How much money do you need for a month in Phuket? It depends on where and how you live: alone in a condo with a scooter, as a couple in a larger condo, or as a family with children in a villa and at school. Here are real 2026 figures and three ready-made budgets.
Housing is the biggest expense
Rent takes a third to a half of the budget. Below are median long-term rent prices from our listings as of September 2026 (half of the properties are cheaper, half are more expensive). Location matters a lot: Bang Tao and Kamala cost more, Kathu and Chalong less.
| Property | Median, ฿/month | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Studio condo | 15,000 | 11,000 – 22,000 |
| Condo, 1 bedroom | 16,000 | 13,000 – 25,000 |
| Condo, 2 bedrooms | 35,000 | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| House or villa, 2 bedrooms | 40,000 | 27,000 – 70,000 |
| Pool villa, 2 bedrooms | 67,500 | 55,000 – 75,000 |
| Pool villa, 3 bedrooms | 88,000 | 68,000 – 115,000 |
On moving in you usually pay a deposit of one to two months plus the first month in advance, so the first month costs two to three times the rent. A lease of six months or more is cheaper than month-to-month, and short rentals get noticeably pricier in high season (December–March).
See condos and villas with prices — all rentals.
Electricity, water, internet
The main surprise is the electricity bill: air conditioners run almost round the clock in the heat. The state tariff in 2026 averages about 3.95 ฿ per unit. If the meter is not in your name and you pay the landlord, since 2025 the law caps the charge at 4.88 ฿ per unit.
| Item | ฿ per month |
|---|---|
| Electricity: condo, one or two people | about 1,000 |
| Electricity: pool villa (estimate) | 6,000 – 12,000 |
| Water | 150 – 500 |
| Home internet | 600 – 1,200 |
Transport
Phuket has almost no public transport, so residents get around by scooter or car. A scooter is the cheapest option: a full tank costs about 200 ฿. Without your own transport, you can use the Grab and Bolt taxi apps.
| Transport | ฿ per month |
|---|---|
| Scooter rental | 2,500 – 4,000 |
| Car rental | 12,000 – 20,000 |
You need a motorcycle licence for a scooter: without one, insurance usually will not pay out after an accident, and police checkpoints issue fines.
Food
Food can be very cheap or quite expensive. Thai dishes in local cafés and markets are inexpensive, while western restaurants and imported groceries cost about as much as in Europe.
| Item | Price, ฿ |
|---|---|
| Dish at a Thai café | 80 – 150 |
| Main course at a western restaurant | 250 – 450 |
| Coffee at a café | 70 – 150 |
| Groceries per month, mostly local | 6,000 – 10,000 |
| Groceries per month, mostly western | 12,000 – 20,000 |
Health and fitness
Private hospitals in Phuket are good but expensive, so insurance is a must. The price depends heavily on age.
| Item | Price, ฿ |
|---|---|
| Insurance under 40, per year | 25,000 – 60,000 |
| Insurance over 60, per year | 60,000 – 180,000 and more |
| Doctor visit | 800 – 1,500 |
| Gym, per month | 1,500 – 3,500 |
Schools
For families, school is the second-largest expense after housing. Phuket’s international schools charge per academic year, and fees rise with the child’s age. Many schools add a one-off entry fee in the first year.
| School | ฿ per year |
|---|---|
| HeadStart International School | 340,000 – 680,000 |
| UWC Thailand | 450,000 – 950,000 |
| British International School Phuket (BISP) | 580,000 – 820,000, plus a 250,000 entry fee |
Bang Tao, Laguna and Surin are the most convenient areas to live near HeadStart and UWC.
Visas
For long stays, the most common option is the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) for remote workers and freelancers. The fee is 10,000 ฿; it is valid for 5 years, and each entry allows up to 180 days, extendable by another 180. You need to show at least 500,000 ฿ in your account. The rules change often, so check with the consulate before you travel.
Three sample monthly budgets
All figures are in baht per month, using the middle of the ranges above.
| Item | Single person | Couple | Family with 2 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 1-bed condo: 16,000 | 2-bed condo: 35,000 | 3-bed pool villa: 88,000 |
| Electricity and water | 1,200 | 1,500 | 10,000 |
| Internet and phone | 1,000 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Transport | scooter: 4,000 | 2 scooters: 8,000 | car: 18,000 |
| Food | 15,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
| Insurance | 3,000 | 6,000 | 12,000 |
| School | — | — | 2 children: 57,000 |
| Fitness and leisure | 2,000 | 6,000 | 10,000 |
| Total per month | ≈ 42,200 | ≈ 88,000 | ≈ 236,500 |
The school line in the family budget uses the lower end of HeadStart fees. Remember one-off moving costs too: the housing deposit, flights, visas and first purchases for the home.
How to save
Come in the low season. From May to October rents are lower and landlords are more willing to negotiate.
Rent for six months or more. A long lease is almost always cheaper than paying month by month.
Choose the district wisely. Villas and condos in Kathu and Chalong are much cheaper than by the sea, and the beach is 15–20 minutes away by scooter.
Watch the electricity. Check the price per unit before signing and do not leave air conditioners on in empty rooms.
Shop at markets. Fruit, vegetables and ready meals at markets are several times cheaper than in supermarkets.
Which areas are cheaper and which cost more — see “Where to live in Phuket: comparing districts”.
Sources
Thailand electricity rates and the rental cap, 2026
Food, internet, transport and insurance prices in Phuket, 2026
International school fees in Phuket, 2026
Visa-free stay cut to 30 days from 15 September 2026
DTV visa costs
Tell us how much you want to spend on housing and where you would like to live, and we will send suitable options. View rentals →