One of the most common questions before relocating or buying property is: what does living in Thailand really cost? The answer depends on your lifestyle and location, but it is possible to give concrete, indicative ranges. Below we break a monthly budget in Phuket into its parts and show how much you need to have or earn to live here comfortably.
What the cost of living in Thailand depends on
Thailand can be very cheap or quite expensive - it all depends on the choices you make day to day. The biggest impact on your budget comes from:
- Location - Phuket and Bangkok are pricier than the provinces or Hua Hin; prices also vary within the island itself.
- Standard of housing - a beachfront apartment with a pool costs many times more than a local apartment inland.
- Eating style - local food from markets and street stalls is cheap; Western restaurants and imported products push the bills up.
- Transport - your own scooter costs pennies, while regular taxis and car hire are a real expense.
- Healthcare and insurance - private care is excellent, but health insurance is a fixed, significant cost.
Monthly budget - indicative ranges
The figures below are an estimate for a couple living a comfortable but not luxurious life in Phuket. Treat them as a starting point - the THB exchange rate and inflation change the picture, so always check current prices.
- Apartment rent (1-2 rooms, good location): around 18,000-40,000 THB
- Food (a mix of local and restaurants): around 20,000-35,000 THB
- Transport (scooter/car, fuel): around 3,000-15,000 THB
- Utilities and internet: around 3,000-6,000 THB
- Healthcare / insurance: around 5,000-15,000 THB
- Entertainment, sport, sundries: around 5,000-15,000 THB
A comfortable life for a couple in Phuket runs to roughly 60,000-100,000 THB a month (around EUR 1,600-2,800). You can live more modestly for less, and in the premium version - considerably more.
Housing - renting or owning
The biggest item in the budget is a roof over your head. To start with, many people rent in order to get to know the island and choose a favourite area. In the longer term, your own apartment eliminates rent and can earn its keep when you are not using it - through short-term rentals. A foreigner can buy a condo on full freehold ownership - details in our guide on whether a foreigner can buy property, and you will find current price ranges in property prices in Thailand.
How much you need to have or earn
For a couple to live comfortably, a realistic income is around EUR 1,850-2,800 a month - from a pension, remote work or rental income from property back home. A long stay also brings a visa requirement: a retirement visa usually requires you to show 800,000 THB in a Thai account or an income of around 65,000 THB a month. We cover the formalities in more detail in our guide on visas and residency in Thailand and in our guide to retirement in Thailand.
Is Thailand cheaper than Europe?
In many categories - eating out, services, transport, healthcare - it tends to be cheaper or comparable, and for the same amount you live noticeably more comfortably here than in a large European city. On the other hand, imported products, alcohol and good private insurance can be more expensive. The balance comes out in Thailand's favour for those who embrace the local lifestyle - and that is precisely why more and more foreign buyers treat Phuket as a place for a second home or retirement.