What Does THB 50,000 (USD$1,350) a Month Get You in Phuket?

For many people, Phuket is a vacation destination where they can unwind for a week or two. But for many others, it’s a place they call home year round.

If you want to be part of the latter group of expats who’ve made Phuket home, but aren’t sure how much you have to budget for each month, continue reading.

In this guide, you’re going to find out what kind of life you can afford to live on a THB50,000 per month budget in Phuket. This includes rent, food, transportation, and much more.  

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Quality of Life

Before we jump into what THB50,000 per month will get you in Phuket, let’s look at why it’s such a popular destination for expats from around the world. 

• Easy to find food: No matter where in Phuket you live, you’ll always be within arms reach of delicious Thai and international cuisine. Restaurants and food stands line the beach roads and populate much of the inner parts of the island. Plus delivery services like Grab makes it easy to get food delivered to you. 
• Lots to do: From listening to live music on the beach to playing a round of golf, Phuket offers a variety of things to do.  
• Great for active people: Phuket is a great place for people who like all levels of activity. You can take an intense training session in martial arts or practice something more relaxing like yoga on the beach. 
• Beaches: Phuket is home to some of Thailand’s best beaches. If you prefer quiet and relatively unknown beaches, you can visit Layan Beach or Laem Sing or Laem Son. For something more lively, check out Kamala or Karon Beach.   

Cost of Living

Despite being a popular tourist destination, the cost of living in Phuket is still relatively low compared to other parts of the world. But keep in mind it has some of the highest cost of living in all of Thailand, even compared to an international city like Bangkok.

When it comes to Thailand though, Phuket is 3.6 percent more expensive to live in than Bangkok. This is true for imported foods, fuel, and some Thai goods because   

With that said, you can live a comfortable lifestyle with THB50,000 per month in Phuket, especially if you’re single. 

That said, let’s look at the cost of living in Phuket compared to some other popular expat beach destinations around the world, according to Numbeo.

Popular Expat Beach Cities	Phuket is…
Panama City, Panama	14.3% less expensive
San Jose, Costa Rica	12.7% less expensive
Malaga, Spain	12.6% less expensive
Piriapolis, Uruguay	1.3% more expensive
Da Nang, Vietnam	68.3% more expensive

Rent and Utilities

Rent in Phuket makes up a big portion of your monthly budget. But keep in mind you have plenty of options. 

With a budget of THB50,000 a month, though, it’s best to stick to the THB10,000 to THB15,000 range. But prices do run lower than that.

For example, Rawai Condotel has 30 square meter studios for THB6,000 per month, and it’s within walking distance to the beach. But these units are more like apartments than condos. D Condo Mine Phuket has studio units starting at THB8,000 per month. It’s a step up from Rawai Condotel, but it’s further inland.

Moving up to the THB10,000 per month range, and you can get a one-bedroom condo in Kathu. If you want to be closer to the beach, a one-bedroom in Kamala would be double that cost — THB20,000 per month at Royal Kamala.

On average, most expats who move to Phuket rent in the THB10,000 to THB15,000 a month price range. For this amount, you can get a sub-40 square meter studio unit near the beach. If you need anything bigger, it’s going to be hard to find something in this price range.

A house or villa, on the other hand, is going to run at least THB40,000 per month, and it might not even be close to the beach.  

When it comes to electricity, water, internet, and cooking gas (optional), expect to pay around THB3,000 per month if you use the air conditioner moderately and take two showers per day. 

Food

Phuket is like the rest of Thailand’s major cities in that its food options are plentiful. 

You can spend anywhere from THB70 on a plate of street food or eat at an international restaurant for THB1,000 per person. Your choices are endless and depend only on what you’re craving.

For instance, you can get some MICHELIN-selected street food up and down Phang-Nga Road at places such as Khun Jeed Yodpak and Khao Tom Thanon Di Buk. Plus there are endless beachside restaurants to enjoy seafood at.

As for international food, Osot’s PIZZERIA, Penne Italian Home Cook, and Steak Tonight 2 are all highly regarded on the island.

Keep in mind that the cost of eating out in Phuket is much higher than in Bangkok. That said, you should set a budget of about THB13,000 per month for both eating out and buying groceries to cook at home. 

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Transportation

For transportation in Phuket, expect to pay around THB5,000 per month if you don’t have your own way of getting around and THB3,000 per month if you have your own motorcycle.

