Would you like to take a trip to Phuket? If yes, you have chosen one of the most amazing holiday destinations in Thailand and the world as a whole. This island is a spectacular place that receives tens of millions of visitors from different parts of the globe annually. As you start your plan to visit Phuket, it is vital to know the financial implications of going to this popular Thai city.
There is no specific figure for everyone embarking on a trip to Phuket, but a single person should have a budget of around 1,500 USD to 2,500 USD for a non-luxury trip for one or more weeks. If you are traveling with a friend or family, your budget will differ. Besides, the lifestyle you want to enjoy during your trip to Phuket will also affect how much a trip to this island will cost you.
Having considered the points above, it is noteworthy that several forums have provided different estimates of how much a trip to Phuket will cost you. So, in this post, we will look at various subjects that can help you to have a better idea of the cost of traveling to Phuket.
How much does it cost to visit Phuket?
As stated early, there is no one-size-fits-all process for determining the cost of a trip to Phuket. This is because numerous factors will affect the overall cost of visiting this astonishing Thai island.
Based on our findings on Hotels.com and other reliable sources, this is the breakdown of how much it will cost to visit Phuket:
- Flight
Of course, once you have decided to visit Phuket, you will have to obtain some necessary traveling documents. The documents to obtain will depend on your country’s relationship with Thailand. If you are coming from some countries, you can enjoy a visa-free trip to this Southeast Asian country. However, other countries may require a visa.
After getting the documents, the first thing you need to spend money on is your flight to Phuket. Luckily, this city has an international airport called Phuket International Airport. Therefore, you may be able to take a direct flight from your country of residence to Phuket. Nonetheless, some places may not have a direct flight to Phuket, so you can fly to Bangkok before going to the largest island in Thailand.
According to Champion Traveler, economy flights to Phuket will cost you about 886 USD to 1,462 USD. If you want to fly first class, you should be ready to spend more on your flight. However, you should note that the above figures are just averages. Your location will have a significant impact on the cost. For instance, someone going to Phuket from a Southeast Asian country will spend less on flights than another person coming from North America.
In addition, the time of travel will have a substantial impact on the cost. Generally, if you are traveling during the peak season of visiting Thailand, you will likely have to pay more for your flight. Besides, flights tend to be cheaper during some particular time of the day. Also, your choice of an airline will affect the cost of a flight from your location to Phuket.
- Accommodation
After getting to Phuket, there is a need for you to find a place to stay. So, finding accommodation is important. Before COVID-19, more than 30 million individuals visited this island every year. Fortunately, innumerable accommodations are available in Phuket. In fact, it has been estimated that more than 85,000 rooms are available for tourists in Phuket.
The good thing about accommodation in this city is that it comes in different types. If you are a budget traveler that needs a cheap place to stay, there is nice accommodation for you. A wealthy individual that needs luxury resorts will also not be stranded in the city.
If you want budget hotels, you should have a budget of about 300 to 1,200 THB (9 to 36 USD) per night. Some budget-friendly accommodations even allow you to share your room with other tourists to reduce the cost for each person.
A room in a mid-range hotel can go for anything from 1,500 to 3,000 THB (45 to 90 USD) each night. Such accommodation will provide all the basic amenities you need to enjoy your stay on the island. However, a room in a luxury hotel can cost about 5,000 to 500,000 THB per night (152 to 15,000 USD) per night. Notably, the higher the cost, the more luxury available to lodgers.
You can check out some of the best deals for accommodation in Phuket on Expedia.
- Transportation
As expected, you will need to move from one place to another when you are in Phuket. In this city, numerous transportation options are always at your beck and call. From tuk-tuks to cabs, public buses, motorcycle taxis, and lots more, you can find different choices. To save money on your transportation, you should always go for public buses that will likely cost less than 100 THB (3 USD) per trip. Such a trip may last for one or more hours, depending on where you are going.
Otherwise, you can order private taxis. These taxis offer you more freedom to move from one place to another in Phuket. Furthermore, they provide more privacy during your trips but tend to be more expensive than other options. You can also rent a bike or car during your stay in Phuket. However, getting a license to use the rented car can be a problem depending on how long you will stay in Phuket.
- Food
Food is another important thing you cannot avoid during your visit to Phuket. The cost of food in Phuket will depend on the type of food you prefer and the kind of restaurant you want to visit. If you want to buy Thai meals from street vendors, you should have a budget of around 40 to 70 THB (1.2 to 2.1 USD) per meal. It should be noted that street food vendors can be found almost everywhere in Thailand. The same meal can cost as much as 500 THB (15 USD) in a mid-range local restaurant on the island.
