Supermarkets on Koh Samui: Makro, Big C, Lotus's, Tops and Where Long-Stayers Shop (2026)

If you are setting up a long-term home on Koh Samui, the short answer is this: the island's big supermarkets sit in two clusters. The first is on the ring road in Bophut, the subdistrict that includes Chaweng, with Big C, Makro Koh Samui, Lotus's Samui in Chaweng and Tops inside the Central Samui mall. The second is in Maret, the subdistrict that includes Lamai, with Makro Lamai and Lotus's Lamai. Use Makro for bulk buying, Big C or Lotus's for the weekly shop, and Tops when you want to look for imported products. Fresh markets and the convenience store on your corner cover everything in between.

This guide is about stocking a home, not about souvenir shopping. For evening food markets, see our 7 days, 7 markets guide.

The quick overview: which store for what

Makro: two branches for bulk buying

A lot of older guides only mention one Makro. There are two, and which one you use depends on where you live.

Makro Koh Samui, Bophut

The Bophut branch is at 115/52 Moo 6 on Thawiratphakdi Road, the island's ring road (Route 4169), on the stretch around Bophut and Chaweng. It includes a Makro Foodservice section. It is a warehouse-style wholesale store that serves restaurants and hotels as well as households. The range covers fresh meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables, bakery items, packaged groceries and household supplies, and many items come in bulk quantities. That makes it the obvious first stop when you move into an empty kitchen. Rice, cooking oil, toilet paper, detergent, bottled water, frozen meat and cases of drinks are typically cheaper per unit here when you buy the larger packs. Always compare unit prices, though, because promotions at the hypermarkets can sometimes beat the wholesale price.

Makro describes itself as a wholesale centre for member customers and business operators, so the store is built around a membership system. Individual shoppers also use it, so ask at the entrance or customer service how membership works for private customers before your first big shop. Some long-stayers find the pack sizes too big for one or two people. A practical approach is to buy long-life staples and cleaning supplies at Makro once a month and get fresh food elsewhere through the week.

Makro Lamai

The second branch, Makro Lamai, is at 199 Moo 3 in Tambon Maret, the subdistrict that includes Lamai. If you rent in Lamai, Hua Thanon or further along the south-east coast, this branch saves you the drive up to Bophut. According to Makro's official branch page, the Makro stores open early in the morning and stay open until late evening, and the separate Makro Foodservice format has shorter hours. Map listings show the Lamai branch open every day.

Makro also runs Makro PRO, an online ordering app with its own customer support line. Whether delivery reaches your address on Samui, and what it covers, is something to check in the app or with the branch.

Big C Supercenter, Bophut: the one-stop weekly shop

Big C Supercenter Samui is at 129/19 Moo 1 on the ring road in Bophut, listed under the Chaweng area. It is a large hypermarket with groceries and household goods under one roof. For many residents in the north-east of the island it is a natural choice for the weekly shop. Being able to buy food and basic household items in one visit helps when you are furnishing a place. Our guide to furnished vs. unfurnished rentals explains what you will probably need to buy.

Prices are mid-range, and the chain runs regular promotions. Public listings show Big C opening later in the morning than Makro and closing in the late evening, every day. If you want to shop early, Makro is the better option, and it is worth checking the current hours before you go on a public holiday.

Lotus's: Chaweng and Lamai

Lotus's (formerly Tesco Lotus) has two large stores on the island, one in Chaweng and one in Lamai. The Chaweng store, listed as Lotus's Samui at 1/7 Moo 6 on the ring road in Bophut, has been renovated. Besides the supermarket, the complex has a Major Cineplex cinema and the Lollipop indoor playground for children. That is handy for families on a rainy afternoon.

Lotus's Lamai in Maret is a hypermarket with fresh produce and meat, groceries, household items, clothing and electronics, plus a food court. If you live in Lamai, a good routine is to do the weekly shop at Lotus's Lamai and buy bulk items at Makro Lamai, so you rarely need to drive north.

