Surat Thani, Thailand 🇹🇭
#1843
,
Nomad Score:
64%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Surat Thani offers a low cost of living compared to major Thai cities and Western standards, making it very affordable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
89%
Weight: 80
Affordable rental options including apartments and guesthouses, with prices significantly lower than Bangkok or Chiang Mai.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and street food provide cheap and fresh options; groceries are affordable but imported goods cost more.
🚌 Transportation Cost
83%
Weight: 20
Public transport and motorbike rentals are inexpensive; taxis and ride-sharing are available but less common.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
76%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment options keep costs low but also limit variety.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
72%
Weight: 10
Gyms are available but fewer in number; memberships are affordable but facilities may be basic.
💱 Currency Stability
78%
Weight: 30
Thai Baht is relatively stable with moderate fluctuations; suitable for medium-term stays.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
69%
Weight: 100
Internet is generally reliable with speeds around 20-50 Mbps; fiber is limited outside city center.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
41%
Weight: 40
Few coworking spaces exist; most nomads rely on cafes or work remotely from accommodations.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
73%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but quality and speed vary; not as abundant as in larger cities.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
50%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes catering specifically to digital nomads; atmosphere can be noisy or crowded.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
38%
Weight: 100
Surat Thani is not a well-known digital nomad hub, with few nomads choosing it as a base.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85%
Weight: 25
Easy to purchase and affordable SIM cards with good data packages.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
79%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with access to nature supports good work-life balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Generally good air and water quality; some pollution near urban areas.
🧼 Cleanliness
65%
Weight: 10
Moderate cleanliness; public areas can be littered but improving.
🗨️ Language Barrier
43%
Weight: 30
Limited English spoken outside tourist areas; basic Thai knowledge recommended.
💨 Air Quality
71%
Weight: 15
Air quality is generally good, though occasional haze during dry season.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
55%
Weight: 25
Basic family amenities exist but limited international schools and activities.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
68%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare facilities available; for advanced care, travel to larger cities needed.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
82%
Weight: 25
Medical services are affordable compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
69%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; serious conditions require travel to Surat or Bangkok.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
76%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with hot, humid weather and a pronounced rainy season from May to October.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
62%
Weight: 10
Low risk of earthquakes or typhoons; occasional flooding during monsoon season.
🏞️ Green Spaces
78%
Weight: 10
Access to parks and nearby natural attractions including islands and national parks.
❄️ Air Conditioning
80%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations and public places, essential due to tropical heat.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
35%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with little seasonal variation aside from wet and dry seasons.
🔊 Noise Pollution
58%
Weight: 10
Moderate noise levels; some areas near markets or roads can be noisy.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
74%
Weight: 20
Rich local culture with traditional festivals and friendly communities.
🌃 Nightlife
42%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly small bars and local venues.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
85%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, islands, waterfalls, and hiking opportunities.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
51%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; informal learning possible through locals.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
73%
Weight: 10
Good variety of tours including island hopping, cultural visits, and nature excursions.
🎳 Indoors Fun
40%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options such as cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
79%
Weight: 25
Strong local Thai cuisine presence with fresh seafood and street food.
🧠 Yoga Studios
37%
Weight: 10
Few dedicated yoga studios; some fitness centers offer classes.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms available; limited variety of fitness classes.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
68%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits and vegetables widely available; healthy eating possible but limited organic options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
74%
Weight: 20
GMT+7 timezone is convenient for Asia-Pacific and some European remote work schedules.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
32%
Weight: 25
Few formal networking events or communities for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
28%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is limited; most nomads rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
30%
Weight: 20
Minimal local freelance ecosystem; mostly informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
35%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces with basic facilities; not comparable to major cities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
20%
Weight: 15
Very limited startup activity in Surat Thani.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Mobile payment apps like PromptPay are common; cash still widely used.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but limited local infrastructure or businesses accepting crypto.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
65%
Weight: 30
Surat Thani Airport offers domestic flights and some international connections, mainly to nearby countries.
🚇 Public Transit
48%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; mainly songthaews and motorbike taxis.
🚶 Walkability
52%
Weight: 20
City center is moderately walkable but infrastructure is basic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
50%
Weight: 15
Grab operates but less prevalent than in Bangkok or Chiang Mai.
🚲 Cycling
45%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; roads can be busy and unsafe for cyclists.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good bus and train connections to other parts of Thailand; ferry access to islands.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
84%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals are widely available and affordable, popular among locals and tourists.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout city and surrounding areas; 5G limited.
🔒 VPN Reliability
78%
Weight: 20
VPN services work reliably; no significant government restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Generally stable power supply with occasional outages during storms.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited and often unreliable; cafes provide better access.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
67%
Weight: 40
Thailand offers tourist visas and extensions; digital nomad visa options limited but improving.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Tax system is moderate; foreigners must understand local regulations to avoid issues.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
60%
Weight: 15
Moderate freedom of speech with some restrictions on political topics.
🏛️ Political Stability
65%
Weight: 20
Generally stable but occasional political unrest in Thailand can affect the region.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Possible for foreigners but requires documentation and can be bureaucratic.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
40%
Weight: 10
Complex process for foreigners; requires local partners or legal assistance.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
45%
Weight: 35
Thailand has introduced some long-stay visas but specific digital nomad visas are limited.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Basic amenities for nomads exist but lacks community and infrastructure compared to bigger hubs.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
30%
Weight: 25
Very few organized events or meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
40%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence or groups focused on Surat Thani digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
72%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
65%
Weight: 50
Moderately female-friendly; cultural norms should be respected.
✊ Racial Tolerance
68%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant and welcoming to foreigners.