Koh LantavsPai
💰
Pai saves you $1,450/month
71% cheaper on rent, food & transport
📶
Koh Lanta has 2x faster internet
150 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Tropical Wet vs Tropical Monsoon climate
Different weather patterns year-round
🛂
Thailand offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Koh Lanta
Pai
Total Budget
$2,050/mo
$600/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$900/mo
$180/mo ✓
Coworking
$220/mo
$80/mo ✓
Meal Out
$3
$2 ✓
Coffee
$2.5
$1.5 ✓
Pai is $1,450/mo cheaper (242% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇹🇭 Koh Lanta
📶 Internet150 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇹🇭 Pai
📶 Internet100 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Koh Lanta
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days227/year
Best months: January, February, March, December
Pai
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp24°C
Rainy Days183/year
Best months: March, January, February, April
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
27°20°
Apr
28°28°
Jul
28°26°
Oct
27°25°
Koh LantaPai
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇹🇭Koh Lanta
🇹🇭Pai
💰
Monthly Budget
$2,050
$600
Winner📶
Internet Speed
150 Mbps
Winner100 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
3.8/5
4.5/5
Winner⭐
Nomad Score
4/10
4.2/10
🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
8/10
🎉
Nightlife
6/10
5/10
🚶
Walkability
5/10
8/10
Winner👥
Community
medium
Winnersmall
2
Koh Lanta wins
vs
3
Pai wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Pai
$1450/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Koh Lanta
150 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Koh Lanta
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
Pai
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇹🇭Koh Lanta
Pros
- +Tropical island lifestyle with long sandy beaches, sunsets and laid-back vibe
- +Lower cost of living than Western cities while still offering decent infrastructure and healthcare access
- +Established digital nomad community centred around KoHub, COWORX and other workspaces
- +Fast fibre internet available via Thai ISPs, with 1 Gbps at KoHub and strong 4G/5G coverage in popular areas
Cons
- −Rainy season from May to October can bring frequent showers, choppy seas and occasional power or internet hiccups
- −You usually need a scooter or tuk-tuk to get around as beaches and villages are spread out
- −Infrastructure is more limited than mainland hubs – fewer malls, hospitals and cultural venues
- −Some areas are very seasonal, with venues closing or running reduced hours in green season
🇹🇭Pai
Pros
- +Ultra-low cost of living under $600/month possible
- +Stunning mountain scenery and natural landscapes
- +Strong sense of community among travelers and nomads
- +Excellent cafes with good WiFi for remote work
Cons
- −Limited healthcare facilities serious issues require Chiang Mai
- −Burning season Feb-Apr causes severe air pollution
- −3-hour winding road from Chiang Mai can cause motion sickness
- −Limited nightlife compared to larger cities