Tops at Central Samui: imported and Western goods

Tops, signposted as Tops Food Hall, is the supermarket inside the Central Samui shopping mall in Chaweng. It is open every day and is easy to reach if you are already at the mall, which has underground parking. It is a good place to start when you want products from home, such as cheese, deli items, breakfast cereals, baking ingredients, specialist sauces, health foods and wine. Expect to pay more than at Big C or Lotus's. Imported food and wine are expensive across Thailand, not just on Samui.

A practical point: your monthly budget depends much more on how much imported food you eat than on which supermarket you choose. A cart of Thai staples and local produce costs much less than a cart of imported cheese, wine and branded cereal. Before you make any one store your default for imported goods, compare prices on the products you buy most often across Tops, the two hypermarket chains and Makro.

Where to shop, area by area

The large stores are all in two places on the east side of the island: around Bophut and Chaweng, and in Maret around Lamai. If you are still choosing where to rent, take the drive to a supermarket into account. Our area comparison for renters covers the rest.

• Chaweng and Bophut: the best location for shopping. Big C, Makro Koh Samui, Lotus's Samui and Tops at Central Samui are all in this area.
• Choeng Mon, Plai Laem and Bang Rak: these north-eastern beaches are within reach of the Bophut and Chaweng cluster. Use local minimarts for top-ups in between.
• Lamai, Maret and Hua Thanon: well served by Makro Lamai and Lotus's Lamai, plus the Lamai Night Market by the bridge, which runs every day with live music.
• Maenam and the north coast: further from the big stores. Most people do top-ups locally and drive to Bophut for the big shop.
• Nathon, Lipa Noi and the west coast: the hypermarkets are on the other side of the island, so plan bulk runs and use local shops and markets for daily needs.
• Taling Ngam and the south-west: the furthest from both clusters. Plan a monthly bulk run and keep a well-stocked pantry.

Before you sign a lease, look up the nearest minimart, fresh market and pharmacy on a map, and do a test drive to the nearest large store. If you live in the north or west, a car or a scooter with a box makes a big difference. A Makro run with cases of water is hard work on a small bike. See our guide to driving and scooters on Samui and the general overview of transportation on Koh Samui.

Fresh markets and convenience stores

For fruit, vegetables, herbs, fish and Thai ingredients, the local fresh markets are worth comparing with the supermarket shelves, and they give you seasonal produce. Our list of the best Thai fruits helps you know what to look for. Pointing, a calculator and a few words of Thai go a long way at a market stall. Carry some cash, because not every stall takes cards or QR payments.

Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and FamilyMart are found all along the ring road, including next to the big stores. They cost more per item, but they are useful for drinks, snacks and small top-ups between big shops.

Practical tips for stocking a long-term home

• Bring bags and a cool box. Reusable bags are useful at every store. In the heat, a cool box in the car keeps frozen goods frozen on the drive home from Makro or a hypermarket.
• Drinking water: most residents buy drinking water in large bottles, use refill machines or order delivery, rather than drinking from the tap. In areas affected by the current water shortage, also ask your landlord how household water is supplied. Our water shortage guide explains tanker delivery and wells.
• Before heavy rain: keep a few days of basics in the house. Flooding tends to affect the east coast side more. In really extreme rain it can happen almost anywhere, but it is usually harmless and only rarely severe. As an island, Samui depends on deliveries from the mainland, so a long stretch of bad weather can leave some items short for a while. Our rainy season guide has more on this.
• Alcohol rules: in Thailand, alcohol may only be sold during legally set hours, and sales are restricted on certain days. Tills enforce this, and the rules have changed over the years, so follow the signs at the store rather than older guides.
• Delivery: some chains offer online ordering, such as the Makro PRO app. Whether delivery reaches you on Samui depends on the area, so check with the store directly.
• Check hours yourself: opening hours change, especially for mall-based stores and on public holidays. Google Maps and the chains' own websites are the quickest way to check.

