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 date). There are such a lot of professionals to residing on Koh Samui, however, in fact, there are some challenges as properly.
A few of the professionals may appear apparent, however when spending time out of the country, it’s essential to not be blinded by the magical attraction. The cons of residing in Koh Samui ought to at all times be thought-about, particularly in the event you plan on staying there long-term.
15 Execs and Cons of Residing in Koh Samui
After spending a considerable period of time in Koh Samui, I’ve plenty of private expertise with life on the island. My listing under comes from that private expertise, talking and befriending different expats, and creating relationships with the locals.
Thailand, general, is an unimaginable and distinctive nation – for my part, there really isn’t any different place prefer it. Right here’s my listing of professionals and cons of residing in Koh Samui:
What (The place) is Koh Samui?
Recognized 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. Additionally it is highly regarded amongst expats, particularly from Europe, the UK, Australia, and Russia.
Situated off the jap coast of Thailand within the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is accessible by airport, ferry, and personal boat companies. The island is pretty small and might simply be pushed round through the loop street, which is about 32 miles lengthy.
Execs of Residing in Koh Samui
Koh Samui has been one in every 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 Beautiful
One of many largest professionals of residing in Koh Samui is that it’s breathtakingly stunning. It’s just like the places you see in films and tropical screensavers. I even have the view from my bungalow tattooed on my arm – I beloved it a lot, I wished to see it without end!
The island has white sand seashores, lush rainforest, and tremendous clear turquoise waters – good for anybody who loves nature. However except for the seaside, inland, you’ll discover sprawling coconut groves, a number of waterfalls, and mountaineering trails.
Irrespective of the place you might be on the island, you’ll simply be in awe of the entire pure magnificence.
2. Insanely Low cost Price of Residing
One of many primary causes plenty of expats head to Thailand, together with Koh Samui, is the extraordinarily inexpensive price of residing. In comparison with most Western nations, Thailand’s housing, meals, and healthcare prices are very low.
Once 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 finances residence. Mid-range residences price round $600-$800/month.
Meals can be extraordinarily low cost. I may go right down to the evening market and have a scrumptious meal for lower than $3. Shopping for meals from recent markets can be very low cost in comparison with grocery retailer costs.
3. Thai Persons 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 return simply and feels real.
In some nations, there are stereotypes of the locals being impolite or having disdain for overseas guests and expats. Thailand is unquestionably not a kind of nations. Irrespective 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 at all times felt welcome on the island. I additionally rapidly made associates with among the sweetest Thai women who ran a pop-up bar within the city of Lamai.
4. It has One thing for Everybody
What I completely beloved 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 atmosphere or one filled with journey, you’ll discover it on the island. Yow will discover all the things from budget-friendly to posh and lavish – there are many issues to do right here.
The biggest metropolis on the island is known as Chaweng, the place you could find nightclubs, seaside golf equipment, eating places, and purchasing. For those who 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 within 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 International locations
Relying on the kind of visa you will have when coming into the nation, you may need to depart Thailand each few months to resume it. Fortunately, Koh Samui has easy accessibility to different nations like Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
The Koh Samui airport is situated on the north facet of the island and is without doubt one of the cutest airports I’ve ever been to. Flights may be dearer from right here versus taking a ferry to the mainland and flying out from Surat Thani, nevertheless it’s tremendous handy.
Probably the most budget-friendly possibility is to take a ferry, then a shuttle, to the Surat Thani airport. From there, you may fly out to your vacation spot or take a brief flight as much as Bangkok, the place you may catch a flight to nearly wherever your coronary heart needs.
6. The Meals is Completely Scrumptious
A serious good thing about residing in Koh Samui is the entire scrumptious meals. Yow 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 certain to fall in love with the cusine right here.
The evening market meals was at all times my favourite throughout my keep. It was native delicacies, cooked with conventional components and methods, tremendous tasty, and at all times inexpensive. Plus, strolling across the markets was at all times a enjoyable sensory expertise.
If you need one thing a bit of extra elevated, there are many different eating places and cuisines to be discovered. Italian and British eating places appear to be common choices, however you could find all the things from Indian, Greek, burger spots, and tremendous 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. The truth is, many expats who aren’t retirees are digital nomads, and there’s a incredible group of on-line staff.
