With beautiful beaches, delicious food, and stunning sceneries, it's no surprise that Phuket is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Since it's on a separate island away from mainland Thailand, it's almost as if it's part of a different world. However, the truth of the matter is that those in Phuket still have to face everyday situations, not the least of which is the living costs. If you ever decide to relocate to Phuket, you'll need to work on a budget. Here's what you need to know about what you'll have to spend to maintain your lifestyle in Phuket.
Costs of Renting in Phuket
A great way to gauge just how expensive it is to live in a city is to see its common rental fees. Here in Phuket, they range from a minimum of ฿7,000.00 to a maximum of ฿50,000.00 a month. Now, keep in mind that according to
Thailand's job market, the average salary one earns here is around ฿24,500.00 to ฿433,000.00 per month. Considering this, it's safe to say that rent in Phuket isn't all that bad. You can get a nice
luxury home in Phuket with just one bedroom for only around ฿7,000.00 to ฿15,000.00 a month. If you go for a three-bedroom flat, that'll cost you ฿15,000.00 to ฿50,000.00 a month.
Costs of Buying Property in Phuket
Now, if you're going to buy property in Phuket, however, that's a different story altogether. Of course, buying proper anywhere will always cost a lot of money, but in Phuket's case, since it is a top tourist destination, it's really quite pricey. Purchasing land within one of the
central neighborhoods of Phuket will cost you around ฿32,291.73 to ฿150,000.00 per square meter. And if you go for one along the outskirts of the city, it'll cost you ฿40,000.00 to ฿85,000.00 per square meter. Multiply those figures with the total number of square meters of the property and you'll see just how expensive owning a home in Phuket really is.
Utilities Costs
For expenses that you'll face regularly every month, the utility costs in Phuket aren't that bad. Depending on how much you earn, you might even consider them cheap! Take a look at the common costs for basic bills, for instance. In Phuket, they range from ฿1,350.00 to ฿4,250.00 a month. And yes, these already include your electricity, water, heating, garbage disposal, and the like. Meanwhile, paying for your internet wifi every month will only cost you around ฿499.00 to ฿800.00, regardless of which
local Thai network you join. Not bad, right?
Food Costs
Food costs aren't all that bad in Phuket either. They're not necessarily cheap, per se, but they still won't take a huge chunk out of your monthly budget overall. In fact, the common total median price for all sorts of food items in Phuket is around ฿2,423.81. This figure takes into account all the meats, fruits & vegetables, a loaf of bread, a dozen eggs, 1.5 liters of water, a liter of milk, various snacks, and even some alcohol too. Overall, this can last you around one to two weeks, max. How's that for affordable food?
Dining Costs
Since Phuket is home to a diverse culinary scene, how much you spend on dining out depends on where you eat. If you go to the more high-class restaurants and
popular foodie hotspots, there's a good chance that your meal alone will cost a lot of money. But if you adhere to a strict budget, going to more affordable places isn't half bad. A meal at an inexpensive place will only cost you around ฿60.00 to ฿220.00. And if you're going out on a date and you want to treat your partner to a three-course meal, going to a mid-range restaurant will only cost you ฿400.00 to ฿1,300.00.
Transportation Costs
Public transport in Phuket really isn't all that expensive but it also depends on what mode of public transportation you use. For example, if you're only going to board a standard public bus to get to where you need to be, the standard fare here is only ฿10.00 per ride. But if you prefer to board the more luxurious and air-conditioned
Phuket Smart Bus, that'll cost you ฿50.00 to ฿70.00 per ride. Also, beware of tuk-tuks too. Though they may be locally novel, tuk-tuk drivers are notorious for charging high rates for their services. You're better off taking an ordinary taxi or using a
transportation app to hail a ride.
Clothing Costs
The good thing about clothing costs in Phuket is that they're within the mid-range of price points. Bangkok is more known as the fashion-centric city in Thailand. While there are still many designer brands that have set up shop in Phuket (mostly in the airport or hotel lobbies and the like), people are more into affordable high street brands and even going to night markets for their shopping. And a piece from an affordable label will only cost around ฿500.00 to ฿1,500.00. A new pair of sneakers, on the other hand, even if it's from a well-known sportswear brand, will only cost ฿1,500.00 to ฿3,500.00.
Leisure Costs
What does one do for leisure in Phuket? Well, apart from going to the beach and doing all the touristy things, most work out, play sports, or watch a movie. And how much will doing those activities cost you? For working out, joining a gym in Phuket will cost you monthly membership fees that range from ฿625.00 to ฿3,000.00. If you want to rent a court to play sports on the weekend, the hourly rate is around ฿300.00 to ฿500.00. What if you want to watch a movie, then? Prepare to pay ฿180.00 to ฿350.00 per movie ticket.
Childcare & Education Costs
Seeing as childcare and education ensures your kid's safety and future, it's only natural that they're among the most expensive of your living costs in Phuket. While they're just little tots, if you enroll them in private daycare centers, it will cost you ฿10,000.00 to ฿14,583.33 per month. Pretty pricey, right? Well, if it's for your kid's safety, it should be fine! And when they grow up, enrolling them in some of the
finest international schools in Phuket will cost you a minimum of ฿250,000.00 and a maximum of ฿700,000.00 in annual tuition fees. Expensive? Yes, But worth it? No doubt about it!
Phuket may seem like some other-worldly paradise but for those who live here, it's their everyday reality. And part of that reality is having to face living costs in order to maintain their lifestyles. Every other city has them and Phuket is no different.
