For 2 and a half wonderful years, I had the pleasure of dwelling on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, Thailand. To today, I take into account it my favourite place I’ve ever been to on earth (to this point). There are such a lot of professionals to dwelling on Koh Samui, however, after all, there are some challenges as nicely.
A number of the professionals might sound apparent, however when spending time in another country, it’s vital to not be blinded by the magical enchantment. The cons of dwelling in Koh Samui ought to at all times be thought of, particularly when you plan on staying there long-term.
15 Professionals and Cons of Dwelling in Koh Samui
After spending a considerable period of time in Koh Samui, I’ve loads of private expertise with life on the island. My checklist beneath comes from that private expertise, talking and befriending different expats, and creating relationships with the locals.
Thailand, general, is an unbelievable and distinctive nation – for my part, there really is not any different place prefer it. Right here’s my checklist of professionals and cons of dwelling 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 thought 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.
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 may simply be pushed round by way of the loop highway, which is about 32 miles lengthy.
Professionals of Dwelling in Koh Samui
Koh Samui has been considered one of my favourite, if not my most favourite, locations I’ve ever lived. These are the professionals of dwelling in Koh Samui.
1. It’s Completely Beautiful
One of many largest professionals of dwelling in Koh Samui is that it’s breathtakingly stunning. It’s just like the places you see in motion pictures and tropical screensavers. I even have the view from my bungalow tattooed on my arm – I liked it a lot, I needed to see it eternally!
The island has white sand seashores, lush rainforest, and tremendous clear turquoise waters – excellent for anybody who loves nature. However except for the seashore, inland, you’ll discover sprawling coconut groves, numerous waterfalls, and climbing trails.
Regardless of the place you’re on the island, you’ll simply be in awe of all the pure magnificence.
2. Insanely Low-cost Price of Dwelling
One of many major causes loads of expats head to Thailand, together with Koh Samui, is the extraordinarily reasonably priced price of dwelling. In comparison with most Western international locations, Thailand’s housing, meals, and healthcare prices are very low.
Once I was dwelling there, I had a one-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow with an unbelievable view, and paid $350/month, which is about common for a finances house. Mid-range flats 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 normally 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 international guests and expats. Thailand is certainly not a type of international locations. Regardless of the place you go, you’ll see smiling faces.
I discovered this to be an enormous professional of dwelling in Koh Samui as a result of I at all times felt welcome on the island. I additionally rapidly made buddies with a few of the sweetest Thai girls who ran a pop-up bar within the city of Lamai.
4. It has One thing for Everybody
What I completely liked about dwelling in Koh Samui was the truth that it actually had one thing for everybody. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a calming atmosphere or one stuffed with journey, you’ll discover it on the island. You’ll find all the things from budget-friendly to posh and lavish – there are many 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. If you happen to 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 by way of ferry. It’s quiet, it has a small city middle, and it’s about 45 minutes from Chaweng. You’ll additionally discover beautiful resorts scattered all through the island.
5. Straightforward Entry to Different International locations
Relying on the kind of visa you could have when getting into the nation, you might need to go away Thailand each few months to resume it. Fortunately, Koh Samui has quick access 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 among the cutest airports I’ve ever been to. Flights may be costlier 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 choice is to take a ferry, then a shuttle, to the Surat Thani airport. From there, you possibly can fly out to your vacation spot or take a brief flight as much as Bangkok, the place you possibly can catch a flight to virtually wherever your coronary heart wishes.
6. The Meals is Completely Scrumptious
A significant good thing about dwelling in Koh Samui is all the scrumptious meals. You’ll find 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 at all times my favourite throughout my keep. It was native delicacies, cooked with conventional elements and strategies, tremendous tasty, and at all times reasonably priced. Plus, strolling across the markets was at all times a enjoyable sensory expertise.
Whenever you need one thing a bit extra elevated, there are many different eating places and cuisines to be discovered. Italian and British eating places appear to be in style choices, however yow will discover all the things from Indian, Greek, burger spots, and advantageous eating.
