For 2 and a fifty percent wonderful years, I had the satisfaction of living on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, Thailand. To this particular day, I consider it my favored area I’ve ever before been to in the world (up until now). There are a lot of pros to surviving Koh Samui, yet, of program, there are some difficulties too.
Some of the pros may appear apparent, yet when hanging around in an international nation, it’s important not to be blinded by the wonderful allure. The cons of living in Koh Samui need to constantly be thought about, particularly if you intend on remaining there long-lasting.
15 Pros and Cons of Living in Koh Samui
After investing a significant quantity of time in Koh Samui, I have a great deal of individual experience with life on the island. My listed here originates from that individual experience, talking and befriending various other deportees, and developing partnerships with the citizens.
Thailand, in general, is an unbelievable and distinct nation – in my point of view, there really is nothing else area like it. Here’s my checklist of pros and cons of living in Koh Samui:
What (Where) is Koh Samui?
Known for its postcard-perfect coastlines, easygoing feelings, classy hotels, and dynamic society, Koh Samui is recognized to be a place for backpackers, electronic wanderers, and travelers alike. It is likewise popular among deportees, particularly from Europe, the UK, Australia, and Russia.
Located off the eastern shore of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui comes by flight terminal, ferryboat, and exclusive watercraft solutions. The island is relatively little and can conveniently be driven around by means of the loophole roadway, which has to do with 32 miles long.
Pros of Living in Koh Samui
Koh Samui has actually been one of my favored, otherwise my most favored, locations I’ve ever before lived. These are the pros of living in Koh Samui.
1. It’s Absolutely Stunning
One of the most significant pros of living in Koh Samui is that it’s breathtakingly gorgeous. It’s like the areas you see in flicks and exotic screensavers. I also have the sight from my cottage tattooed on my arm – I liked it a lot, I intended to see it for life!
The island has white sand coastlines, rich jungle, and incredibly clear blue-green waters – excellent for any individual that enjoys nature. But apart from the coastline, inland, you’ll locate vast coconut groves, whole lots of waterfalls, and treking routes.
No issue where you get on the island, you’ll simply be in wonder of all of the all-natural elegance.
2. Insanely Cheap Cost of Living
One of the primary factors a great deal of expats head to Thailand, consisting of Koh Samui, is the very cost effective expense of living. Compared to a lot of Western nations, Thailand’s real estate, food, and medical care prices are extremely reduced.
When I was living there, I had a one-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage with an unbelievable sight, and paid $350/month, which has to do with standard for a budget plan home. Mid-array apartment or condos set you back around $600-$800/month.
Food is likewise very low-cost. I can drop to the evening market and have a tasty dish for much less than $3. Buying food from fresh markets is likewise extremely low-cost contrasted to supermarket costs.
3. Thai People are Incredibly Nice
Thailand is referred to as the “Land of Smiles,” and the citizens really provide. They are incredibly pleasant, inviting, and extremely cozy. Despite normally having a language obstacle, interaction and link still appears ahead conveniently and really feels authentic.
In some nations, there are stereotypes of the citizens being disrespectful or having antipathy for international site visitors and deportees. Thailand is absolutely not one of those nations. No issue where you go, you’ll see grinning faces.
I discovered this to be a massive pro of living in Koh Samui due to the fact that I constantly really felt welcome on the island. I likewise rapidly made good friends with some of the sweetest Thai women that ran a pop-up bar in the community of Lamai.
4. It has Something for Everyone
What I definitely liked regarding living in Koh Samui was the truth that it truly had something for every person. Whether you’re searching for an enjoyable setting or one complete of experience, you’ll locate it on the island. You can locate every little thing from affordable to classy and luxurious – there are plenty of points to do below.
The biggest city on the island is called Chaweng, where you can locate clubs, coastline clubs, dining establishments, and purchasing. If you head southern, the smaller sized community of Lamai has even more backpacker feelings, while providing a smaller sized yet still dynamic night life.
