Master island living - transportation, utilities, shopping, and navigating paradise life
Daily life on Koh Samui moves at island pace - slower, more relaxed, but requiring adaptation from city living. A scooter becomes essential (no public transit system), shopping requires planning (limited options), and services take longer. However, modern infrastructure, reliable electricity, fast internet, and growing expat amenities make island life surprisingly convenient. The 50km ring road connects all areas within 60 minutes.
The expat community is tight-knit and helpful - knowledge sharing through Facebook groups is essential. Island premium means higher costs for imported goods, deliveries, and services. Banking, healthcare, and government services are available but less extensive than Bangkok. Embrace the slower pace, beach lifestyle, and community connections that make Samui special.
Daily Life Essentials:
฿3,000-4,500/month
Most important investment for island life. Scooters are the primary transport as public transit is minimal. Essential for groceries, errands, beach hopping, and freedom.
฿50-100 per ride
Pickup truck taxis with bench seats. Follow ring road routes but infrequent and inflexible. Wave them down on main roads. Not practical for daily life but okay for occasional use.
฿80-250 per trip
Grab operates on Samui but limited drivers, especially outside peak hours. Bolt also available. More reliable than songthaews but more expensive and wait times can be long.
฿12,000-20,000/month
Comfortable option for families or those uncomfortable on scooters. More expensive but safer in rain and for longer trips. Parking available most places.
฿150-300/day or buy
Possible in flat areas like Bophut, Maenam for short trips. Not practical for longer distances due to heat, hills, and lack of bike lanes. Good for beach to nearby cafe.
฿400-800 fixed rates
Fixed-price taxis mainly for airport transfers. Private taxis available for day trips or tours. More expensive but convenient for airport or exploring with luggage.
Landlord charges ฿6-8/unit (govt rate ฿4). AC drives costs. Expect ฿5,000-8,000 in hot season with heavy AC use.
Usually included or very cheap. Landlord may charge ฿20-30/unit. Drinking water separately - buy 20L jugs for ฿20.
300-1000 Mbps available. Essential for remote work. Installation ฿0-2,000 depending on promotion.
Tank refills every 1-3 months depending on cooking frequency. Delivery available or swap at gas stations.
Usually included in condo fees. Houses may pay small monthly fee. Put garbage out by 6pm for morning pickup.
Setup: Internet installation typically takes 3-7 days. Bring passport and lease contract. Deposit usually ฿2,000-3,000.
Chaweng
The island's main shopping mall with department stores, supermarket, cinema, and international brands.
Multiple locations
Large supermarkets with groceries, household goods, electronics, and clothing at local prices.
Chaweng
Wholesale store with bulk buying options. Great for stocking up and lower prices for household items.
Lamai, Bophut, Maenam
Fresh produce, meat, seafood at local prices. Open early morning (6-11am). Best value for fresh food.
Everywhere
7-Eleven on every corner, plus Family Mart and Lotus Express. Open 24/7 for basics and emergencies.
Bophut
Boutique shops, organic stores, and specialty foods. Higher prices but quality imports and artisan products.
Initial deposit: ฿500-1,000. Monthly fee: ฿0-200 depending on account type and minimum balance.
฿299-599/month
Best island coverage with fastest 5G. Most popular with expats. Reliable data and good customer service.
฿249-549/month
Good coverage and competitive prices. Popular second choice. Often bundles with True internet for discounts.
฿199-449/month
Cheapest option but weaker coverage in remote areas. Good for budget-conscious users staying in main towns.
Buy SIM cards at airport arrival (convenient), 7-Eleven, or provider shops. Bring passport for registration. Tourist SIMs available instantly, but monthly plans require Thai bank account for auto-payment.
Best coverage: AIS and TrueMove have best island coverage. DTAC weaker in some areas. All providers offer 5G in main towns (Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut).
Essential for island life: "Koh Samui Expats", "Samui Forum", "Samui Buy & Sell", "Digital Nomads Koh Samui". Get recommendations, buy/sell items, and solve problems through community knowledge.
Things move slower on islands. Deliveries take longer, repairs take days not hours, services are less available. Plan ahead, stock up, and accept relaxed pace. It's part of the charm.
November-December is rainy season. Stock pantry, have backup scooter transport, and check flooding maps. Some roads flood in heavy rain. Beach businesses close during storms.
Learn markets for fresh food (cheaper + better), Makro for bulk goods, Big C for regular groceries, 7-Eleven for emergencies. Avoid touristy mini-marts - prices are 2x normal.
Set up bank account, internet, electricity accounts in first week. Register at Bangkok Hospital. Get Thai SIM with monthly plan. Don't wait until you need something urgently.
Lazada and Shopee deliver to Samui in 3-7 days. Amazon doesn't ship here. Ferry delays common. Stock up when visiting Bangkok. Join group orders for bulk imports to share costs.