A few things to keep in mind about public transportation in Phuket:

• Cost: Taxis usually don’t run on meters, so you’ll have to negotiate a flat price. Because of this, taxi drivers are more likely to overcharge you. For example, the going rate to get from Phuket Airport to Patong is THB800. Even for a short trip a few kilometers away is going to cost you at least THB100.
• Lacking: Public transportation around the island is lacking. Aside from songthaews and motorbike taxis, there aren’t many other modes of public transportation. Because of this, you need to buy a motorcycle or car to make it more convenient to get around the island. 
• Bolt and Grab: Instead of using public transportation, you can use Grab or Bolt to get around Phuket. The pricing system is more upfront.
• Road conditions: Driving in Phuket can be dangerous if you ride a motorbike. It’s similar to driving downtown Bangkok, with motorbikes cutting through lanes of traffic. And some roads are narrow, making collisions with oncoming vehicles a real threat.

Much of that THB5,000 will go toward taxis, songthaews, motorbike taxis, or Grab and Bolt. If you want to own a car, expect to pay around THB4,500 for gas per month if you drive every day, plus another THB500 on insurance. If you buy a motorbike, you can cut that gas cost in half. 

Healthcare

You should budget around THB3,500 per month on healthcare costs in Phuket. This will give you enough for an annual health checkup and occasional doctor’s visit or pay for annual health insurance that covers you in Thailand.

You can get an entry-level plan from Luma that costs around THB3,500 per month if you’re in your 40s.

Phuket does have good hospitals, but most of them are private, such as Bangkok Hospital. This means you’ll spend quite a bit if you don’t have insurance. 

Also, Phuket lacks quality government hospitals. So your choices for less expensive medical costs (if you’re paying out of pocket) are limited.

When it comes to dentists, the island has plenty of recommended clinics. And prices are on par with those at dental clinics in Bangkok. For instance, the average cost of a root canal in Phuket is THB10,000. That’s what you would pay in Bangkok at a standard clinic.

Many of Phuket’s dentists and specialists have trained overseas as well, so you know you’re getting good treatment with the most modern equipment available.

Read more: A Guide to Finding the Best Dentist and Dental Clinic in Phuket

Pharmacies are also easily accessible all over the island. In fact, two popular ones are Super Cheap and Fascino Phuket Pharmacy. You can get your typical over-the-counter medications at these places, and maybe even a stronger pain reliever if needed. For some major medications, though, you might have to visit a doctor at a hospital first.

Read more: How to Buy Over-the-Counter-Pills in Thailand

Social Life

You’ll never be without a social life in Phuket. But because so many people come and go on the island, it could be challenging to make meaningful friendships.

To increase your chances of finding deeper connections, go to places where other long-term expats visit. This means hanging out at a local restaurant such as The Column Phuket or pub like CRAFTs & Co. instead of a tourist bar, exercising at gyms that require long-term contracts like Club Asia Fitness, or joining speciality groups like those for road biking or golfing.

Either way, put aside around THB4,000 per month for socializing in Phuket. This amount covers you for occasional drinks, food, or social activities.    

Activities

Phuket offers many activities, so you will never be bored. And you can enjoy these activities for just THB4,000 per month. Here are some of the more popular activities Phuket offers.

• Water sports: You can go wind sailing, jet skiing, boating, swimming, snorkeling, diving (or free-diving) and much more at one of Phuket’s many beaches. You can also visit a water park like Andamanda Water Park.  
• Parks: Many of Phuket’s parks are beach related, but the island also has some inland parks such as Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, Khao Rang Hill, or Suan Luang Park that you can visit. 
• Martial arts: Thailand is known for its Muay Thai scene, but Phuket was one of the first of the country’s destinations to start offering other types of martial arts training. You can join a gym in Phuket and train MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or boxing in addition to Muay Thai.   
• Extreme sports: If zip-lining or bungy jumping is your thing, you can also do that in Phuket.
• Shooting ranges: The island is home to a handful of shooting ranges, where you can practice firing everything from a handgun to a shotgun and everything in between.

Education and Family Life

Because Phuket is home to many expat families, the island offers plenty of education opportunities. You can send your children to public or private schools.

But keep in mind that private schools in Phuket can sometimes cost more than those in Bangkok. So on a THB50,000 a month budget, you may not be able to afford tuition at a private school in Phuket, unless you work at one as a teacher and get free or reduced tuition.

That said, here are some things you can do with THB50,000 per month with a family in Phuket.

• You can rent a two-bedroom home in Thalang or Kathu for THB15,000 per month.
• You can homeschool your children using Phuket PALS for a fraction of the cost of tuition at an international school on the island.
• You can enroll your children in a Thai school if they speak Thai.
• Instead of shopping for imported foods at Western supermarkets, you can buy local or learn to cook Thai food at home.
• You can do free activities like spend time on the beach or go to one of Phuket’s many parks: King Rama 9 Park, Mueang Phuket Park, or Thetsaban Tambon Kathu Park. 

Implementing some of these things into your family life will help you stay under your THB50,000 a month budget.   

