Wondering how far your salary goes in Phuket? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed condo on a 12-month lease฿15,000–30,000 / mo away from the beachfront
The same unit as a high-season holiday letFrequently several times the annual-lease rate
Thai restaurant meal฿80–200
Motorbike rental, monthly฿3,000–6,000 depending on the machine and the season
Est. single-person monthly (excl. rent)฿30,000–50,000
Good to know
Population
~420,000 registered; substantially higher in practice with seasonal and unregistered residents
Languages
Thai (official), with a southern dialect; English widely used in tourism and business
Currency
Thai Baht (THB / ฿)
Time zone
ICT (GMT+7), no daylight saving
Power plug
Types A/B/C, 220V / 50Hz
Climate
Tropical monsoon: high season roughly Nov–Apr, southwest monsoon roughly May–Oct with heavy rain and dangerous surf
Driving side
Left
Getting here
Phuket International Airport in the north of the island; 45–90 minutes by road to the southern beaches depending on traffic
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Phuket checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.