Buenos Aires vs Koh Phangan: cost of living for digital nomads
Buenos Aires, Argentina and Koh Phangan, Thailand, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Koh Phangan is about 4% cheaper than Buenos Aires for a month of nomad living ($1,250 vs $1,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Koh Phangan against $600 in Buenos Aires.
- Koh Phangan scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Buenos Aires: 100 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Buenos Aires is temperate; Koh Phangan is tropical.
Buenos Aires wins 3 of the measured lines; Koh Phangan wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Buenos Aires or Koh Phangan?
Koh Phangan is cheaper: about $1,250/month against $1,300/month in Buenos Aires, roughly 4% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Buenos Aires or Koh Phangan?
Koh Phangan scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Buenos Aires.
Which has faster internet, Buenos Aires or Koh Phangan?
Buenos Aires has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 60 Mbps in Koh Phangan.
| Line | Buenos Aires | Koh Phangan |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,300 | $1,250 |
| Rent | $600 | $500 |
| Food | $360 | $350 |
| Transport | $40 | $60 |
| Coworking | $110 | $100 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 60 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | inland | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
Koh Phangan
Thai island with a fast-growing nomad scene around Sri Thanu — beaches, wellness, low cost.
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Buenos Aires November 7, 2026, Koh Phangan August 30, 2026.