What groceries mean for your monthly budget

Groceries are just one part of the cost of living here. Based on our team's local knowledge, a single person living well on Samui spends from roughly 50,000 THB a month, excluding rent. A couple living comfortably typically spends roughly 70,000 to 100,000 THB a month, excluding rent. How often you eat out and how much imported food ends up in the cart make a big difference. Our cost of living guide breaks this down further. If you have just arrived, our first 30 days checklist covers the rest of the setup, and families will find school and family-life details in living on Koh Samui with kids.

A simple rule of thumb: Makro once a month for staples, Big C or Lotus's every week, the fresh market for produce, and Tops for the things you really miss from home.

Frequently asked questions

Which supermarket on Koh Samui is the cheapest?

For bulk staples, Makro is usually the best value per unit because it is a wholesale store with larger pack sizes. There are two branches, one in Bophut and one in Maret near Lamai. Fresh markets are worth comparing for fruit, vegetables and fish, and hypermarket promotions can sometimes beat wholesale prices. Compare unit prices.

Where can I buy imported Western food on Koh Samui?

Tops Food Hall, inside the Central Samui mall in Chaweng, is a good first place to look for imported products. Prices are higher there than at the hypermarkets. Big C, Lotus's and Makro are worth comparing for the items you buy most often, because imported goods are expensive across Thailand.

Is there a Makro in Lamai?

Yes. According to Makro's official branch page, Makro Lamai is at 199 Moo 3, Tambon Maret, the subdistrict that includes Lamai. The other branch, Makro Koh Samui, is in Bophut on Thawiratphakdi Road (the ring road) and also has a Makro Foodservice section.

Do I need a membership to shop at Makro?

Makro describes itself as a wholesale centre for member customers and business operators, so it runs a membership system. Individual shoppers use it too, so ask at the branch how membership works for private customers. Pack sizes can be large for a small household, so many residents use it for long-life staples, drinks and cleaning supplies.

Are supermarkets on Koh Samui open every day?

The large stores are listed as open every day with long hours. According to its official branch page, Makro opens early in the morning, and public listings show Big C opening later in the morning. Hours can change on public holidays, and alcohol may only be sold during legally set hours, so check the current hours before you go.

Sources

Last checked: 2 November 2026. Facts were cross-checked against several sources; official ones take priority.

• Ortskenntnis der Redaktion, 2026-09-19 – Makro Koh Samui (with Makro Foodservice) at 115/52 Moo 6, Thawiratphakdi Road, Bophut; Makro Lamai in Maret; Lamai Night Market by the bridge (daily, live music); flooding mainly on the east coast side; current water shortage; monthly budget ranges excluding rent (2026-09-19)
• makro.co.th – official Lamai branch page: address 199 Moo 3, Tambon Ma Ret; Makro and Makro Foodservice hours (Foodservice shorter); wholesale for member customers and business operators – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• maps.apple.com – Makro, 199 Moo 3 Maret: open every day – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• foursquare.com – Makro Cash and Carry Koh Samui: 115/52 Moo 6, National Highway 4169 – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• makro.pro – Makro PRO online ordering and customer support – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• tripadvisor.com – Big C Supercenter Samui: 129/19 Moo 1, 84320; hours open later in the morning to late evening – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• soidb.com – Big C Samui: 129/19 M.1, Samui Ring Road, Bo Phut, area Chaweng; FamilyMart nearby – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• mysamuitaxi.com – Lotus's (Tesco Lotus) Chaweng renovated, Lollipop indoor playground – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• soidb.com – Major Cineplex in Lotus's Samui, 1/7 M.6, Samui Ring Road, Bo Phut (Chaweng) – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• mindtrip.ai – Lotus's Lamai: hypermarket with fresh produce and meat, groceries, household items, clothing, electronics – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• wineconnection.co.th – Lotus's Lamai located in Maret, Koh Samui – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• maps.apple.com – Tops Food Hall Central Samui, 147/92 Soi Hat Chaweng 4, Bo Phut: open every day – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)
• tripadvisor.com – Central Samui review: Tops supermarket inside the mall, underground parking – checked 2026-11-02 (2026-11-02)