Cost Of Living

[mgs]

Hi Folks

I have just been offered a job in Phuket and am very pleased to accept. However, I keep reading that Phuket is expensive. what is the cost of living like for things like decent accommodation, food and getting transport? I am partly moving for the beach lifestyle but want to be able to afford to travel and live more than a basic life in between.

I'd really appreciate some advice and comments. I don't want to stay anywhere too party party but somewhere in the south maybe - with decent beach and good bars. Is it cheaper there?

I cannot wait to move!!!

X

[Sir Burr]

It depends.

If you are coming from another part of Thailand, then, you'll find Phuket's cost of living outrageously expensive.

If you are coming from a Western country, you'll find it cheap.

If you are going to live on the Baht you earn in Phuket, you will find that it is an expensive place (unless you earn a bunch).

[mgs]

Cheers

I am going to live on money i earn here but no sure what constitutes "earning a bunch" in Phuket!

x

[Sir Burr]

Cheers

I am going to live on money i earn here but no sure what constitutes "earning a bunch" in Phuket!

x

If you want to do all those things you mentioned, "a bunch" would be close to 100,000 Bt per month.

[WOOHOO]

It depends on what kind of accommodation you need, weather you need a car or motorbike or are happy using the public transport, for what it's worth. Will you be happy eating Thai food from the markets instead of burger and chips from tourist restaurants, and do you expect to be out on the piss every night of the week. If for example you only needed a small apartment, were happy renting a motorbike instead of a car (be very carefully, most Phuket drivers think mirrors and indicators are for wimps), eat tasty, healthy food from the market and food vendors, and have a couple of cans in front of the t.v some nights instead of going out, then I reckon you could cut Sir Burr's estimate in half and then some. The thing is with Phuket you don't need to spend money to have a great quality of life. A whole day on the beach could cost you as little as 50 baht for some lunch and a couple bottles of water. Don't get me wrong, the more disposable income you have, the more fun you will have undoubtedly, but you can still have a great quality of life without it. Good luck mate, don't think you'll have any regrets.

[DrDave]

Woohoo has given a very good summary.

Here are some actual numbers to consider when drawing up a budget. The following would be for a bare-bones lifestyle in Patong, but it should give you an idea of what you can expect to spend at a minimum. As Woohoo says, the more disposable income you have, the more fun you'll have - but here's a starting point.

Accommodation - on a long term rental basis, you should be able to rent a nice, western-style 1 bedroom or studio apartment for about 15,000 baht/month. This would generally include cable TV, aircon and cooking facilities, and possibly internet access, but most likely no pool. A little less for fewer amenities. You can go lower if your budget is stretched, but this is a good entry level. If your apartment doesn't have laundry facilities, there are a few low-priced laundries where you might spend maybe 300 baht/month. When renting an apartment long-term, you'll also have to pay for water and electricity. Figure on about 1,500 baht/month assuming you don't run the a/c full-on.

Transportation - you'll most likely have an apartment on a hillside, which means that walking everywhere may not be an option. You should be able to rent a decent motorbike for about 3,000 baht/month. Add a few hundred baht/month for gas. If you need to make periodic visa runs, the cost will be start around 1,500 baht for a one-day package.

Food - If you really like Thai food, and don't need to eat western-style food on a regular basis, then you're in luck. A good Thai meal can be had in the small Thai restaurants and food stalls, just outside the main tourist areas for between 30 and 40 baht. It can actually be cheaper to eat at these places compared to buying food and cooking at home. Drinking water for home is only 10 baht for a 5 gallon jug. Assuming 3 Thai meals/day - that's about 1,000 baht/month. If you prefer to eat western food, you're looking at about 3-4 times that amount, at a minimum. A good lunch of Thai food at the beach will be about 80 baht +/-.

Entertainment - this is obviously discretionary. A beer in a bar costs between 40 and 120 baht, depending upon the venue and location. A small bottle of beer is 25-45 baht at the supermarket or 7-11. Movies at a theatre are about 150 baht, while bootleg DVDs are about 60 baht. A chair at the beach is 80 baht/day in low season (although its perfectly ok to bring a towel and sit on the sand). Riding around the island to see the sights on your your rented motorbike is virtually free, while eating in the large tourist restaurants and going to the tourist-oriented shows is expensive. You have a lot of options here.