I usually at all times had quick WiFi in my bungalow residence. Often it could go down because of a storm, but when ever this occurred, I simply took a journey into city and was at all times capable of finding a restaurant or coworking area 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 whole yr, you may anticipate temperatures with highs within the mid-80s °F and lows within the mid-70s °F. For me, it doesn’t get extra good than that.
Might is often the most popular month, with December and January being the best. This implies year-round entry to seashores and suntans. It’s essential to needless to say 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 beloved about residing in Thailand was how sturdy the Thai tradition is. Whether or not it’s their faith (most Thai persons are Buddhist), their clothes, their meals, or their celebrations, the Thai tradition may be felt to your core.
At evening markets, you’ll discover conventional dancing and singing, and there at all times appears to be a pageant of some kind occurring. My favourite festivals are the Songkran pageant, which is principally a 3-day-long water combat, and the Loy Krathong pageant, the place individuals ship hundreds of lanterns into the sky.
The Thai individuals even have plenty 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 presents from the native individuals.
10. It’s Simple to Make Buddies
Due to Koh Samui’s thriving expat and touring scenes, it’s extremely straightforward to make new associates if you’re out and about. Folks from all around the world flock to this island, which already means you will have one thing in frequent!
Almost each time I went out, I might strike up a dialog with a fellow nomad. I now have associates who stay all around the world that I nonetheless meet up with repeatedly.
Regardless that lots of the locals don’t converse English, until you’re in additional of the heavily-touristed areas, many of the expats do. Due to English being such a common language, it’s straightforward to speak throughout your keep.
Cons of Residing in Koh Samui
Regardless of my love for Koh Samui, it, in fact, comes with its downfalls. These are among the challenges and downsides of residing in Koh Samui.
1. It’s a Small Island
Earlier than contemplating a transfer to Koh Samui, you’ll wish to needless to say it’s fairly a small island. Island life is superb till it isn’t – it’s straightforward 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 will possibly occur. That’s why I at all times 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 atmosphere each on occasion.
2. The Climate may be Intense
Throughout the moist months of September by November, the climate can get fairly intense with rain and storms. Regardless that it’s nonetheless heat out, there may be days on finish when the rain doesn’t cease.
Once I knew a storm was going to be coming by, I might at all times top off on meals and water as a result of I knew I wouldn’t wish to drive round or be outdoors for just a few days. We’re speaking downpours and powerful, sideways wind.
One other draw back is that Koh Samui can typically fall within the path of harmful typhoons. I fled as much as Bangkok for every week when a hurricane got here by as a result of I couldn’t threat being with out web.
3. Roads may be Harmful
Regardless that it’s a small island with just one main ring street, the driving situations in Koh Samui is usually a bit sketchy. Almost each expat can inform you a narrative about being in a bike crash – together with myself.
Sadly, there are almost 3,000 accidents, involving principally bikes, each single yr. There tends to be the next variety of accidents throughout main celebrations and festivals.
There’s a combination of scooters, bikes, vehicles, vehicles, songthaews, and different motor automobiles on the roads, lots of which are likely to disregard rushing and different driving legal guidelines. At all times hold your eyes open, and at all times put on a helmet. Additionally, attempt to keep away from driving at evening or in inclement climate.
4. Staying Lengthy-Time period may be Tough
The kind of visa you acquire earlier than arriving in Koh Samui will decide how lengthy you may keep on the island and within 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 may come again. Some individuals go away 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 sum of money arrange in a Thai checking account.
Now you can additionally buy a long-term visa that permits you to stay in Thailand for as much as ten years. The catch is that you just’ll have to show that you just revamped $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 many cons of residing in Koh Samui is that it undoubtedly feels a bit Westernized within 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 economic system of Koh Samui, nevertheless it’s considerably disappointing to see so many Western names and companies make such a press release on the island. I’m certain it gives a way of “residence” for some individuals, however I discovered it a bit of annoying. For these of you in want of the occasional creature consolation, this may occasionally really be a professional for you!
Is Residing in Koh Samui Price It?
General, 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. For those who ever get the prospect to spend time on this stunning island, I extremely advocate it.
