Koh Samui Cost of Living 2026
Thailand · Resort — cheaper than the US average. Updated September 2026 Not just the exchange rate: how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price turns into a rip-off.
Koh Samui price table & rip-off thresholds
| Item | Base price | Normal range | Rip-off? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿120$3.64 | ฿84 – ฿192 | ฿230+ |
| Street food1 item | ฿54$1.64 | ฿32 – ฿97 | ฿117+ |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿530$16.1 | ฿371 – ฿848 | ฿1,018+ |
| Bakery & dessert1 item | ฿89$2.7 | ฿53 – ฿160 | ฿192+ |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿99$3 | ฿59 – ฿158 | ฿190+ |
| Fruit juiceone cup | ฿76$2.3 | ฿46 – ฿137 | ฿164+ |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿35$1.06 | ฿21 – ฿66 | ฿80+ |
| Bottled water | ฿14$0.42 | ฿10 – ฿28 | ฿34+ |
| Beerone bottle | ฿120$3.64 | ฿72 – ฿204 | ฿245+ |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿310$9.39 | ฿186 – ฿527 | ฿632+ |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿160$4.85 | ฿128 – ฿256 | ฿307+ |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿76$2.3 | ฿53 – ฿137 | ฿164+ |
| Transitone ride | ฿40$1.21 | ฿36 – ฿52 | ฿62+ |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿300$9.09 | ฿210 – ฿480 | ฿576+ |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿2,000$60.6 | ฿1,200 – ฿3,200 | ฿3,840+ |
| Laundry | ฿50$1.52 | ฿35 – ฿80 | ฿96+ |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿260$7.88 | ฿182 – ฿442 | ฿530+ |
| Haircutcut | ฿130$3.94 | ฿78 – ฿234 | ฿281+ |
| Massage1 hour | ฿380$11.5 | ฿266 – ฿608 | ฿730+ |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿1,100$33.3 | ฿770 – ฿1,760 | ฿2,112+ |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿260$7.88 | ฿208 – ฿364 | ฿437+ |
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in what travelers actually paid. Rate ฿33 per USD, for reference.
Live prices reported in Koh Samui
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FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Koh Samui for a month?
A short-term studio rental (about $1,461) plus food, coffee, transport and a SIM (about $704) comes to roughly $2,165 a month. A local long-term lease (studio ฿18,000) brings it down a lot.
What is a realistic daily budget for Koh Samui?
A mid-range room (about $62.4 a night) plus three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides is about $109 a day. Hostels and local eateries bring it well under that.
How do I know if a taxi in Koh Samui is overcharging?
For 5 km in the city, expect ฿128 – ฿256. Anything above ฿307 is suspicious. The app's Price Check lets you pick the distance and gives a verdict in seconds.
How much is a coffee or a local meal in Koh Samui?
Coffee about ฿99 ($3), a local meal about ฿120 ($3.64), dinner at a mid-range restaurant about ฿530.