The BAANLYY Area Score rates all 12 Koh Samui districts on a transparent 100-point scale, built from eight island lived-experience factors. One number to compare at a glance — then dive into the detail that matters to you.
How it's scored: each district is rated 1–10 on eight island factors — beach, dining, nightlife, value, family-friendliness, transport, investment and quiet — and the BAANLYY Area Score is their average on a 0–100 scale. It's a transparent comparison starting point, not investment advice; weight the factors that matter to you.
| # | Area | Score | Beach | Dining | Nightlife | Value | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bophut North coast - boutique | 73 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 2 | Chaweng East coast - main beach | 70 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| 3 | Maenam North coast - quiet & value | 70 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 8 |
| 4 | Choeng Mon North-east headland - upscale | 69 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| 5 | Lamai East coast - second beach | 68 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| 6 | Bang Rak North-east - Big Buddha | 65 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| 7 | Ban Tai North coast - quiet residential | 64 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 8 |
| 8 | Lipa Noi West coast - calm beach & ferry | 64 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Plai Laem North-east cape - temple headland | 60 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 10 | Hua Thanon South-east coast - fishing village | 58 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 6 |
| 11 | Taling Ngam South-west coast - secluded luxury | 58 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| 12 | Nathon West coast - ferry town & capital | 55 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
The BAANLYY Area Score is a proprietary, transparent composite of BAANLYY's own area ratings, provided for general comparison only — not investment, legal or financial advice. Ratings are editorial estimates that change as areas evolve. Hero image via Pexels.