Phuket is Thailand's most developed island and its cost of living reflects that. Rent is higher than Chiang Mai and often rivals Bangkok's mid-tier market, especially near the beach. Food spans from cheap local spots to expensive tourist-facing restaurants. The lack of public transit means almost everyone needs a motorbike or car, adding to monthly costs. That said, the lifestyle dividend — beaches, sunsets, and a large expat community — makes it one of Thailand's most popular long-stay destinations despite higher prices.
Monthly Budget Tiers
Basic studio away from the beach, local food markets, rented motorbike, Thai SIM. Tight but doable outside peak season.
One-bedroom apartment within 10 minutes of a beach, mix of local and tourist restaurants, own motorbike, streaming services.
Modern pool villa or large condo near Rawai or Laguna, car plus motorbike, regular dining out and beach clubs, health insurance.
What restaurants in Phuket charge
Price bands published by 146 listed eating-and-drinking venues in Phuket, collected 2026-08-02.
- Under ฿200
- 27%
- ฿200–400
- 55%
- ฿400 and above
- 18%
This is what venues with an online listing publish, not a survey of what visitors spend. Street food and market stalls are largely absent from the sample, so real day-to-day eating costs run lower than these bands suggest.
What the baht is worth
Bank of Thailand daily weighted-average interbank rate for 2026-08-11. Your bank or an airport counter will give you noticeably less.
| Currency | Baht per unit | ฿1,000 buys |
|---|---|---|
| USD | 33.05 | 30 |
| EUR | 38.13 | 26 |
| GBP | 44.63 | 22 |
| AUD | 23.31 | 43 |
| CAD | 23.70 | 42 |
Source: Bank of Thailand. Interbank mid-rate — a retail exchange will be a few percent worse.
Detailed Cost Breakdown
Monthly estimates in Thai Baht (฿). Ranges reflect variation by location and lifestyle.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed) | ฿8,000–13,000 | ฿20,000–35,000 | ฿55,000–120,000 |
| Food | ฿5,000–8,000 | ฿12,000–22,000 | ฿35,000–70,000 |
| Transport | ฿2,000–3,500 | ฿4,000–7,000 | ฿10,000–20,000 |
| Utilities | ฿1,000–2,000 | ฿2,500–4,000 | ฿6,000–12,000 |
| Internet | ฿500–700 | ฿700–1,000 | ฿1,000–2,000 |
| Entertainment | ฿1,500–3,000 | ฿5,000–10,000 | ฿20,000–60,000 |
| Healthcare | ฿600–1,200 | ฿2,500–5,000 | ฿10,000–25,000 |
| Gym | ฿400–700 | ฿1,500–2,500 | ฿3,500–7,000 |
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ThailandKnowledge Editorial Team
Factual claims on this page are sourced and dated. Where something could not be verified, we say so rather than guessing.
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