So - using the above as a baseline for basic necessities, you can live on about 16,500 for good accommodation, 3,000 for food, about 3,500 for transportation for a total of about 23,000 baht/month. This is bare-bones, no-frills, and probably not an attractive level of lifestyle to most. Add to this whatever you think you'd spend to maintain the sort of lifestyle you'd like to have (entertainment, variety of food, socializing, etc).

[WOOHOO]

Well done DrDave. Perfect answer. That's the post I wanted to make but didn't have the patience. I would disagree slightly on one point though. I know of places that are exactly as you described, except for limited cooking facilities, (balcony, for Thai style cooking, on a gas ring) for as little as 10k per month inclusive of bills. That's including, air con, cable, wireless internet etc. So if you rented at that price, that's another 6k in your pocket each month. That's a few good nights out. One last thing. I know a lot of TV members, ride bikes, so they'll probably disagree, (and I don't want to sound like your mum) but for the uninitiated, Phuket roads are very chaotic, to say the least, and you really should only ride a bike if you have ridden one before, and even then, need to be careful.

[Sir Burr]

Some fixed costs you're not factoring in.

Visa runs.

Electricity.

Water.

Licence, insurance and petrol (if car or motorbike is bought).

These cost of living threads are pointless. Some people claim that they can live for less than 20,000 per month. Others say they need at least 150,000 per month.

[WOOHOO]

These cost of living threads are pointless

Bye then!!

[WOOHOO]

What people can and can not live on will always vary. The list of prices DrDave gave are FACT. so armed with that knowledge, along with knowing how much he is going to earn, the OP can get a very real idea of living costs in Phuket. Far from pointless if you ask me!!

[Sir Burr]

DrDave gave are FACT. so armed with that knowledge, along with knowing how much he is going to earn, the OP can get a very real idea of living costs in Phuket.

Errm......these facts are for which location on the island? Prices vary drastically depending where you live.

What's up WOOHOO, the missus didn't give you any this morning, or, is it just your time of the month?

[WOOHOO]

Some fixed costs you're not factoring in.

Visa runs.

Electricity.

Water.

License, insurance and petrol

If you need to make periodic visa runs, the cost will be start around 1,500 baht for a one-day package

you'll also have to pay for water and electricity. Figure on about 1,500 baht/month

Add a few hundred baht/month for gas

Errm......these facts are for which location on the island? Prices vary drastically depending where you live.

A good Thai meal can be had for between 30 and 40 baht,

A good lunch of Thai food at the beach will be about 80 baht +/-.

A beer in a bar costs between 40 and 120 baht, depending upon the venue and location.

What's up WOOHOO, the missus didn't give you any this morning

It would seem as if you were a little too busy getting yours this morning, to read DrDave's thread properly

Didn't mean to sound too bitchy mate. It's just that the words this thread is pointless get right on my tits. when I see a post I think is pointless or stupid, I don't even open it, let alone open it, read it, and then reply to it 3 times!!!. It reminds me of the people that right to the BBC, or whoever, complaining that the programme they watched last night was disgusting. Too much violence, too much sex, too much bad language etc etc. But at no time, while they were watching the whole programme, from start to finish, did they think to turn the fuc*ing thing off or over. Leaves me scratching my bonce in total bewilderment. I'm not suggesting you are like that Sir Burr, far from it, I just think those words must send a rush of blood to my head, no offense meant. As I've said before, if we were all the same it would be a boring old world.

[phuketrichard]

No Idea where these figures came from but here are the real ones and i have been living in Phuket 20 years

Woohoo has given a very good summary.

Here are some actual numbers to consider when drawing up a budget. The following would be for a bare-bones lifestyle in Patong, but it should give you an idea of what you can expect to spend at a minimum. As Woohoo says, the more disposable income you have, the more fun you'll have - but here's a starting point.

Accommodation - on a long term rental basis, you should be able to rent a nice, western-style 1 bedroom or studio apartment for about 15,000 baht/month. This would generally include cable TV, aircon and cooking facilities, and possibly internet access, but most likely no pool. A little less for fewer amenities. You can go lower if your budget is stretched, but this is a good entry level. If your apartment doesn't have laundry facilities, there are a few low-priced laundries where you might spend maybe 300 baht/month. When renting an apartment long-term, you'll also have to pay for water and electricity. Figure on about 1,500 baht/month assuming you don't run the a/c full-on.

