People often ask me about the cost of living in Phuket, as compared with Bangkok. Despite what a lot of people will tell you, Phuket does not suffer from a New York cost of living. When I was in Bangkok, I rattled through pretty much all of my monthly salary — and then some. In Phuket, I spend hardly anything.
The biggest expenditure if you plan on staying in Phuket for a prolonged period is rent. Depending on the type of place you choose, rent will be anything from 3,500 baht up to 10,000 baht and beyond — not dissimilar to Bangkok.
In terms of day-to-day expenses, I normally spend less than 300 baht a day. This covers my food and random activities. There are exceptions to this average, such as if I need to fly to Bangkok or I see a jacket in Zara I want, but for the most part, I don’t end up spending much money.
I actually save more money living in Phuket than I ever did in Bangkok. A lot of this is down to the Phuket party scene not having the same kind of appeal as the Bangkok scene. In Bangkok, I’d be out partying most nights until 5 am or 6 am. In Phuket, I’m lucky if I party once a week. Even then, I don’t have the same sort of friends as I did in Bangkok, so the whole all-night thing goes out the window.
If you’re thinking of moving to Phuket and you’re worried about the cost of living — don’t be. Phuket is only as expensive as you make it.
This post was written by Matt from Phuket Vogue.
Phuket,Moving Abroad
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