Yan’an vs Ko Pha Ngan
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Yan’an is approximately 144% less expensive than Ko Pha Ngan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Yan’an a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Yan’an has a FIRE Score of 86/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 72, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Yan’an is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Yan’an
Thailand
Ko Pha Ngan
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Yan’an
Yan'an is a cheap, safe bet for remote workers chasing FIRE, with a 1-bedroom in the city centre at $250/mo and a budget tier of $700/mo that leaves plenty of room to save. The catch is the air quality index of 85 and a limited English-speaking, small expat community, so daily life demands some Mandarin and a tolerance for gritty skies. Retirees and digital nomads score lower at 64/100 and 65/100, and the continental climate swings from 36°C summers to -18°C winters, which is a lot of seasonal punishment for 38 Mbps internet.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
Yan’an costs roughly 3.4x less than Ko Pha Ngan. Ko Pha Ngan scores significantly higher on safety — worth weighing against the cost gap. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Yan’an is approximately 144% less expensive than Ko Pha Ngan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Yan’an a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Yan’an has a FIRE Score of 86/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 72, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Yan’an is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Yan’an
Yan'an is a cheap, safe bet for remote workers chasing FIRE, with a 1-bedroom in the city centre at $250/mo and a budget tier of $700/mo that leaves plenty of room to save. The catch is the air quality index of 85 and a limited English-speaking, small expat community, so daily life demands some Mandarin and a tolerance for gritty skies. Retirees and digital nomads score lower at 64/100 and 65/100, and the continental climate swings from 36°C summers to -18°C winters, which is a lot of seasonal punishment for 38 Mbps internet.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
$1,800/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Ko Pha Ngan
Ko Pha Ngan is a small island play that only makes sense if you can work remotely and earn well above the local average monthly net salary of $720/mo, because a single adult's non-rent costs run about $650/mo and a one-bedroom in the center asks $609/mo. The upside is real: utilities at $57/mo, internet at $17/mo, a $4 restaurant meal, and an 86/100 overall expat score with an 88/100 FIRE score. The catch is that heavy rain from October to December and a retiree score of 73/100 mean this is a digital nomad and early-retirement pick, not a year-round paradise for everyone.
About Thailand
Thailand is best for retirees seeking low costs, with a Retirement Visa requiring only a $30,000 foreign exchange deposit or monthly income. Living costs are a third of US norms: a single person spends $603/month excluding rent, and a 1-bedroom in a city center is $475. However, the main trade-off is no clear pathway to citizenship, and political stability is weak perceptions remain weak.
$1,684/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Yan’an | Ko Pha Ngan |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $250 | $609.02 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $180 | $631.3 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $500 | $1856.78 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $350 | $1762.7 |
| Safety Index | 72 | 85 |
| Internet Speed | 38Mbps | 50.3Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
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