Popular cities
Chiang Mai vs Koh Samui cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
At a glance
- Where Koh Samui is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (31%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (40%↓), Transit (40%↓), Hotel night (39%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Chiang Mai is easier to travel (2.4 vs 2.8). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Chiang Mai 3 vs Koh Samui 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Koh Samui | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 80$2.42 | ฿ 120$3.64 | Chiang Mai −33% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 50$1.52 | ฿ 70$2.12 | Chiang Mai −29% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 400$12.1 | ฿ 400$12.1 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 75$2.27 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Chiang Mai −17% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 85$2.58 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai −15% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 180$5.45 | ฿ 220$6.67 | Chiang Mai −18% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ฿ 10$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 20$0.61 | ฿ 30$0.91 | Chiang Mai −33% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 150$4.55 | Chiang Mai −33% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 60$1.82 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Chiang Mai −40% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ฿ 50$1.52 | Chiang Mai −40% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 250$7.58 | ฿ 250$7.58 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,100$33.3 | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | Chiang Mai −39% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 10,500$318 | ฿ 16,000$485 | Chiang Mai −34% |
| Laundry | ฿ 35$1.06 | ฿ 50$1.52 | Chiang Mai −30% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 299$9.06 | ฿ 299$9.06 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 150$4.55 | ฿ 150$4.55 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 250$7.58 | ฿ 400$12.1 | Chiang Mai −38% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 800$24.2 | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | Chiang Mai −33% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 145$4.39 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Koh Samui −31% |
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, Chiang Mai or Koh Samui?
Chiang Mai is 34% cheaper than Koh Samui. Daily budget $66.9 vs $96.4; a month $1,232 vs $1,942.
Which is easier to travel, Chiang Mai or Koh Samui?
Chiang Mai is easier: Chiang Mai 2.4/5 vs Koh Samui 2.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Koh Samui?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $1,232 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.