For 2 and a half superb years, I had the pleasure of dwelling on the attractive island of Koh Samui, Thailand. To at the present time, I think about it my favourite place I’ve ever been to on earth (thus far). There are such a lot of professionals to dwelling on Koh Samui, however, in fact, there are some challenges as properly.
A few of the professionals might sound apparent, however when spending time abroad, it’s necessary to not be blinded by the magical enchantment. The cons of dwelling in Koh Samui ought to at all times be thought-about, particularly in the event you plan on staying there long-term.
15 Professionals and Cons of Residing in Koh Samui
After spending a considerable period of time in Koh Samui, I’ve lots of private expertise with life on the island. My listing 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 – in my view, there really is not any different place prefer it. Right here’s my listing of professionals and cons of dwelling 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.
Positioned off the jap coast of Thailand within the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is accessible by airport, ferry, and personal boat providers. The island is pretty small and may simply be pushed round through the loop highway, which is about 32 miles lengthy.
Professionals of Residing in Koh Samui
Koh Samui has been one among 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 lovely. It’s just like the areas you see in motion pictures and tropical screensavers. I even have the view from my bungalow tattooed on my arm – I beloved it a lot, I needed to see it ceaselessly!
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, a number of waterfalls, and mountaineering trails.
Regardless of the place you might be on the island, you’ll simply be in awe of the entire pure magnificence.
2. Insanely Low cost Value of Residing
One of many primary causes lots of expats head to Thailand, together with Koh Samui, is the extraordinarily reasonably priced value of dwelling. In comparison with most Western nations, Thailand’s housing, meals, and healthcare prices are very low.
After 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 funds condominium. Mid-range flats value round $600-$800/month.
Meals can be extraordinarily low cost. I may go all the way down to the night time 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 normally having a language barrier, communication and connection nonetheless appears to come back 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 certainly not a kind of nations. 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 mates with a few of 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 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 filled with journey, you’ll discover it on the island. Yow will discover the whole lot from budget-friendly to posh and indulgent – there are many issues to do right here.
The biggest metropolis on the island known as Chaweng, the place yow will discover nightclubs, seashore golf equipment, eating places, and buying. In case 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 aspect 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 middle, and it’s about 45 minutes from Chaweng. You’ll additionally discover attractive resorts scattered all through the island.
5. Straightforward Entry to Different International locations
Relying on the kind of visa you’ve got when coming into the nation, you may need to go away 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 aspect of the island and is among 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, but it surely’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 nearly wherever your coronary heart needs.
6. The Meals is Completely Scrumptious
A serious good thing about dwelling in Koh Samui is the entire scrumptious meals. Yow will discover cheap mouthwatering meals at night time 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 night time market meals was at all times my favourite throughout my keep. It was native delicacies, cooked with conventional substances and methods, tremendous tasty, and at all times reasonably priced. Plus, strolling across the markets was at all times a enjoyable sensory expertise.
Once 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 the whole lot from Indian, Greek, burger spots, and nice 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 truth, many expats who aren’t retirees are digital nomads, and there’s a incredible neighborhood of on-line staff.
I sometimes at all times had quick WiFi in my bungalow condominium. Sometimes it might go down as a consequence 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 entire 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 good. This implies year-round entry to seashores and suntans. It’s necessary 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 beloved about dwelling 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 night time 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 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 usually discover monks strolling the streets and receiving flowers, meals, and items from the native individuals.
10. It’s Straightforward to Make Buddies
Due to Koh Samui’s thriving expat and touring scenes, it’s extremely straightforward to make new mates if you’re out and about. Individuals from all around the world flock to this island, which already means you’ve got one thing in widespread!
Practically each time I went out, I’d strike up a dialog with a fellow nomad. I now have mates who reside all around the world that I nonetheless meet up with frequently.
Though lots of the locals don’t communicate English, except you’re in additional of the heavily-touristed areas, a lot 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 a few of the challenges and drawbacks of dwelling in Koh Samui.
1. It’s a Small Island
Earlier than contemplating a transfer to Koh Samui, you’ll need to remember that 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 could 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 every now and then.
2. The Climate could be Intense
In the course of the moist months of September by November, the climate can get fairly intense with rain and storms. Though 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, I’d at all times refill on meals and water as a result of I knew I wouldn’t need to drive round or be exterior for a couple of days. We’re speaking downpours and powerful, 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 every week when a hurricane got here by as a result of I couldn’t danger being with out web.
3. Roads could be Harmful
Though it’s a small island with just one main ring highway, the driving situations in Koh Samui generally is a bit sketchy. Practically each expat can inform you a narrative about being in a bike crash – together with myself.
Sadly, there are practically 3,000 accidents, involving principally 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, vehicles, vans, songthaews, and different motor automobiles on the roads, a lot of which are likely to disregard dashing and different driving legal guidelines. At all times maintain your eyes open, and at all times put on a helmet. Additionally, try to keep away from driving at night time or in inclement climate.
4. Staying Lengthy-Time period could be Tough
The kind of visa you acquire earlier than arriving in Koh Samui will decide how lengthy you possibly can keep on the island and within the nation. Many youthful (below 50) vacationers merely arrive on a vacationer visa that permits 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 reside in Thailand for as much as ten years. The catch is that you simply’ll have to show that you simply 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 dwelling in Koh Samui is that it positively feels a bit Westernized within the greater 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, but it surely’s considerably disappointing to see so many Western names and companies make such a press release on the island. I’m positive it gives 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 likely truly be a professional for you!
Is Residing in Koh Samui Value It?
Total, 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. In case you ever get the possibility to spend time on this lovely island, I extremely advocate it.
