Koh SamuivsKoh Tao
📶
Koh Samui has 2x faster internet
80 Mbps avg download speed
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Koh Samui
Koh Tao
Total Budget
$1,400/mo
$1,200/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$450/mo
$450/mo
Coworking
$190/mo
$100/mo ✓
Meal Out
$2 ✓
$3
Coffee
$3
$3
Koh Tao is $200/mo cheaper (17% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
📶 Internet80 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇹🇭 Koh Tao
📶 Internet50 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 Samui
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp25°C
Rainy Days218/year
Best months: February, March, April
Koh Tao
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp28°C
Rainy Days197/year
Best months: January, March, February, April
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
24°27°
Apr
27°29°
Jul
26°28°
Oct
25°27°
Koh SamuiKoh Tao
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇹🇭Koh Samui
🇹🇭Koh Tao
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,400
$1,200
Winner📶
Internet Speed
80 Mbps
Winner50 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
3.8/5
3.5/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.1/10
3.9/10
🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
7/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
7/10
🚶
Walkability
3/10
5/10
Winner👥
Community
medium
Winnersmall
2
Koh Samui wins
vs
2
Koh Tao wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Koh Tao
$200/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Koh Samui
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
Either works
Both cities are similarly safe
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇹🇭Koh Samui
Pros
- +Beautiful tropical beaches crystal-clear waters year-round
- +More affordable than Phuket with similar island lifestyle
- +Reliable fiber internet across most areas
- +DTV visa available for long-term stays up to 5 years
Cons
- −Taxi mafia makes transport expensive without scooter
- −Smaller nomad community compared to Chiang Mai or Bali
- −Rainy season October-November can be intense
- −Limited walkability between areas need transport
🇹🇭Koh Tao
Pros
- +World capital of scuba diving with affordable PADI certifications
- +Stunning beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters perfect for snorkeling
- +Very affordable cost of living with budget-friendly accommodation
- +Small compact island means everything is easily accessible
Cons
- −Controversial safety reputation due to past mysterious tourist deaths
- −Power outages are common and can disrupt remote work productivity
- −Limited coworking options compared to larger destinations
- −Scooter is essential as there is no public transport on island
