It's really hard to pinpoint if one place is expensive or not. There are those that are easy like the capital cities wherein it's pretty obvious that the living costs here would be pretty high. But then there are places like Koh Samui, a top tourist destination in Thailand. Some parts of the island are so busy that you can't help but feel like you'll need a whole lot of money to live in any one of them. While others are more remote and largely untouched that you'll barely need to spend any money at all. So what's the real story with Koh Samui? Is it expensive to live here or not?
Costs of Renting in Koh Samui
The common rental fees in a place is always a good way to gauge how expensive it really is. Since owning a home is always a more expensive endeavor, most residents would rather rent a home. So how much does rent usually cost in Koh Samui? Around ฿6,000.00 to ฿42,000.00 per month. And if you're to take into account the fact that the average monthly salary in Thailand is around ฿96,900.00 according to
the country's job market, these common rental fees don't seem that bad at all. It only just depends on the size, hoe many bedrooms, and the location of the
luxury home.
Costs of Buying Property in Koh Samui
Speaking of owning a home in Koh Samui, how much will that cost? It's no secret that this island is prime real estate, especially for vacation homes. No matter which
neighborhood in Koh Samui you choose, your home here would likely cost a lot. Specifically speaking, it'll cost you a minimum of ฿20,000.00 to a maximum of ฿35,000.00 per square meter. Multiply those figures with the total number of square meters in your home and you'll have quite a doozy of a final price. But no worries! Having your own home in Koh Samui is totally worth it!
Utilities Costs
At the very least, if there are costs that you'll expect would be pretty low, they'd be your utilities. Paying for your electricity, wifi, and the like isn't that expensive in Koh Samui. For your basic monthly bills, they'll only range from ฿1,350.00 to ฿4,250.00. And they'll take into account your electricity, water, heating, garbage disposal, and more. For your wireless internet connection at home, that will cost you around ฿499.00 to ฿1,000.00 per month. As long as you get a good deal for any of
Thailand's top telecommunications companies, you'll be fine!
Food Costs
What about food in Koh Samui? Will getting groceries cost so much that you'd rather save and starve than eat on this island? Not quite! The common total median price for food items in Koh Samui is ฿1,670.47. That can still go higher or lower depending on where you shop or how many goodies you buy. But for the most part, that ฿1,670.47 includes a dozen eggs, a liter of milk, 1.5 liters of water, a kilogram of rice, a loaf of bread, and a kilogram each of various fruits, vegetables, and meats. They'll last you around one to two weeks tops!
Dining Costs
Eating at home is all well and good, but sometimes, you'll want to eat out as well. After all, Koh Samui has its own collection of
delicious foodie hotspots, some of which you just have to check out. And don't worry, not all of them are expensive. Some are downright cheap, serving scrumptious meals of
local Thai food for as low as ฿60.00 to ฿220.00 each. If you want to take someone out for a three-course meal for two, going to a mid-range restaurant will only cost you ฿400.00 to ฿1,800.00 in total. Not bad, right?
Transportation Costs
You have to remember that just because Koh Samui is a separate island from mainland Thailand, it's not as tropical as you might think. The place itself has a lot of urban areas that make
public transport more than necessary. But how much will that cost you? Well, it depends on which mode of public transportation you choose. If you ride a traditional songthaew, for instance, that'll cost you around ฿40.00 to ฿50.00 per ride. If you take a taxi, know that an hour ride can cost up to ฿500.00. And if you choose to rent a vehicle, some services will have you paying a minimum of ฿800.00 per day.
Clothing Costs
Koh Samui is far from what many would consider a fashionable city so how much do you think clothes will cost here? Not that expensive! Depending on where you buy from, of course! Thanks to the luxury resorts and five-star hotels, world-famous designer brands have set up shop on the island. But if you want to stick to a certain budget, you can always go for cheaper labels. A piece from a high street brand, for instance, will only cost around ฿3,00.00 to ฿1,500.00 each. Need a new pair of sneakers? That'll cost you ฿1,500.00 to ฿3,500.00.
Leisure Costs
Apart from going to the beach, what does one do for leisure in Koh Samui? Work out or see a movie. For the former, if you join a mid-range gym or fitness club, that'll cost you a membership fee of around ฿700.00 to ฿2,800.00 per month. Want to play sports on the weekends instead? You can rent a court for only around ฿500.00 per hour. And if you want to watch a movie, that'll only cost you ฿180.00 to ฿350.00 per ticket. You'll only have to add a few extra for popcorn, drinks, candy, and the like!
Childcare & Education Costs
Apart from renting/owning a home in Koh Samui, the second most expensive living cost you'll have to face in Koh Samui is your kid's education. From taking them to daycare centers when they're little to paying for their primary education, you'll need to shell out a ton of money for them. But just how much? Well, if you want to enroll your little one in a private daycare center, that'll cost you ฿8,000.00 to ฿20,000.00 per month. When they grow up and you want to enroll them in an
international school in Koh Samui, you'll have to face annual tuition fees that are around ฿167,000.00 to ฿700,000.00. Can you handle all of that?
With all its natural splendor and tropical glory, Koh Samui can actually be pretty pricey. This isn't to say that the place is expensive, but there are certain living costs that you have to deal with here that will have you reaching deeper into your wallet.