If you prefer international cuisines, lots of restaurants in Phuket offer them, but your budget should be bigger. An international meal can set you back by around 100 to 600 THB (3 to 18 USD) at a budget-friendly restaurant. The same dish can cost more than 1,000 THB (30 USD) in a 5-star resort restaurant on this Thai island.
You will also need to consider the cost of water in Phuket. This can run into thousands of Thai baht during your stay in the city. If you like taking alcoholic drinks, you should realize that they are usually expensive in Thailand. So, taking alcohol will increase the cost of visiting this island.
- Entertainment
As a tourist in Phuket, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see many of the wonderful attractions on the island. Besides, you may want to enjoy the island’s nightlife and visit other nearby places. All these entertainment options will cost you some money.
Entrance fees for museums in Phuket usually cost around 100 to 400 THB (3 to 12 USD). The larger and most visited ones are usually the most expensive to visit. National parks will cost around 200 to 400 THB (6 to 12 USD) to access. At about 500 to 1,500 THB (15 to 45 USD), the entrance fees for botanical and animal parks tend to be more expensive than the national parks. You may also find some free Buddhist temples to visit during your trip to this island.
Tons of nightclubs, bars, discotheques, etc. are available in Phuket. So, if you like nightlife, you cannot run out of options during your trip to Phuket. Some of these nightlife destinations have entrance fees while others require you to buy some of their drinks. Overall, you should have a budget of at least 350 THB (10.6 USD) to enjoy these places. Of course, if you want to stay longer or have the best of time, you may need to spend thousands of Thai Baht in these nightlife locations.
Also, if you want to have a ship cruise or just visit the islands around Phuket, you will have to increase your budget for entertainment. For example, an organized tour of the Phi Phi islands can cost you around 1,000 to 4,000 THB (30 to 121 USD). The tour will include a visit to the islands, lunch, etc. Some may even provide equipment for snorkeling and other watersports.
Notably, you may also need to spend some money on miscellanies. If your trip is long, health costs can also have a noticeable effect on the cost of a trip to this island. As a result of these factors, you must not hesitate to add them to your budget for the trip to Phuket.
From the figures above, you will have to spend at least 90 USD daily on a budget-friendly trip to Phuket. This doesn’t consider the cost of your flights to the island. So, when staying for more than a month, you will need to spend more than 1,500 USD as a tourist in Phuket. In addition, the estimated daily cost of living can increase sharply if you want to lead a luxury life in Phuket.
Is Phuket expensive for tourists?
This depends on where the tourists are coming from. For tourists coming from the majority of western countries with a high cost of living, Phuket is a relatively affordable place for vacations. The average cost of living for tourists in Phuket is lower than the cost of living in New York, London, Berlin, Sydney, and other top cities around the world.
However, if you are a tourist from a place with a low cost of living, you may consider Phuket to be an expensive destination for tourists. This is because the cost of living in the city may be considered too high for you. When compared to other cities or towns in Thailand, Phuket is more expensive for tourists.
How much money do I need for 7 days in Thailand?
As noted by Budget Your Trip, you will need about 21,000 THB (around 636 USD) to stay comfortably in Thailand for 7 days. This figure is specifically meant for Phuket as most other places in Thailand are relatively cheaper to stay in than this big island. This particular amount considers different things such as a 1-bed accommodation, food, local transportation, and entertainment. The cost will increase if you want to add an international flight to it.
If you are traveling with one other person, you should have a budget of around 42,000 THB (1272 USD) for a 7-day trip to Thailand. For a small family of 4, you will need around 82,500 THB (2,500 USD) to cover your living expenses on the island for 7 days.
However, it is essential to note that these are just the ideal figures for comfortable living in the city. Many people have lived for a significantly lesser amount in Phuket and other parts of the Land of Smiles during their visit for 7 days. Besides, luxury living can lead to a huge spike in the cost of a 7-day visit to Thailand.
How much is a 3-course meal in Phuket?
Do you want to enjoy a 3-course meal in Phuket during your trip? Budget Your Trip says it will cost around 400 to 1,300 THB (12 to 39 USD). You must understand that the cost will vary based on where you are buying a 3-course meal on the island.
Conclusion
Visiting Phuket and other places in Thailand can be an amazing experience for a tourist. However, this trip may be expensive as there are lots of things that you cannot avoid while on the island. However, with a budget of under 700 USD, you can enjoy a seamless lifestyle on the island. Nevertheless, your lifestyle can decrease or increase the cost.
