Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
Compare cities › Koh Phangan vs Qingdao
Koh Phangan vs Qingdao cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Koh Phangan
🇨🇳 QingdaoQingdao is 6% cheaper than Koh Phangan
Living on $1,867 a month in Koh Phangan feels like about $1,659 in Qingdao — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$91.1 vs $90.5
Per month
$1,867 vs $1,659
Local meal
฿ 100 vs ¥ 25
$3.03 vs $3.52
Taxi 5 km
฿ 200 vs ¥ 22
$6.06 vs $3.1
At a glance
FoodKoh Phangan 10% cheaper
Cafés & drinksQingdao 17% cheaper
TransportQingdao 49% cheaper
Staysimilar
FunKoh Phangan 40% cheaper
- Where Qingdao is clearly cheaper: Transit (91%↓), Taxi (49%↓), Cocktail & wine (45%↓)
- Where Koh Phangan is clearly cheaper: Haircut (63%↓), Massage (62%↓), Scooter rental (33%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Koh Phangan | Qingdao | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 100$3.03 | ¥ 25$3.52 | Koh Phangan −14% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 45$1.36 | ¥ 11$1.55 | Koh Phangan −12% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 450$13.6 | ¥ 100$14.1 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 85$2.58 | ¥ 25$3.52 | Koh Phangan −27% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 100$3.03 | ¥ 12$1.69 | Qingdao −44% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 260$7.88 | ¥ 31$4.37 | Qingdao −45% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 12$0.36 | ¥ 3$0.42 | Koh Phangan −14% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 30$0.91 | ¥ 7.5$1.06 | Koh Phangan −14% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 200$6.06 | ¥ 22$3.1 | Qingdao −49% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 100$3.03 | ¥ 20$2.82 | Qingdao −7% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 100$3.03 | ¥ 2$0.28 | Qingdao −91% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 250$7.58 | ¥ 80$11.3 | Koh Phangan −33% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,500$45.5 | ¥ 350$49.3 | Koh Phangan −8% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 15,000$455 | ¥ 3,200$451 | similar |
| Laundry | ฿ 50$1.52 | ¥ 12$1.69 | Koh Phangan −10% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 250$7.58 | ¥ 70$9.86 | Koh Phangan −23% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 120$3.64 | ¥ 70$9.86 | Koh Phangan −63% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 350$10.6 | ¥ 200$28.2 | Koh Phangan −62% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | ¥ 250$35.2 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 200$6.06 | ¥ 60$8.45 | Koh Phangan −28% |
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, Koh Phangan or Qingdao?
Qingdao is 6% cheaper than Koh Phangan. Daily budget $91.1 vs $90.5; a month $1,867 vs $1,659.
How do monthly costs compare between Koh Phangan and Qingdao?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Koh Phangan is about $1,867 and Qingdao about $1,659 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.