At a glance
 TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Country | Thailand | Thailand |
| Nomad score | 7.7 / 10 | 6.9 / 10 |
| Cost of living | $1,348 / mo | $2,163 / mo |
| Internet speed | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Weather now | 33° / 24°C | 29° / 25°C |
| Air quality (AQI) | 52 Moderate | 36 Good |
Climate averages
Yearly averages of monthly climate data
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 30.5°C | 29.8°C |
| Average low | 21.4°C | 25.4°C |
| Precipitation | 184 mm / mo | 130 mm / mo |
| Sunshine | 302 h / mo | 296 h / mo |
| Humidity | 74% | 79% |
| Rain days | 14.8 / mo | 18.3 / mo |
| Wind speed | 9.3 km/h | 16.2 km/h |
TH
Chiang Mai · average high by month
J 27
F 30
M 34
A 35
M 33
J 31
J 30
A 30
S 30
O 30
N 29
D 28
TH
Koh Samui · average high by month
J 28
F 29
M 30
A 31
M 31
J 32
J 31
A 31
S 30
O 29
N 28
D 28
Air quality
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| US AQI | 52 | 36 |
| PM2.5 | 10.8 µg/m³ | 5.2 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 11 µg/m³ | 7.5 µg/m³ |
| Ozone | 155 µg/m³ | 81 µg/m³ |
| UV index | 7.8 | 9.3 |
Business & Economy
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Blockchain & Crypto Adoption | 5.7 | 4.5 |
| Local Payment Services | 7.7 | 6.7 |
| Startup Scene | 5.7 | 3.9 |
Climate & Environment
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioning | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| Green Spaces | 6.2 | 7.1 |
| Natural Disaster Risk | 5.5 | 6.2 |
| Noise Pollution | 4.9 | 5.3 |
| Seasonal Variety | 5.5 | 3.6 |
| Weather | 6.2 | 6.8 |
Connectivity
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Network Coverage | 8.8 | 8.3 |
| Power Grid Reliability | 8.1 | 7.6 |
| Public WiFi Availability | 6.9 | 5.9 |
| VPN Reliability | 7.0 | 7.7 |
Cost & Affordability
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Cost | 7.6 | 6.4 |
| Cost of Living | 8.0 | 6.9 |
| Currency Stability | 6.7 | 7.2 |
| Entertainment Cost | 7.5 | 6.6 |
| Food & Groceries | 8.5 | 7.2 |
| Gym Membership Cost | 7.1 | 6.4 |
| Transportation Cost | 8.0 | 6.0 |
Culture & Entertainment
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Culture | 8.6 | 6.3 |
| Indoors Fun | 7.1 | 4.8 |
| Language Learning Opportunities | 7.1 | 4.7 |
| Local Experiences & Tours | 8.6 | 7.7 |
| Nightlife | 6.9 | 7.8 |
| Outdoors & Nature | 8.6 | 8.6 |
Digital Nomad Community
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Nomad Events & Meetups | 8.5 | 6.0 |
| Nomad Friendly | 9.2 | 7.7 |
| Online Community Presence | 8.3 | 5.8 |
Digital Nomad Essentials
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Cafes with WiFi | 9.1 | 8.0 |
| Coworking Spaces Availability | 8.8 | 7.5 |
| Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes | 8.8 | 7.2 |
| Digital Nomad Popularity | 9.4 | 7.0 |
| Internet Speed | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| Local SIM Card Availability | 9.4 | 9.0 |
Food & Fitness
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Fitness Facilities | 8.2 | 7.3 |
| Food Scene | 9.0 | 7.7 |
| Healthy Food Options | 8.7 | 8.0 |
| Yoga Studios | 8.8 | 8.3 |
Healthcare
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 8.1 | 7.1 |
| Healthcare Affordability | 8.3 | 7.7 |
| Healthcare Quality | 7.9 | 6.8 |
Legal & Administrative
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Digital Nomad Visa Availability | 8.7 | 7.1 |
| Ease of Business Registration | 4.1 | 3.9 |
| Ease of Opening Bank Account | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| Freedom of Speech | 5.4 | 4.2 |
| Political Stability | 3.7 | 6.4 |
| Tax Friendliness | 6.1 | 5.5 |
| Visa Ease | 6.8 | 7.0 |
Quality of Life
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | 6.4 | 7.1 |
| Cleanliness | 5.5 | 6.5 |
| Environmental Quality | 4.8 | 7.1 |
| Family Friendly | 7.2 | 7.0 |
| Language Barrier | 5.8 | 6.6 |
| Work-Life Balance | 8.2 | 8.1 |
Safety & Tolerance
