Ko Phayam (เกาะพยาม) — digital nomad guide
Barefoot off-grid island · Ranong, South Thailand
A no-cars, part-solar island of long empty beaches and long-stay bohemians — Thailand 20 years ago.
Is Ko Phayam good for digital nomads?
Ko Phayam scores 57/100 overall, ranking #35 of 35 Thai destinations on SiamNomad. A single remote worker should budget about $950 per month (฿34,200), with typical fixed-line internet around 40 Mbps. The most comfortable months are Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, averaging 28°C at 82% humidity. Scores and costs are curated editorial estimates; weather and air quality on the live page are real-time.
How much does it cost to live in Ko Phayam?
- Nomad: $950 / ฿34,200 per month
- Expat: $1,500 / ฿54,000 per month
- Local: $520 / ฿18,720 per month
- Studio rent: ฿6,000–฿12,000 per month (1 month+, low season)
- Housing: ฿12,960 ($360) per month
- Food & dining: ฿8,640 ($240) per month
- Coworking: ฿1,980 ($55) per month
- Transport: ฿2,700 ($75) per month
- Utilities: ฿3,420 ($95) per month
- Leisure: ฿4,500 ($125) per month
Ko Phayam scores by category
| Category | Score /100 |
|---|---|
| Cost | 78 |
| Internet | 45 |
| Safety | 86 |
| Coworking | 25 |
| Nightlife | 40 |
| Weather | 68 |
| Food | 68 |
| Healthcare | 30 |
| Community | 52 |
| Transit | 30 |
| Beach access | 95 |
| English | 72 |
What is good about Ko Phayam?
- Long, near-empty beaches — Ao Yai sunsets are unreal
- No cars, no 7-Eleven noise — genuinely unplugged
- Cheapest island long-stays in the Andaman
- Friendly long-stay community every dry season
What are the downsides of Ko Phayam?
- Weak 4G internet — hard for call-heavy work
- Ranong monsoon is the heaviest in Thailand (May–Oct shutdown)
- Minimal healthcare — clinic only, mainland for everything else
Practical facts
- Population: 1,000
- Coworking spaces: 2+
- Healthcare: A small health station only; the hospital is in Ranong town (45-min boat). Not the base for ongoing medical needs.
- Visa notes: 60-day tourist visa (extend in Ranong) · Ranong is also a classic visa-run port
Similar Thai cities
- Chiang Mai — 85/100, $950/month
- Phuket — 79/100, $1,620/month
- Koh Samui — 77/100, $1,380/month
- Koh Phangan — 77/100, $1,400/month
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