Koh Samui, Thailand 🇹🇭
#391
,
Nomad Score:
66%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
78%
Weight: 150
Moderately affordable compared to Western standards; cheaper than Bangkok but more expensive than rural Thailand.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
65%
Weight: 80
Varies widely; budget bungalows are cheap but modern condos and villas can be pricey, especially near beaches.
🍎 Food & Groceries
84%
Weight: 40
Local Thai food is very affordable; imported groceries and Western products cost more.
🚌 Transportation Cost
79%
Weight: 20
Scooter rentals are cheap; taxis and songthaews are affordable but limited in coverage.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
70%
Weight: 15
Beach bars and nightlife are moderately priced; tourist activities can be more expensive.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
62%
Weight: 10
Gyms available but fewer than in major cities; prices are moderate but not very cheap.
💱 Currency Stability
75%
Weight: 30
Thai Baht is relatively stable with low volatility against major currencies.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
68%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 30-50 Mbps; fiber available in some areas but inconsistent in remote parts.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
54%
Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces compared to Bangkok or Chiang Mai; some options in main towns.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
73%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, but quality and speed vary widely.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
67%
Weight: 30
Several cafes cater to nomads but fewer than in larger Thai cities.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
60%
Weight: 100
Growing but still less popular than Chiang Mai or Bangkok.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
81%
Weight: 30
Relaxed island lifestyle supports good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
72%
Weight: 15
Generally good natural environment but some areas suffer from waste management issues.
🧼 Cleanliness
60%
Weight: 10
Varies; tourist areas are cleaner but some public spaces and beaches can be littered.
🗨️ Language Barrier
55%
Weight: 30
Basic English widely spoken in tourist areas; limited outside these zones.
💨 Air Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good air quality; occasional haze from regional fires but less severe than northern Thailand.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
68%
Weight: 20
Decent clinics and small hospitals; for serious care, travel to mainland cities recommended.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80%
Weight: 25
Healthcare is affordable compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
69%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare services available; limited specialist care on the island.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
75%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with hot, humid weather; rainy season from September to December.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
52%
Weight: 10
Low earthquake risk; occasional storms and flooding during monsoon season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
78%
Weight: 10
Abundant natural green areas, forests, and beaches.
❄️ Air Conditioning
83%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations and public places.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
31%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with little seasonal variation; mainly wet and dry seasons.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
79%
Weight: 20
Rich Thai culture with local festivals and traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
65%
Weight: 15
Active nightlife in tourist hubs but quieter than Bangkok or Pattaya.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
87%
Weight: 15
Excellent opportunities for beaches, hiking, waterfalls, and marine activities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Limited formal language schools; informal learning possible through locals.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
76%
Weight: 10
Good variety of tours including island hopping, cooking classes, and cultural visits.
🎳 Indoors Fun
53%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; mostly bars and small venues.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
82%
Weight: 25
Strong local Thai cuisine with some international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
67%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
64%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers present but limited variety.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
75%
Weight: 15
Good availability of fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy Thai dishes.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
71%
Weight: 20
GMT+7 is convenient for Asia and Europe but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
58%
Weight: 25
Limited compared to major cities; some meetups but smaller community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
42%
Weight: 20
Few local remote job opportunities; mostly dependent on global online work.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
50%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; limited local support structures.
🏢 Coworking Quality
55%
Weight: 30
Basic coworking spaces with essential amenities but not high-end.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
38%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem on the island.
💳 Local Payment Services
63%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments growing but cash still dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
51%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest but limited local infrastructure.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
67%
Weight: 30
International airport with connections mainly to Bangkok and regional hubs.
🚇 Public Transit
29%
Weight: 20
No formal public transit; reliance on taxis, songthaews, and scooters.
🚶 Walkability
45%
Weight: 20
Walkable in small towns but distances and heat limit walking.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
38%
Weight: 15
Limited ride-sharing apps; mostly taxis and motorbike taxis.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Possible but challenging due to hilly terrain and traffic.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Ferries and buses connect to mainland; no train service.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
89%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals are widely available and affordable.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
74%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage island-wide; 5G limited but expanding.
🔒 VPN Reliability
78%
Weight: 20
VPNs work well; no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Generally stable but occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
59%
Weight: 10
Available in cafes and hotels but not widespread in public areas.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
65%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas easy to obtain; longer stays require extensions or special visas.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Complex tax rules for foreigners; no special digital nomad tax regime.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
60%
Weight: 15
Moderate; some restrictions on political speech.
🏛️ Political Stability
62%
Weight: 20
Generally stable but occasional political unrest in Thailand.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Possible but requires documentation; easier with work or residency permits.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
48%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and complex for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
60%
Weight: 35
Thailand offers a digital nomad visa but with strict requirements.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
67%
Weight: 50
Growing infrastructure for nomads but still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
53%
Weight: 25
Some events but infrequent compared to larger hubs.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
61%
Weight: 20
Active but smaller online nomad communities.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
74%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for tourists and nomads; petty crime exists.
♀️ Female Friendly
70%
Weight: 50
Relatively safe and welcoming for female travelers.
✊ Racial Tolerance
65%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but occasional cultural misunderstandings.