Ko Samui vs Phuket — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
Ko Samui
Thailand
COL Index
42
affordable
Phuket
Thailand
COL Index
40
affordable
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Phuket edges out Ko Samui on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 40 vs 42 (affordable vs affordable). Phuket scores higher on safety (null/100), and Phuket wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Ko Samui takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .
* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.
Metric
Ko Samui
Phuket
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
$750
$700
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
$520
$480
NoodlePants COL Index
42
40
Safety Score
—
—
Internet Speed
—
—
Nomad Score
—
—
Healthcare Score
—
—
Digital Nomad Visa
Not available
Not available
Who is each city for?
Ko Samui is better for…
See the Thailand country profilePhuket is better for…
See the Thailand country profileSee full city data — neighbourhood breakdowns, internet speeds & coworking scores
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