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Compare cities › Koh Samui vs Qingdao
Koh Samui vs Qingdao cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
🇨🇳 QingdaoQingdao is 20% cheaper than Koh Samui
Living on $2,165 a month in Koh Samui feels like about $1,659 in Qingdao — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$109 vs $90.5
Per month
$2,165 vs $1,659
Local meal
฿ 120 vs ¥ 25
$3.64 vs $3.52
Taxi 5 km
฿ 160 vs ¥ 22
$4.85 vs $3.1
At a glance
FoodQingdao 7% cheaper
Cafés & drinksQingdao 30% cheaper
TransportQingdao 30% cheaper
StayQingdao 18% cheaper
FunKoh Samui 34% cheaper
- Where Qingdao is clearly cheaper: Transit (77%↓), Cocktail & wine (54%↓), Beer (54%↓)
- Where Koh Samui is clearly cheaper: Haircut (60%↓), Massage (59%↓), SIM card (20%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Koh Samui | Qingdao | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 120$3.64 | ¥ 25$3.52 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 54$1.64 | ¥ 11$1.55 | Qingdao −5% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 530$16.1 | ¥ 100$14.1 | Qingdao −12% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 99$3 | ¥ 25$3.52 | Koh Samui −15% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 120$3.64 | ¥ 12$1.69 | Qingdao −54% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 310$9.39 | ¥ 31$4.37 | Qingdao −54% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 14$0.42 | ¥ 3$0.42 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 35$1.06 | ¥ 7.5$1.06 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 160$4.85 | ¥ 22$3.1 | Qingdao −36% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 76$2.3 | ¥ 20$2.82 | Koh Samui −18% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 40$1.21 | ¥ 2$0.28 | Qingdao −77% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 300$9.09 | ¥ 80$11.3 | Koh Samui −19% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 2,000$60.6 | ¥ 350$49.3 | Qingdao −19% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 18,000$545 | ¥ 3,200$451 | Qingdao −17% |
| Laundry | ฿ 50$1.52 | ¥ 12$1.69 | Koh Samui −10% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 260$7.88 | ¥ 70$9.86 | Koh Samui −20% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 130$3.94 | ¥ 70$9.86 | Koh Samui −60% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 380$11.5 | ¥ 200$28.2 | Koh Samui −59% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 1,100$33.3 | ¥ 250$35.2 | Koh Samui −5% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 260$7.88 | ¥ 60$8.45 | Koh Samui −7% |
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 Qingdao?
Qingdao is 20% cheaper than Koh Samui. Daily budget $109 vs $90.5; a month $2,165 vs $1,659.
How do monthly costs compare between Koh Samui and Qingdao?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Koh Samui is about $2,165 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.