For 2 and a half superb years, I had the pleasure of residing on the attractive island of Koh Samui, Thailand. To at the present time, I contemplate it my favourite place I’ve ever been to on earth (to this point). There are such a lot of execs to residing on Koh Samui, however, of course, there are some challenges as effectively.
Some of the professionals might sound apparent, however when spending time in a overseas nation, it’s necessary to not be blinded by the magical enchantment. The cons of residing in Koh Samui ought to all the time be thought-about, particularly if you happen to plan on staying there long-term.
15 Pros and Cons of Living in Koh Samui
After spending a considerable quantity of time in Koh Samui, I’ve lots of private expertise with life on the island. My checklist under comes from that non-public expertise, talking and befriending different expats, and creating relationships with the locals.
Thailand, general, is an unimaginable and distinctive nation – in my opinion, there really isn’t any different place prefer it. Right here’s my checklist of execs and cons of residing in Koh Samui:
What (The place) is Koh Samui?
Identified for its postcard-perfect seashores, laid-back vibes, posh resorts, and vibrant tradition, Koh Samui is understood to be a haven for backpackers, digital nomads, and vacationers alike. It is usually extremely popular amongst expats, particularly from Europe, the UK, Australia, and Russia.
Positioned off the jap coast of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is accessible by airport, ferry, and personal boat providers. The island is pretty small and can simply be pushed round through the loop highway, which is about 32 miles lengthy.
Pros of Living in Koh Samui
Koh Samui has been one of my favourite, if not my most favourite, locations I’ve ever lived. These are the professionals of residing in Koh Samui.
1. It’s Completely Gorgeous
One of the most important execs of residing in Koh Samui is that it’s breathtakingly stunning. It’s just like the areas you see in films and tropical screensavers. I even have the view from my bungalow tattooed on my arm – I cherished it a lot, I wished to see it ceaselessly!
The island has white sand seashores, lush rainforest, and tremendous clear turquoise waters – good for anybody who loves nature. However except for the seashore, inland, you’ll discover sprawling coconut groves, tons of waterfalls, and climbing trails.
Regardless of the place you might be on the island, you’ll simply be in awe of all of the pure magnificence.
2. Insanely Low cost Value of Living
One of the principle causes lots of expats head to Thailand, together with Koh Samui, is the extraordinarily inexpensive price of residing. In comparison with most Western international locations, Thailand’s housing, meals, and healthcare prices are very low.
After I was residing there, I had a one-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow with an unimaginable view, and paid $350/month, which is about common for a price range condo. Mid-range residences price round $600-$800/month.
Meals can also be extraordinarily low cost. I might go right down to the evening market and have a scrumptious meal for lower than $3. Shopping for meals from recent markets can also be very low cost in comparison with grocery retailer costs.
3. Thai Individuals are Extremely Good
Thailand is named the “Land of Smiles,” and the locals really ship. They’re tremendous pleasant, welcoming, and extremely heat. Regardless of often having a language barrier, communication and connection nonetheless appears to come back simply and feels real.
In some international locations, there are stereotypes of the locals being impolite or having disdain for overseas guests and expats. Thailand is unquestionably not one of these international locations. Regardless of the place you go, you’ll see smiling faces.
I discovered this to be an enormous professional of residing in Koh Samui as a result of I all the time felt welcome on the island. I additionally shortly made associates with some of the sweetest Thai women who ran a pop-up bar in the city of Lamai.
4. It has One thing for Everybody
What I completely cherished about residing in Koh Samui was the truth that it actually had one thing for everybody. Whether or not you’re searching for a calming setting or one full of journey, you’ll discover it on the island. You will discover every little thing from budget-friendly to posh and extravagant – there are loads of issues to do right here.
The most important metropolis on the island known as Chaweng, the place yow will discover nightclubs, seashore golf equipment, eating places, and buying. In the event you head south, the smaller city of Lamai has extra backpacker vibes, whereas providing a smaller but nonetheless vibrant nightlife.
I lived on the western facet of the island in the locals’ city of Nathon; it’s additionally the place most individuals arrive when coming through ferry. It’s quiet, it has a small city heart, and it’s about 45 minutes from Chaweng. You’ll additionally discover attractive resorts scattered all through the island.
5. Simple Entry to Different Nations
Relying on the kind of visa you may have when getting into the nation, you might need to depart Thailand each few months to resume it. Fortunately, Koh Samui has easy accessibility to different international locations like Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
The Koh Samui airport is positioned on the north facet of the island and is one of the cutest airports I’ve ever been to. Flights could be dearer from right here versus taking a ferry to the mainland and flying out from Surat Thani, however it’s tremendous handy.
Essentially the most budget-friendly possibility is to take a ferry, then a shuttle, to the Surat Thani airport. From there, you’ll be able to fly out to your vacation spot or take a brief flight as much as Bangkok, the place you’ll be able to catch a flight to virtually anyplace your coronary heart wishes.
6. The Meals is Completely Scrumptious
A serious profit of residing in Koh Samui is all of the scrumptious meals. You will discover cheap mouthwatering meals at evening markets, in addition to Michelin-star eating places with world-renowned cooks. Even the fussiest of eaters are positive to fall in love with the cusine right here.
The evening market meals was all the time my favourite throughout my keep. It was native delicacies, cooked with conventional substances and strategies, tremendous tasty, and all the time inexpensive. Plus, strolling across the markets was all the time a enjoyable sensory expertise.
Whenever you need one thing somewhat extra elevated, there are loads of different eating places and cuisines to be discovered. Italian and British eating places appear to be in style choices, however yow will discover every little thing from Indian, Greek, burger spots, and effective eating.
7. It’s Nice for Digital Nomads
Whereas I used to be residing in Koh Samui, I used to be nonetheless working on-line as a digital nomad. In actual fact, many expats who aren’t retirees are digital nomads, and there’s a improbable group of on-line staff.