Figure for a fancy apt/condo u will pay 25-35,000/month

For a nice apt in a thai complext like Patong or such 7-10,000/month

For a house in kamala ( where i live) 10-15,000 baht/month

add on UBC for 1,500

electirc for 1-1,200 if u run air

1 months landry wil run u 600-1,000/month

Phone 100 baht/month

Internet from 200-2,500/month

Transportation - you'll most likely have an apartment on a hillside, which means that walking everywhere may not be an option. You should be able to rent a decent motorbike for about 3,000 baht/month. Add a few hundred baht/month for gas. If you need to make periodic visa runs, the cost will be start around 1,500 baht for a one-day package.

You can rnet a bike ling term for less than 2,000/month BUy one if ur going to be here for a year as they are only 35-50,000 .

Gas 91 is 32 baht/lt

95 is 33.5

Food - If you really like Thai food, and don't need to eat western-style food on a regular basis, then you're in luck. A good Thai meal can be had in the small Thai restaurants and food stalls, just outside the main tourist areas for between 30 and 40 baht. It can actually be cheaper to eat at these places compared to buying food and cooking at home. Drinking water for home is only 10 baht for a 5 gallon jug. Assuming 3 Thai meals/day - that's about 1,000 baht/month. If you prefer to eat western food, you're looking at about 3-4 times that amount, at a minimum. A good lunch of Thai food at the beach will be about 80 baht +/-.

Thai food from 30 baht/dish/rice for 10 in a small thai rest 70-100 baht/dish in nicer rest.

western food 150-.....

I can eat a great meal on the beach in kamala for 2 for less than 400 baht

Entertainment - this is obviously discretionary. A beer in a bar costs between 40 and 120 baht, depending upon the venue and location. A small bottle of beer is 25-45 baht at the supermarket or 7-11. Movies at a theatre are about 150 baht, while bootleg DVDs are about 60 baht. A chair at the beach is 80 baht/day in low season (although its perfectly ok to bring a towel and sit on the sand). Riding around the island to see the sights on your your rented motorbike is virtually free, while eating in the large tourist restaurants and going to the tourist-oriented shows is expensive. You have a lot of options here.

Movies in Central are 120 baht

DVD's 80 baht

Beer cost 25-30 baht in the grocery store in a bar happy hour prices 50 baht, night time 70-100 baht except at Rock Hard where they cheat ya for 120

girls form 1,000-2,000 not including buying her drinks and bar fine

So - using the above as a baseline for basic necessities, you can live on about 16,500 for good accommodation, 3,000 for food, about 3,500 for transportation for a total of about 23,000 baht/month. This is bare-bones, no-frills, and probably not an attractive level of lifestyle to most. Add to this whatever you think you'd spend to maintain the sort of lifestyle you'd like to have (entertainment, variety of food, socializing, etc).

NOt a chance in hel_l u can live on 23,000/month

Figure if ur living alone and occasiolany bring home a guest it will cost u min 35,000/month to have an ok life but better to push that to 50,000

I live on 75,000 and own my own house BUT send my daughter to the international school which is 40,000/month

we eat in 4 nights a week and out 3 I dont hit the bars but once or twice a month and cook farang food at home

[Sir Burr]

Now do you see what I mean by pointless?

PS. Thanks phuketrichard for helping to demonstrate a point.

[WOOHOO]

Probably won't get too many responses to this as it's quite personal. I have never worked in Thailand, but know a couple of people that do, but that's in BKK. If anyone out there is feeling bold and open, I would be intrigued to know what you workers are earning and what the average would be. Seems like the best way to know exactly what you can and can't live on. There is a slight flaw to this plan. Low earners will probably stay quiet while high earners will be happy to share stories of their wealth. It's worth a shot. Maybe we will hear back from the OP. He can tell us if it's helped him or not, or been a pointless exersice. Either way it's killed a few hours until the footy starts, so it's done me proud. COME ON YOU BLUES.

[DrDave]

No Idea where these figures came from but here are the real ones and i have been living in Phuket 20 years

NOt a chance in hel_l u can live on 23,000/month

Figure if ur living alone and occasiolany bring home a guest it will cost u min 35,000/month to have an ok life but better to push that to 50,000

I live on 75,000 and own my own house BUT send my daughter to the international school which is 40,000/month

we eat in 4 nights a week and out 3 I dont hit the bars but once or twice a month and cook farang food at home

The whole point of my answer was to provide the OP with a bare minimum amount that is needed for sustenance. In other words, if you don't have about 23,000 baht per month, you probably will not be able to support yourself, and shouldn't even consider moving here. In my mind, sustenance doesn't include nightlife, entertainment and anything other than life's basic necessities. As I mentioned in the post, he has to take this figure, and add an appropriate amount to support the lifestyle that he desires. It's difficult for any of us to know what sort of lifestyle another person desires or requires. An "ok" lifestyle for you might be considered a squalid or maybe an extravagant lifestyle by another person. That's why I provided a bare minimum monthly amount, to which the OP needs to add an amount to support the lifestyle that he wants. That additional amount might be a little, or it might be a lot. Up to him.