I survived on the western side of the island in the citizens’ community of Nathon; it’s likewise where most individuals show up when coming by means of ferryboat. It’s peaceful, it has a town facility, and it’s about 45 mins from Chaweng. You’ll likewise locate beautiful hotels spread throughout the island.
5. Easy Access to Other Countries
Depending on the kind of visa you have when going into the nation, you may need to leave Thailand every couple of months to restore it. Thankfully, Koh Samui has simple accessibility to various other nations like Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
The Koh Samui flight terminal lies on the north side of the island and is one of the prettiest airport terminals I’ve ever before been to. Flights can be much more costly from below versus taking a ferryboat to the landmass and flying out from Surat Thani, yet it’s incredibly hassle-free.
The most affordable choice is to take a ferryboat, after that a shuttle bus, to the Surat Thani flight terminal. From there, you can fly bent on your location or take a brief trip approximately Bangkok, where you can capture a trip to virtually anywhere your heart wishes.
6. The Food is Absolutely Delicious
A significant advantage of living in Koh Samui is all of the tasty food. You can locate economical mouthwatering food during the night markets, in addition to Michelin-celebrity dining establishments with world-renowned cooks. Even the fussiest of eaters make sure to drop in enjoy with the cusine below.
The evening market food was constantly my favored throughout my keep. It was regional food, prepared with typical components and methods, incredibly delicious, and constantly cost effective. Plus, walking the marketplaces was constantly an enjoyable sensory experience.
When you desire something a little bit higher, there are plenty of various other dining establishments and foods to be discovered. Italian and British dining establishments appear to be prominent alternatives, yet you can locate every little thing from Indian, Greek, hamburger places, and great eating.
7. It’s Great for Digital Nomads
While I was living in Koh Samui, I was still functioning online as an electronic wanderer. In truth, lots of deportees that aren’t senior citizens are electronic wanderers, and there’s an amazing neighborhood of on the internet employees.
I generally constantly had quick Wi-fi in my cottage home. Occasionally it would certainly drop because of a tornado, yet if ever before this occurred, I simply took an adventure right into community and was constantly able to locate a coffee shop or coworking room that still had a link.
Some excellent places to function are Khan Space, Organic Coworking Club, and Desk and Chair.
8. The Weather is Tropical
A significant perk to living in Koh Samui is its cozy, exotic weather condition. Throughout the whole year, you can anticipate temperature levels with highs in the mid-80s °F and lows in the mid-70s °F. For me, it doesn’t obtain even more excellent than that.
May is normally the best month, with December and January being the coolest. This implies year-round accessibility to coastlines and suntans. It’s vital to maintain in mind that considering that it is an exotic environment, it likewise includes a wet and rainy period (much more on this listed below).
9. The Culture is Palpable
Another point I liked around living in Thailand was just how solid the Thai society is. Whether it’s their faith (most Thai individuals are Buddhist), their apparel, their food, or their events, the Thai society can be really felt to your core.
At evening markets, you’ll locate typical dance and vocal singing, and there constantly appears to be an event of some kind taking place. My favored events are the Songkran event, which is essentially a 3-day-long water battle, and the Loy Krathong event, where individuals send out thousands of lights right into the skies.
The Thai individuals likewise have a great deal of regard for their Buddhist faith and the monks that come from the holy place. You’ll commonly locate monks strolling the roads and obtaining blossoms, food, and presents from the regional individuals.
10. It’s Easy to Make Friends
Thanks to Koh Samui’s growing deportee and taking a trip scenes, it’s extremely simple to make brand-new good friends when you’re out and around. People from throughout the globe group to this island, which currently implies you have something in usual!
Nearly whenever I headed out, I would certainly strike up a discussion with a fellow wanderer. I currently have good friends that live throughout the globe that I still overtake frequently.
