I’ve ever had. And it’s so low cost! By consuming at night time markets, road distributors, and native eating places, you’ll positively reduce 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 somewhat intimidating at first – it’s a very distinctive sort of transport – but it surely’s truly fairly enjoyable and positively 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 certain to retailer your cash in a protected and safe space, ideally a locked protected.
4. Barter on the markets
Whether or not you’re searching for fruits and veggies, recent 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, when you’ve constructed a great relationship together with your landlord or lodge workers, likelihood is, 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 Residing in Koh Samui FAQs:
Listed here are some solutions to probably the most generally requested questions in regards to the dwelling prices in Koh Samui:
For one particular person, the common month-to-month price of dwelling in Koh Samui is $1,139, and $2,497 for a household.
You may reside very comfortably in Koh Samui off of round $2,000 per thirty days.
You may simply reside off of $3,000 per thirty days in Koh Samui – fairly luxuriously. The typical price of dwelling in Koh Samui is about $1,139 per thirty days for one particular person.
In comparison with the U.S., Koh Samui shouldn’t be an costly vacation spot in any respect. Nevertheless, it is among the dearer islands in Thailand, and there’s all the time the choice to do issues high-end.
The most cost effective areas to reside in Koh Samui are Lamai, Nathon, and Mae Nam.
The costliest areas to reside in Koh Samui are Chaweng and Bo Phut.
It’s not costly to reside in Koh Samui (when you don’t need it to be). The typical particular person spends about $1,200 per thirty days for all their prices in Koh Samui.
In Closing
My two years of dwelling in Koh Samui had been a number of the most magical I’ve ever skilled. Not solely is it breathtakingly stunning, however the tradition is unimaginable, and the price of dwelling is particularly inexpensive.
In the event you’re a digital nomad searching for someplace to name residence for a couple of weeks, a couple of months, or extra, Koh Samui ought to be on the high of your listing.