You mention that you spend about 35,000 baht per month (excluding housing and tuition), which sounds entirely reasonable. I'm suggesting that it's possible for a single person to minimally support himself on about 8,000/month, excluding housing. "Support" is the operative word here. I didn't suggest that the OP would want to live at this level.

Similar to you, my wife and I live in Phuket, own our home, and probably spend about the same amount or maybe just a little more per month, which provides a comfortable lifestyle well beyond basic sustenance. If we had to, we could probably survive on 8-10,000 baht/month, but we wouldn't enjoy it. Again, the point of the figures I provided was to establish a "floor" amount, under which it may not be possible to support oneself without living in complete squalor. For most people, there's a big difference between basic sustenance, and the lifestyle that they'd like to live. The difficult part for someone contemplating a move here is projecting (and managing) the cost of that difference.

[DrDave]

Some fixed costs you're not factoring in.

Visa runs.

Electricity.

Water.

Licence, insurance and petrol (if car or motorbike is bought).

These cost of living threads are pointless. Some people claim that they can live for less than 20,000 per month. Others say they need at least 150,000 per month.

You might want to re-read the post - these fixed costs were covered:

When renting an apartment long-term, you'll also have to pay for water and electricity. Figure on about 1,500 baht/month assuming you don't run the a/c full-on.

You should be able to rent a decent motorbike for about 3,000 baht/month. Add a few hundred baht/month for gas. If you need to make periodic visa runs, the cost will be start around 1,500 baht for a one-day package.

I would agree that trying to come up with a definitive cost-of-living figure is pointless. None of us can assess the type of lifestyle that another person wants to live. In my opinion, it's NOT pointless to try to give someone a cost figure that represents the minimum amount of money required to support oneself with a roof over their head, and food to eat each day.

[stuandchris]

For my two satang's worth, I live here with a farang wife and mix and match between Thai and farang for food [maybe leaning more to farang] We have a pension of 90,000 THB and have a very good life.

We don't do Patong or the tourist bits though.

[mgs]

ok so the OP is back. I was going to post a reply earlier but decided to wait and see what others had to say. I originally asked because I have read a few things which say that Phuket is the most expensive place in Thailand and had a slight panic.

Although there are clearly different views as to how much is livable you have all shown that Phuket is cheap.

I love Thai food more than any other and don't intend to go out on the lash all the time so I will manage just fine.

Anyyone want to offer comments about where they live and why they chose that part of Phuket. Still to decide here and don't know the island so was going to look around when I first arrive but comments again gratefully received.

Thanks for all the comments so far!

[WOOHOO]

People who thought this post wasn't pointless - 1

People who thought it was - 0

Mgs are you deliberately trying to start a fight? Didn't you just see how we all squabbled over how much things cost. Now you want people to talk about the advantages of their own areas over others. I'm getting out while the going's good. The thing is, every different area has it's own style, it's own pace, it's own community. I can't see how you could possible decide the best place for you to base yourself, without having spent time here first. My suggestion would be to rent something on a temporary basis at first, spend a month or so getting to know the island, and then make a decision as to where you would like to stay long term.

[mgs]

omg woohoo - if someone moved to where i lived now and asked about the merits of it i would tell them to help them get to know areas. I am not asking people to tell em where to live or to agree with each other and as i said i will rent somewhere to start but good to get a head start. just what they liek about their area. Is that so bad? That's all i am doing. Why waste your energy replying? You need to chill lol.

If this thread angers you or upsets you then why not move onto one that doesn't?

Cheers

X

[Sir Burr]

It's true that Phuket is the most expensive place in Thailand.

Patong - The most expensive place to stay for everything. Good night-life, though.

Kathu valley & Phuket Town - Located on the other side of the hills of Patong, this is a residential area, prices are cheap. Great location if you want to be not far from everywhere. Night-life is more geared to residents rather than tourists.