7. It’s Nice for Digital Nomads
Whereas I used to be dwelling 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 implausible neighborhood of on-line staff.
I usually at all times had quick WiFi in my bungalow house. Often it might go down on account 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 house that also had a connection.
Some nice spots to work are Khan Area, Natural Coworking Membership, and Desk and Chair.
8. The Climate is Tropical
An enormous perk to dwelling in Koh Samui is its heat, tropical climate. All through your complete 12 months, you possibly can anticipate temperatures with highs within the mid-80s °F and lows within the mid-70s °F. For me, it doesn’t get extra excellent than that.
Might is normally the most well liked month, with December and January being the best. This implies year-round entry to seashores and suntans. It’s vital to remember that since it’s a tropical local weather, it additionally comes with a wet and stormy season (extra on this beneath).
9. The Tradition is Palpable
One other factor I liked about dwelling in Thailand was how sturdy 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 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 type 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 hundreds of lanterns into the sky.
The Thai individuals even have loads of respect for his or her Buddhist faith and the monks that belong to the temple. You’ll usually discover monks strolling the streets and receiving flowers, meals, and presents from the native individuals.
10. It’s Straightforward to Make Associates
Because of Koh Samui’s thriving expat and touring scenes, it’s extremely simple to make new buddies while you’re out and about. Folks from everywhere in the world flock to this island, which already means you could have one thing in frequent!
Practically each time I went out, I’d strike up a dialog with a fellow nomad. I now have buddies who dwell everywhere in the world that I nonetheless meet up with recurrently.
Regardless that lots of the locals don’t communicate English, except you’re in additional of the heavily-touristed areas, many of the expats do. Because of English being such a common language, it’s simple to speak throughout your keep.
Cons of Dwelling in Koh Samui
Regardless of my love for Koh Samui, it, after all, comes with its downfalls. These are a few of the challenges and downsides of dwelling in Koh Samui.
1. It’s a Small Island
Earlier than contemplating a transfer to Koh Samui, you’ll wish to remember 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 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
In the course of the moist months of September by means of 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 means of, I’d at all times fill up 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 robust, sideways wind.
One other draw back is that Koh Samui can usually fall within the path of harmful typhoons. I fled as much as Bangkok for per week when a storm got here by means of as a result of I couldn’t danger being with out web.
3. Roads may be Harmful
Regardless that it’s a small island with just one main ring highway, the driving circumstances in Koh Samui generally is a bit sketchy. Practically each expat can let you know a narrative about being in a motorcycle crash – together with myself.
Sadly, there are almost 3,000 accidents, involving largely bikes, each single 12 months. There tends to be a better variety of accidents throughout main celebrations and festivals.
There’s a combination of scooters, bikes, automobiles, vehicles, songthaews, and different motor autos 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 Troublesome
The kind of visa you get hold of earlier than arriving in Koh Samui will decide how lengthy you possibly can keep on the island and within the nation. Many youthful (beneath 50) vacationers merely arrive on a vacationer visa that enables you 90 days of entry. After that, you’ll want to go away the nation earlier than you possibly can 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 normally simply requires a set sum of money arrange in a Thai checking account.
Now you can additionally buy a long-term visa that lets you dwell in Thailand for as much as ten years. The catch is that you simply’ll have to show that you simply 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 many cons of dwelling in Koh Samui is that it positively 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 notice that tourism brings in a ton of cash to the economic 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 “residence” for some individuals, however I discovered it a bit annoying. For these of you in want of the occasional creature consolation, this will truly be a professional for you!
Is Dwelling in Koh Samui Value It?
General, dwelling in Koh Samui is a very magical and life-changing expertise. Regardless of the cons, the professionals of dwelling in Koh Samui far outweigh them. If you happen to ever get the possibility to spend time on this stunning island, I extremely advocate it.