Job Market

Phuket’s job market is quite volatile because it depends a lot on tourism — the COVID pandemic taught us that much. That said, you might be able to land a job in the following industries if you have the right qualifications and experience. 

• Hospitality: Because most of Phuket’s income comes from tourism, there are a lot of opportunities in the hospitality sector. If you have experience managing hotels, you could find a job in one of the island’s many international hotels.
• Marketing: Many businesses in Phuket market their goods and services to non-Thais. And some of them even hire non-Thais to help with the marketing. If you are an experienced marketer, finding a job could be easy.
• Fitness: Phuket’s fitness industry continues to boom. New martial arts gyms are popping up every year. To keep up with the competition, these places hire international instructors to lead group classes and private training sessions. If you have experience teaching MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing, or more, you may be able to land a job at a martial arts gym in Phuket.  
• Teaching: With all the international schools in Phuket, you can find a job teaching if you have the right qualifications and experience. The pay tends to be high, but this means that the competition is fierce for teaching positions in Phuket’s international schools.   

Nightlife

Phuket is synonymous with nightlife. In fact, you’ll be able to find something to do around the clock on the island, whether you like loud clubs, quiet after-hour cafes, or cozy music joints.

Here are a few ideas on how you can spend your evenings on the island for about THB4,000 per month.

• Hang out at one of the bars or nightclubs on Bangla Road.
• Party on the beach while listening to a DJ.
• Have a few drinks at one of the sunset bars on the West coast of Phuket.
• Watch the Muay Thai fights at Patong Boxing Stadium or Rawai Boxing Stadium.
• Listen to some reggae music near the beach. 
• If you have kids, you can play some miniature golf at Dino Park Mini Golf & Restaurant.

Weather and Air Quality

Phuket’s average temperature is between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius, or 81 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. This means it’s much cooler throughout the year than other places in Thailand, specifically Hua Hin and Pattaya.  

When it comes to rain, September is the heaviest month. It rains, on average, 400 mm that month. In fact, Phuket is wet most of the year. December through March tend to be the driest months.

Unfortunately due to the rain, parts of Phuket do flood every year. Roads are often closed and sometimes flights are delayed because of the flooding. So this is something you have to get used to if you live in a flood-prone area of Phuket. 

When it comes to air quality and PM2.5 in Phuket, it’s slightly better than Bangkok but still not on par with other beach cities around the world. 

From December to May, for instance, the days are usually marked by moderate to unhealthy levels of pollution for sensitive groups. Still, it’s nowhere near as bad as other parts of Thailand, where PM2.5 levels can reach dangerous levels for months out of the year.

Lifestyle with a THB50,000 Per Month Budget

Here’s a rundown of the lifestyle you can get with THB50,000 per month in Phuket.

• You can rent a studio condo near the beach, a one-bedroom condo inside the island, or a two-bedroom house inside the island for THB15,000 per month.
• You can run the air conditioner at night, or if it’s hot during the day.
• You can eat local street food every day, mixing in the occasional international cuisine.
• You can have a few drinks per week and enjoy Phuket’s nightlife.
• You can buy or rent a motorcycle to get around the island.
• This leaves you with THB5,000 a month to either explore the island or travel around Thailand.

Expense	Cost in Thai Baht
Rent	14,000
Utilities	3,000
Food	13,000
Transportation	3,000
Healthcare	3,500
Socializing	4,000
Activities	4,000
Visas	500
Travel	5,000
Total	50,000

Trade-offs

THB50,000 might not be enough to survive in Phuket if you want a more luxurious lifestyle or have a family. In this case you have to make some trade-offs.

• You can rent a bigger house or condo inland far away from the beach for about THB10,000 a month.
• If you need a car to get around, you’ll have to cut back on how much you spend on monthly activities or nightlife.
• If you have children and don’t want to homeschool them, you’ll need a budget of at least THB100,000 a month to send them to a decent international school.

Should You Live in Phuket?

The answer to this question depends on what kind of life you’re after while in Thailand. Let’s review some of the pros and cons of living in Phuket to help you decide.

Pros

• Beaches in Phuket are among the most beautiful beaches in all of Thailand.
• The island offers tons of things to do, making it great for active people.
• There is a lot of great food, no matter where on the island you are. 
• It’s convenient to live in Phuket because it has everything you’d expect from a major city 
• The island has better air quality and weather than other parts of Thailand 

Cons

• The city can be too modern and crowded.
• The cost of living in Phuket is among the most expensive in the country.
• Public transportation is lacking and expensive.
• Traffic gets bad on certain parts of the island.
• Scams do exist in tourist spots.
• Flooding happens on some areas of the island.

Now, on to You

Now that you have a good idea on the lifestyle you can afford to live in Phuket with THB50,000 per month, you can take the next step to making the island your home.

But if you still have questions about living in Phuket, feel free to leave a comment below.