I sometimes all the time had quick WiFi in my bungalow condo. Sometimes it might go down attributable to a storm, but when ever this occurred, I simply took a experience into city and was all the time capable of finding a restaurant or coworking house that also had a connection.
Some nice spots to work are Khan House, Natural Coworking Membership, and Desk and Chair.
8. The Climate is Tropical
An enormous perk to residing in Koh Samui is its heat, tropical climate. All through the complete yr, you’ll be able to count on temperatures with highs in the mid-80s °F and lows in the mid-70s °F. For me, it doesn’t get extra good than that.
Could is often the most well liked month, with December and January being the best. This implies year-round entry to seashores and suntans. It’s necessary to maintain in thoughts that since it’s a tropical local weather, it additionally comes with a wet and stormy season (extra on this under).
9. The Tradition is Palpable
One other factor I cherished about residing in Thailand was how robust the Thai tradition is. Whether or not it’s their faith (most Thai individuals are Buddhist), their clothes, their meals, or their celebrations, the Thai tradition could be felt to your core.
At evening markets, you’ll discover conventional dancing and singing, and there all the time appears to be a pageant of some kind occurring. My favourite festivals are the Songkran pageant, which is mainly a 3-day-long water battle, and the Loy Krathong pageant, the place individuals ship 1000’s of lanterns into the sky.
The Thai individuals even have lots of respect for his or her Buddhist faith and the monks that belong to the temple. You’ll typically discover monks strolling the streets and receiving flowers, meals, and items from the native individuals.
10. It’s Simple to Make Mates
Due to Koh Samui’s thriving expat and touring scenes, it’s extremely simple to make new associates once you’re out and about. Individuals from all around the world flock to this island, which already means you may have one thing in frequent!
Practically each time I went out, I’d strike up a dialog with a fellow nomad. I now have associates who reside all around the world that I nonetheless meet up with frequently.
Although many of the locals don’t communicate English, until you’re in extra of the heavily-touristed areas, most of the expats do. Due to English being such a common language, it’s simple to speak throughout your keep.
Cons of Living in Koh Samui
Regardless of my love for Koh Samui, it, of course, comes with its downfalls. These are some of the challenges and disadvantages of residing in Koh Samui.
1. It’s a Small Island
Earlier than contemplating a transfer to Koh Samui, you’ll need to preserve in thoughts that it’s fairly a small island. Island life is wonderful till it isn’t – it’s simple to really feel “caught” or out of choices for issues to do and locations to go.
It takes some time to get “bored” of Koh Samui as a result of there’s so a lot to see, however it may well occur. That’s why I all the time made it some extent to get off the island each couple of months. Whether or not that was to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan, as much as Bangkok, or one other nation, it helped to get off the island and into a brand new setting each now and once more.
2. The Climate could be Intense
In the course of the moist months of September by means of November, the climate can get fairly intense with rain and storms. Although it’s nonetheless heat out, there could be days on finish when the rain doesn’t cease.
After I knew a storm was going to be coming by means of, I’d all the time refill on meals and water as a result of I knew I wouldn’t need to drive round or be exterior for just a few days. We’re speaking downpours and robust, sideways wind.
One other draw back is that Koh Samui can typically fall in the trail of harmful typhoons. I fled as much as Bangkok for per week when a hurricane got here by means of as a result of I couldn’t danger being with out web.
3. Roads could be Harmful
Although it’s a small island with just one main ring highway, the driving situations in Koh Samui is usually a bit sketchy. Practically each expat can inform you a narrative about being in a motorcycle crash – together with myself.
Sadly, there are practically 3,000 accidents, involving principally bikes, each single yr. There tends to be a better quantity of accidents throughout main celebrations and festivals.
There’s a mix of scooters, bikes, automobiles, vehicles, songthaews, and different motor autos on the roads, many of which are inclined to disregard rushing and different driving legal guidelines. At all times preserve your eyes open, and all the time put on a helmet. Additionally, strive and keep away from driving at evening or in inclement climate.
4. Staying Lengthy-Time period could be Tough
The kind of visa you receive earlier than arriving in Koh Samui will decide how lengthy you’ll be able to keep on the island and in the nation. Many youthful (underneath 50) vacationers merely arrive on a vacationer visa that permits you 90 days of entry. After that, you’ll want to depart the nation earlier than you’ll be able to come again. Some individuals depart for a day (though it’s frowned upon), whereas others use it as a two or 3-week trip in a neighboring nation.
Many older expats use a retirement visa, permitting them long-term or everlasting stays. This often simply requires a set quantity of cash arrange in a Thai checking account.
Now you can additionally buy a long-term visa that lets you reside in Thailand for as much as ten years. The catch is that you just’ll have to show that you just remodeled $80,000 USD for the 2 years previous to making use of.
5. It Feels a Little Westernized
Regardless of the colourful Thai tradition, one of the cons of residing in Koh Samui is that it undoubtedly feels a bit Westernized in the larger cities of Chaweng, Mae Nam, and Bophut. You’ll see chain eating places like McDonald’s and Burger King – there’s even a Hooter’s!?
I understand that tourism brings in a ton of cash to the financial system of Koh Samui, however it’s considerably disappointing to see so many Western names and companies make such a press release on the island. I’m positive it offers a way of “house” for some individuals, however I discovered it somewhat annoying. For these of you in want of the occasional creature consolation, this may increasingly truly be a professional for you!
Is Living in Koh Samui Value It?
Total, residing in Koh Samui is a really magical and life-changing expertise. Regardless of the cons, the professionals of residing in Koh Samui far outweigh them. In the event you ever get the possibility to spend time on this stunning island, I extremely advocate it.