Phuket - Cost of Living:
Phuket province has the highest per capita income in Thailand and therefore slowly over time has become one of the most expensive places to live in Thailand. Relative to the western world though Phuket's cost of good living is still relatively cheap. In Phuket there is a major difference in cost if you live like a local Thai person. Most expats live in western style accomodation and delight in the cost of for example, excellent food at local restaurants.
Here are some typical living costs:
Food:You can spend from 25 baht to.....and just keep going up. It just depends on where you go and what you want to eat. There are plenty of Thai style noodle shops and street food stalls where you can get noodles, Roti, or barbeque for around 25 to 45 baht per plate. A meal at a simple sit down Thai restaurant is usually about 80 baht. For 100 to 150 baht you can get a great meal at a higher-end Thai restaurant. Most mid-range and high end Thai restaurants also serve western foods for 200 to 300 baht per person but often it's safer to stick with the Thai menu. Phuket has some excellent foreign restaurants, some at quite reasonable prices. For 400 to 600 baht you can get a good western meal for two and 800 to 1,000 baht gets you a five star western dinner.
Drink: A small bottle of local beer at a pub usually costs about 50 baht, while a large bottle is about 80 to 100 baht. Imported beers (except Heineken) are harder to find and considerably more expensive. A pint of Guinness flows from the tap at 300 baht a pint, and cider is a similar price. Spirits are usually 100 to 150 baht a glass (mixer included) for imports and 60 to 80 baht for the local stuff (all double measures). Local whisky and rum such as Sangsom and Mae Khong are cheaper but if you spend the little extra your head will thank you in the morning. Unless you're lucky enough not to have to worry about the cost, avoid ordering wine. There is an amazing 260% tax on all wine so even the cheapest and nastiest wine is expensive. For all drinks be warned prices will double the second you step into a heavy tourist area like Patong.
Phone and Internet: Internet cafés generally charge 20 baht an hour in town and 30 to 60 baht an hour near the beaches. Cheap and used mobile phones cost anywhere from 1,500 baht to 7,000 baht and a SIM card is 250 baht. Top-up cards can be found at any convenience store. The rate varies from network to network but is usually around 10 to 15 baht a minute. 1-2-Call has the best coverage, while Orange has the lowest rate. If you have a work permit or Thai ‘sponsor; you can get a subscriber account which offers much more competitive rates. Internet services within hotels are often unreasonably expensive, some cafes about the island offer free wi-fi or at least at a minimal charge. ADSL is also widely available on the island if you are in a populated and well developed area.
Clothes: There are plenty of open-air markets where you can buy shirts and tops from 100 baht, and jeans for 400 baht. To buy genuine branded clothes you will pay western prices. There are countless tailor shops located all over the island. A custom tailored suit, including jacket, trousers and two shirts costs about 4,000 baht. Most clothes are made in Thai sizes, so finding something that fits, especially shoes, can sometimes be a challenge.
Health: A visit to the doctor will cost around 1,000 baht for a simple check-up or consultation. Likewise dental work is extremely cheap, with dental cleaning costing around 800 baht. Hospitals in Phuket are up to international standards, with competent doctors, excellent facilities and health check packages designed for both sexes and different age groups. For advanced specialist treatment patients are referred to Bangkok. Bupa, AIA and other international companies have local operations.
