Phuket Cost of Living: Overview
What it costs to live and work remotely from Phuket, broken down by category.
Phuket runs more expensive than Chiang Mai, closer to Bangkok pricing, trading the northern city's cafe-and-coworking culture for beach access and a more tourism-driven economy — a genuinely different lifestyle choice, not just a pricing difference.
- 1BR apartment, city area — $250-1,000+/month, with a genuinely wide spread: inland areas like Chalong or Phuket Town run cheaper, while beachside Bang Tao can rival or exceed central Bangkok pricing during high season (November-March)
- Coworking, monthly — roughly 3,500 THB/month (~$100 USD) at spaces bundling coworking with gym/pool access; day-rate cafes are also a common, cheaper alternative
- Scooter rental, monthly — 2,500-4,000 THB/month (~$75-115 USD); an international driver's license is genuinely required, not just a formality — police checks in busy areas like Patong specifically target foreigners riding without one
Run your own numbers
Every figure above is a starting estimate. Plug in your real budget with the Cost Calculator.
Open the Cost CalculatorThis is informational, not advice. Visa, tax, and immigration rules change, and a general guide can't account for your specific situation. Before you act on anything here, confirm current details with the relevant embassy, consulate, or a licensed immigration or tax professional. See our editorial policy for how we verify what we publish.