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Koh Samui vs Krabi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
🇹🇭 Krabi
At a glance
- Where Krabi is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (38%↓), Half-day tour (25%↓)
- Where Koh Samui is clearly cheaper: Taxi (50%↓), Entry ticket (50%↓), Transit (17%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Koh Samui 4 vs Krabi 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Koh Samui | Krabi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 120$3.64 | ฿ 120$3.64 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 70$2.12 | ฿ 60$1.82 | Krabi −14% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 400$12.1 | ฿ 400$12.1 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 90$2.73 | ฿ 80$2.42 | Krabi −11% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Krabi −10% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 220$6.67 | ฿ 200$6.06 | Krabi −9% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ฿ 10$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 30$0.91 | ฿ 30$0.91 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 150$4.55 | ฿ 300$9.09 | Koh Samui −50% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 100$3.03 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 50$1.52 | ฿ 60$1.82 | Koh Samui −17% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 250$7.58 | ฿ 250$7.58 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | ฿ 1,600$48.5 | Krabi −11% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 16,000$485 | ฿ 10,000$303 | Krabi −38% |
| Laundry | ฿ 50$1.52 | ฿ 50$1.52 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 299$9.06 | ฿ 299$9.06 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 150$4.55 | ฿ 150$4.55 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 400$12.1 | ฿ 350$10.6 | Krabi −12% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 1,200$36.4 | ฿ 900$27.3 | Krabi −25% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 200$6.06 | Koh Samui −50% |
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 Samui or Krabi?
Krabi is 7% cheaper than Koh Samui. Daily budget $96.4 vs $101; a month $1,942 vs $1,557.
Which is easier to travel, Koh Samui or Krabi?
About the same: Koh Samui 2.8/5, Krabi 2.8/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Koh Samui and Krabi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Koh Samui is about $1,942 and Krabi about $1,557 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.