Sihanoukville
Cambodia
1/6
Budget$820
Internet35 Mbps
Vibe5/10
Side-by-side city decision
Sihanoukville vs Koh Samui.
A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit.
SihanoukvilleCambodia1/6
VS
Koh SamuiThailand4/6
$820Sihanoukville monthly budget
$1,250Koh Samui monthly budget
35 MbpsSihanoukville internet
180 MbpsKoh Samui internet
Decision summary
Koh Samui
Koh Samui leads on more of the six headline signals.
Cost
Best budget
Sihanoukville
Speed
Fastest internet
Koh Samui
Vibe
Best nomad vibe
Koh Samui
Safety
Highest safety
Koh Samui
Air
Cleanest air
Koh Samui
Walk
Most walkable
Tie
Quick read
Two cities at a glance
The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison.
Koh Samui
Thailand
4/6
Budget$1,250
Internet180 Mbps
Vibe8/10
Full comparison
Compare what matters
Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner.
Monthly budget and costs
7 signalsMetricSihanoukvilleKoh Samui
Total estimated budget
$820
$1,250
1-bed center rent
$380
$650
Coworking desk
$100
$145
Local meal
$3
$2.8
Cappuccino
$2.4
$2.4
Gym membership
$35
$55
Transport budget
$70
$120
Work and infrastructure
2 signalsMetricSihanoukvilleKoh Samui
Internet speed
35 Mbps
180 Mbps
Nomad vibe
5/10
8/10
Quality of life
5 signalsMetricSihanoukvilleKoh Samui
Safety index
54/100
76/100
Air quality
67/100
82/100
Walkability
4/10
4/10
Female safety
5/10
7/10
LGBTQ+ friendly
5/10
7/10
Culture and climate
4 signalsMetricSihanoukvilleKoh Samui
Healthcare quality
Poor
Good
English proficiency
Basic
Good
Climate type
Tropical monsoon
Tropical monsoon
Best time to visit
Nov - Mar
Jan - Mar
Beyond the numbers
What each city asks you to trade
Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture.
Sihanoukville
Cambodia
Strengths
- Lower rents than Phnom Penh and major Thai beach destinations
- Easy access to beaches and nearby islands
- Warm weather year-round
- USD is widely accepted alongside Cambodian riel
- Relaxed pace outside the casino corridors
- Airport offers useful regional connections
Trade-offs
- Limited coworking spaces and inconsistent home internet
- Rapid development has left parts of town dusty and noisy
- Healthcare options are limited for serious conditions
- Scooters are often necessary for daily life
- Casino-focused areas can feel chaotic and impersonal
- Rainy-season flooding and outages can disrupt routines
Common visa routes
- Tourist Visa (T-class), typically extendable once for a short stay
- Ordinary Visa (E-class) with EB extension for business or longer stays
- Visa on Arrival or e-Visa for eligible nationalities
Koh Samui
Thailand
Strengths
- Relaxed island lifestyle with excellent beaches
- Strong international remote-worker community
- Fast fiber internet and widespread 5G
- Good selection of cafes, gyms, and wellness services
- Generally safe with quality private healthcare
- More peaceful and spacious than Phuket
Trade-offs
- Scooter dependence and limited public transport
- Rental prices rise sharply in high season
- Heavy rain and localized flooding from October to December
- Road safety can be a serious concern
- Island goods and imported products cost more
- Airport flights can be relatively expensive
Common visa routes
- Visa Exemption
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- Non-Immigrant Visa
Reading the result
Use this as a planning benchmark
The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices.
Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices.
Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity.
Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.