Koh TaovsSurat Thani
💰
Surat Thani saves you $550/month
46% cheaper on rent, food & transport
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Koh Tao
Surat Thani
Total Budget
$1,200/mo
$650/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$450/mo
$190/mo ✓
Coworking
$100/mo
$55/mo ✓
Meal Out
$3
$2 ✓
Coffee
$3
$1.8 ✓
Surat Thani is $550/mo cheaper (85% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇹🇭 Koh Tao
📶 Internet50 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇹🇭 Surat Thani
📶 Internet50-100 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 Tao
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp28°C
Rainy Days197/year
Best months: January, March, February, April
Surat Thani
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days228/year
Best months: January, February, March
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
27°26°
Apr
29°29°
Jul
28°27°
Oct
27°26°
Koh TaoSurat Thani
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇹🇭Koh Tao
🇹🇭Surat Thani
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,200
$650
Winner📶
Internet Speed
50 Mbps
50 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
3.5/5
3.8/5
⭐
Nomad Score
3.9/10
Winner3.5/10
🍽️
Food Scene
7/10
8/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
Winner4/10
🚶
Walkability
5/10
5/10
👥
Community
small
small
2
Koh Tao wins
vs
1
Surat Thani wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Surat Thani
$550/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Either works
Both cities are similarly safe
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Koh Tao
World-famous nightlife scene
🇹🇭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
🇹🇭Surat Thani
Pros
- +Extremely affordable cost of living
- +Gateway to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao islands
- +Khao Sok National Park nearby
- +Authentic Thai culture without tourist crowds
Cons
- −Small digital nomad community
- −Limited coworking space options
- −Hot and humid year-round climate
- −Heavy monsoon rains May-November