Karon & Kata - Located south of Patong, things are definitely cheaper here when it comes to accomodation and food. Three of the best beaches on the island are within minutes of each other. Night-life OKish, but goes completely dead in the off-season.

Chalong, Rawai & Nai Harn Beach - The southern part of the island and on the east coast. Chalong and Rawai are cheap for accomodation. There are many westerners living on this portion of the island. Night-life is low-key, but, a few great bars and restaurants located on the water's edge. Nai Harn is the only beach you can swim on, as the east cost has a thick layer of mud caused by tin dredging in the past.

Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao - All getting progressively further north of Patong. These are expensive places with multi-million dollar houses and upscale hotels (kamala less so), not very conveniently placed to get to other parts of the island. High cost of accomodation and food. Low key night-life.

Everywhere north of here, I consider the boonies.

[vanalli]

I find Phuket a lot cheaper than Bangkok, although that's largely because the island doesn't have much of a party scene.

[Sir Burr]

^

You just don't know the right people......

[vanalli]

^

You just don't know the right people......

808, Club Culture, Club Soma, Glow, Cafe De Moc, Bed Supperclub (when they book DJs)... it's not about knowing the right people.

[WOOHOO]

If this thread angers you or upsets you then why not move onto one that doesn't?

I think you'll find I was being light hearted mate!! If this thread angered me in anyway I wouldn't have waisted my precious time making 8 posts, in an attempt to give you some advice. It was my tongue in cheek, way of saying I really can't be bothered to make a post about something like that, just to have someone, not disagree with me, but tell me my opinion isn't even valid, and what I'm saying is misleading to the O.P. Which is what happened last time I offered advice of that nature.

[chiang mai]

I have difficulty with the idea that Phuket is more expensive than anywhere else in Thailand. The groceries at Tesco and in the local markets in Phuket are the same price, more or less, as in the Tesco's and local markets in say Chiang Mai, Buriram or anywhere else in Thailand. The cost of water, electricity, UBC, road tax, car insurance, petrol, cigarettes, clothes and goodness knows what else is priced the same here in Phuket as anywhere else. Eating out in Phuket CAN be more expensive as can the price of a beer in a tourist bar and female companionship (so I'm told). Property rentals CAN be more expensive also.

I for one spend the same amount every month living in Patong as when I used to live in Chiang Mai - my rent is 5k higher but I now have a sea view and a house instead of a condo - broadly it all trades off to be even. Turn the question around slightly and ask where would it be easier to spend a large amount of money every month, Chiang Mai, Buriram or Phuket and Phuket of course wins hands down because there is far more choice here.

[breezein]

your all wrong Samui is is more expensive than phuket.

[chickencurry]

For my two satang's worth, I live here with a farang wife and mix and match between Thai and farang for food [maybe leaning more to farang] We have a pension of 90,000 THB and have a very good life.

We don't do Patong or the tourist bits though.

I don't think these threads are pointless - you do get a good broad idea of costs from them. I scoured this forum last year and figured we would prob be spending around 100,000 THB a month to live a good life here and been here 3 months now and the estimate was spot on. Like stuandchris, we're both falangs, mix Thai and western food, sometimes eat in, sometimes out. Actually found that we were hugely under budget on food/drinks costs but the aircon really whacks up the figure.

If you do without aircon (or minimal aircon) you can live a good life on a lot less I think. Some friend of ours live on 30,000 thb - smoke, drink, run a car but dont go out so often and use no aircon at all. All depends on what you can afford and what you are happy with.

[Naam]

I don't think these threads are pointless - you do get a good broad idea of costs from them. I scoured this forum last year and figured we would prob be spending around 100,000 THB a month to live a good life here and been here 3 months now and the estimate was spot on. Like stuandchris, we're both falangs, mix Thai and western food, sometimes eat in, sometimes out. Actually found that we were hugely under budget on food/drinks costs but the aircon really whacks up the figure.

If you do without aircon (or minimal aircon) you can live a good life on a lot less I think. Some friend of ours live on 30,000 thb - smoke, drink, run a car but dont go out so often and use no aircon at all. All depends on what you can afford and what you are happy with.

this calls for an explanation i have a rather big and fully airconditioned home and spend approximately 2.5% of my total expenses (in Thailand) on airconditioning (A/C is ~50% of my electricity bill). therefore switching off all A/Cs and sweating would be more or less a drop in the ocean as far as savings are concerned.