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Female Friendly | 8.0 | 7.8 |
| Racial Tolerance | 7.7 | 7.4 |
| Safety | 8.5 | 8.0 |
Transportation
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Airport Connectivity | 7.4 | 6.4 |
| Cycling | 4.7 | 3.2 |
| Intercity Travel Options | 7.0 | 5.7 |
| Public Transit | 3.5 | 3.1 |
| Ride-sharing Services | 7.8 | 6.0 |
| Scooter/Bike Rental Availability | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Walkability | 6.0 | 3.9 |
Work Environment
Scores out of 10
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Coworking Quality | 8.4 | 6.0 |
| Freelance Ecosystem | 7.6 | 4.9 |
| Networking Opportunities | 8.5 | 5.8 |
| Remote Job Opportunities | 5.3 | 4.7 |
| Time Zone Favorability | 5.5 | 7.2 |
Clothing
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Jeans | $38 per pair | $67 per pair |
| Summer Dress | $36 per dress | $37 per dress |
| Running Shoes | $94 per pair | $97 per pair |
Dining Out
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Dining Out | $76 per month | $91 per month |
Entertainment
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Cinema Ticket | $7.75 per ticket | $7.62 per ticket |
Food & Dining
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Coffee | $3.88 per cup | $2.89 per cup |
| Beer | $2.42 per pint | $2.59 per pint |
| Meal (Inexpensive) | $1.99 per meal | $3.66 per meal |
| Fast Food Combo | $7.01 per meal | $7.62 per meal |
| Meal (Mid-range, 2 people) | $20 per meal | $46 per meal |
| Apples | $1.09 per kg | $3.35 per kg |
| Bread | $1.67 per loaf | $1.68 per loaf |
| Water (1.5L bottle) | $0.48 per bottle | $0.61 per bottle |
| Milk | $1.85 per liter | $1.83 per liter |
| Rice | $1.15 per kg | $1.37 per kg |
| Chicken Fillets | $2.45 per kg | $6.40 per kg |
| Beef | $5.82 per kg | $17 per kg |
| Wine (Mid-range) | $17 per bottle | $23 per bottle |
Groceries
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $125 per month | $152 per month |
Health Insurance
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Health Insurance | $24 per month | $15 per month |
Healthcare
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Visit (GP) | $19 per visit | $55 per visit |
| Pharmacy (basic meds) | $1.23 per purchase | $5.48 per purchase |
Housing
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) | $358 per month | $564 per month |
| Housing | $358 per month | $259 per month |
| Coworking Space | $94 per month | $198 per month |
| Airbnb (1 month) | $596 per month | $1,371 per month |
| Coliving Space | $298 per month | $853 per month |
Internet & Mobile
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Internet & Mobile | $30 per month | $20 per month |
Leisure Activities
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Leisure Activities | $77 per month | $30 per month |
Personal Care
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Haircut | $4.23 per visit | $14 per visit |
| Laundry | $1.49 per kg | $1.52 per kg |
Services
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Plan | $11 per month | $18 per month |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | $19 per month | $23 per month |
| SIM Card (Tourist, prepaid) | $8.92 one-time | $15 one-time |
| Gym Membership | $60 per month | $67 per month |
| Tennis Court (Weekend) | $12 per hour | $15 per hour |
Transportation
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Taxi Start | $1.04 per trip | $6.09 per trip |
| Transportation | $49 per month | $46 per month |
| Taxi per km | $0.19 per km | $1.52 per km |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $25 per month | $46 per month |
| Ride-hailing (5km) | $2.42 per trip | $11 per trip |
| Gasoline | $1.51 per liter | $1.28 per liter |
| Scooter Rental | $87 per month | $107 per month |
Utilities
Local prices in US dollars
|
TH
Chiang Mai
|
TH
Koh Samui
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | $39 per month | $37 per month |