Typical long-term rental prices in Koh Samui are around:

• ฿10,000–18,000/month for a studio or basic 1-bedroom.
• ฿20,000–45,000/month for a 2-bedroom property.
• ฿40,000–80,000/month for a 3-bedroom pool villa.

One of the biggest advantages is that many Samui rentals come:

• Fully furnished
• With air conditioning
• Often with a pool or garden
• Without the large bond requirements common in New Zealand

For example, a comfortable 1-bedroom apartment in areas like Bophut, Maenam, or Lamai can often be found for ฿15,000–30,000 per month (about NZ$700–$1,400).

A few things that make Samui's weather different from places like Phuket:

• June to August is generally one of Samui's better weather periods, often drier than the Andaman Coast (Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi).
• Rain tends to come as brief tropical downpours rather than all-day rain, although weather can vary from week to week.
• The sea is usually warm year-round, often around 29–30°C.
• The wettest months are typically October to December, when the Gulf of Thailand monsoon affects Samui more strongly.

For someone considering a longer stay, many residents regard June, July and August as some of the most pleasant months: hot, sunny, and generally less rainy than much of the rest of Thailand.

One of the reasons many expats and long-term visitors enjoy Koh Samui is the huge variety of food available. You can eat local Thai food every day, or hardly eat Thai food at all if you prefer.

Thai Food

Some of the most popular dishes include:

• Pad Thai

• Green, red, Massaman and Panang curries

• Tom Yum seafood soup

• Som Tam (papaya salad)

• Khao Pad (fried rice)

• Satay skewers

• Noodle soups

• Mango sticky rice

Fresh Seafood

Being an island, Samui is particularly known for:

• Fresh fish

• Prawns and tiger prawns

• Crab

• Lobster

• Squid

• Shellfish

Many restaurants display the day's catch and cook it to order. (hotels)

International Food

You will also find:

• British pubs and Sunday roasts

• Italian pizza and pasta

• Indian restaurants

• Japanese sushi and ramen

• Korean BBQ

• Mexican food

• American burgers and steaks

• Greek and Mediterranean cuisine

Typical Prices

• Street food: ฿50–150

• Local restaurant meal: ฿80–200

• Western restaurant: ฿200–500+

• Seafood dinner for two: ฿800–1,500+ depending on what you order 

• If you're moving to Samui from New Zealand, you'll probably find that you can eat out far more often than in NZ while spending less overall, especially if you enjoy Thai food and local markets. (Reddit)