Even though lots of of the citizens don’t talk English, unless you’re in much more of the heavily-touristed locations, a lot of of the deportees do. Thanks to English being such a universal language, it’s simple to interact throughout your keep.
Cons of Living in Koh Samui
Despite my love for Koh Samui, it, of program, includes its failures. These are some of the difficulties and downsides of living in Koh Samui.
1. It’s a Small Island
Before thinking about a relocate to Koh Samui, you’ll intend to maintain in mind that it’s fairly a tiny island. Island life is outstanding till it isn’t – it’s simple to really feel “stuck” or out of alternatives for points to do and positions to go.
It takes a while to obtain “bored” of Koh Samui due to the fact that there’s so a lot to see, yet it can occur. That’s why I constantly made it an indicate leave the island every pair of months. Whether that was to the nearby island of Koh Phangan, approximately Bangkok, or one more nation, it aided to leave the island and right into a brand-new setting every currently and once more.
2. The Weather can be Intense
During the damp months of September with November, the weather condition can obtain rather extreme with rainfall and tornados. Even though it’s still cozy out, there can be days at a time when the rainfall doesn’t quit.
When I recognized a tornado was mosting likely to be coming with, I would certainly constantly stockpile on food and water due to the fact that I recognized I wouldn’t intend to drive about or be outdoors for a couple of days. We’re chatting rainstorms and solid, sideways wind.
Another disadvantage is that Koh Samui can commonly drop in the course of harmful tropical cyclones. I got away approximately Bangkok for a week when a hurricane came with due to the fact that I couldn’t run the risk of lacking net.
3. Roads can be Dangerous
Even though it’s a tiny island with just one significant ring roadway, the driving problems in Koh Samui can be a little bit questionable. Nearly every deportee can inform you a tale regarding being in a motorcycle accident – including myself.
Sadly, there are almost 3,000 crashes, entailing mainly motorbikes, each and every single year. There has a tendency to be a greater number of crashes throughout significant events and events.
There’s a mix of mobility scooters, motorbikes, vehicles, vehicles, songthaews, and various other automobile when driving, lots of of which often tend to overlook speeding and various other driving regulations. Always maintain your eyes open, and constantly use a safety helmet. Also, shot and prevent driving at evening or in harsh weather condition.
4. Staying Long-Term can be Difficult
The kind of visa you acquire prior to showing up in Koh Samui will certainly identify the length of time you can remain on the island and in the nation. Many more youthful (under 50) vacationers merely show up on a traveler visa that permits you 90 days of entrance. After that, you’ll require to leave the nation prior to you can return. Some individuals leave for a day (although it’s discredited), while others utilize it as a 2 or 3-week trip in a nearby nation.
Many older deportees utilize a retired life visa, enabling them long-lasting or long-term keeps. This normally simply needs a collection quantity of cash established in a Thai savings account.
You can currently likewise acquire a long-lasting visa that permits you to live in Thailand for approximately 10 years. The catch is that you’ll require to verify that you transformed $80,000 USD for both years before using.
5. It Feels a Little Westernized
Despite the dynamic Thai society, one of the cons of living in Koh Samui is that it absolutely really feels a little bit Westernized in the larger cities of Chaweng, Mae Nam, and Bophut. You’ll see chain dining establishments like McDonald’s and Burger King – there’s also a Hooter’s!?
I recognize that tourist brings in a heap of cash to the economic situation of Koh Samui, yet it’s rather frustrating to see a lot of Western names and companies make such a declaration on the island. I’m sure it offers a feeling of “home” for some individuals, yet I discovered it a little irritating. For those of you in demand of the periodic animal convenience, this might in fact be a pro for you!
Is Living in Koh Samui Worth It?
Overall, living in Koh Samui is an absolutely wonderful and life-altering experience. Despite the cons, the pros of living in Koh Samui much surpass them. If you ever before obtain the opportunity to hang out on this gorgeous island, I extremely advise it.
