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Chengdu vs Koh Samui cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇨🇳 Chengdu
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
At a glance
- Where Koh Samui is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (61%↓), Cocktail & wine (32%↓), Coffee (31%↓)
- Where Chengdu is clearly cheaper: Transit (81%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (49%↓), Taxi (44%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Chengdu is easier to travel (2.4 vs 2.8). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Chengdu 2 vs Koh Samui 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Chengdu | Koh Samui | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ¥ 30$4.23 | ฿ 120$3.64 | Koh Samui −14% |
| Street food1 item | ¥ 12$1.69 | ฿ 70$2.12 | Chengdu −20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ¥ 90$12.7 | ฿ 400$12.1 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ¥ 28$3.94 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Koh Samui −31% |
| Beerone bottle | ¥ 25$3.52 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Koh Samui −14% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ¥ 70$9.86 | ฿ 220$6.67 | Koh Samui −32% |
| Bottled water | ¥ 3$0.42 | ฿ 10$0.3 | Koh Samui −28% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ¥ 5$0.7 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Chengdu −23% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ¥ 18$2.54 | ฿ 150$4.55 | Chengdu −44% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ¥ 11$1.55 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chengdu −49% |
| Transitone ride | ¥ 2$0.28 | ฿ 50$1.52 | Chengdu −81% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ¥ 52.5$7.39 | ฿ 250$7.58 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ¥ 320$45.1 | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | Chengdu −17% |
| Studio rent (month) | ¥ 3,000$423 | ฿ 16,000$485 | Chengdu −13% |
| Laundry | ¥ 14$1.97 | ฿ 50$1.52 | Koh Samui −23% |
| SIM card1 week data | ¥ 80$11.3 | ฿ 299$9.06 | Koh Samui −20% |
| Haircutcut | ¥ 40$5.63 | ฿ 150$4.55 | Koh Samui −19% |
| Massage1 hour | ¥ 120$16.9 | ฿ 400$12.1 | Koh Samui −28% |
| Half-day tourper person | ¥ 250$35.2 | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ¥ 55$7.75 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Koh Samui −61% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Chengdu or Koh Samui?
Chengdu is 13% cheaper than Koh Samui. Daily budget $85.2 vs $96.4; a month $1,654 vs $1,942.
Which is easier to travel, Chengdu or Koh Samui?
Chengdu is easier: Chengdu 2.4/5 vs Koh Samui 2.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Chengdu and Koh Samui?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chengdu is about $1,654 and Koh Samui about $1,942 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.