How is Phuket these days in regards to cost of living?

[MissTraveller]

Thanks for all the information, guys.
! ^I said I haven't made a decision yet, fool.

You never will, fool.
How many years now, since 'Phuket bound" was 'Phuket bound'?
It'll never happen.

I have visited there three times, so yes I have been there fyi.

[MissTraveller]

Go spend 2 weeks there and instead of having a holiday spend your time checking out the local scene, shopping centres, apartments etc then make a decision.

Sounds like you are scared to make a move.

You ought to know after 2 weeks whether a place is right for you or not.

Nah, I'm not scared at all. I'm actually waiting to find out if I got the job or not.

[aging one]

If the job is not the British International school I doubt you will be offered much over 55 or 60,000. It is the former Dulwich school, that lost the rights to use the name and rebranded itself.

[MissTraveller]

Thanks for the heads up ao, but I wouldnt be going there for the money.

[waradmiral]

But you'd still want to save some money and not spend it all.

[MissTraveller]

But you'd still want to save some money and not spend it all.

Definitely.. but I'm not that great on saving. I hope to have a chunk saved before I move there. That's my plan.

[waradmiral]

I'd want to be saving 20,000 baht a month.

[Phuketrichard]

Phuket airport has about 4.5m departures and arrivals a year. Lots of tourists arriving and you hear one bad thing a week. Do the sums and it's not that bad.

True enough, thanks. I can imagine living there will be completely different than visiting.

I hope you don't mind me picking your brain. For rents, do you have to give a deposit of a month or more when you rent. Are most contracts for a year or can you rent for less than a year. I was told that if I go in August because it is low season, I can get a great price for a year lease.

Great time to rent is NOW thru Oct.
here in kamala u can find a 2 bedroom house 10-15,000 and some are 6 months, some 1 year some are month to month. Over the years i have seen more and more empty places throughout the year. Means there is an oversupply of homes. I have not rented in years ( since i built my home) but before it was always 1 month rent/deposit.

Today took a ride along the road that runs overlooking Patong on the mtn; TONS of places homes, apts, condos for rent, Not idea the price thou.

Suggest after u get the job stay at a hotel/GH and check out the route to where ur working and imagine double the traffic in the high season, before u rent long term

Over the past 2 years i have seen prices go up alot. market for food what i was paying 25 baht/dish for is now 40. Prices continue to increase 20% ( even the 20 lt bottle of water i have always paid 10 baht form is now 12) yea its not a lot of money but that's 20% increase.

Truthfully i don't see how the thai's live on the wages they are receiving and it seems more and more Burmese in camps working construction and if u go into Patong many of the night market/shopping areas on the third road have non thai's working ( lots of Nepali's, Bangladeshis, Burmese)

Traffic is getting worse each year BUT if u avoid the main road thru phuket town that goes via Central an stay off chao fa road and the road between Patong and Phuket town during rush hour its not that bad.
WAY to many taxi's now on the island and i expect to see lots of tem for sale in the upcoming months when they realize there are not enough tourists to pay the monthly $$$

Still a great place to live ( especially the low season ) and retire or raise a family

If ur a teacher QSI and PIA both pay over 60,000/month PLUS 15,000 baht/month for a house and a flight back home each year

Horizons will be around 55-65 plus housing allowance

BIS is up over 80,000 if ur hired out of Thailand plus housing

[MissTraveller]

Thanks for the great information, Phuketrichard. Very helpful to know all of that information in regards to how Phuket is these days and how much the International schools pay. Right now, I am on the fence as I'm being offered jobs in various countries. Decisions need to be made soon enough.

The last time I was in Phuket was in 2008, and I found it very touristy then. So many taxis trying to rip you off too. Many European tourists on the beaches showing too much skin. I enjoyed travelling from Phuket to Krabi and spending time in Phang-na area. I don't know if I want to or could live in Phuket. There are many other islands in Thailand that have gorgeous beaches and aren't as crowded and touristy. I'm happy that you like it. I made some good friends who own a guesthouse there in Karon who I still keep in touch with.

[aging one]

I don't know if I want to or could live in Phuket. There are many other islands in Thailand that have gorgeous beaches and aren't as crowded and touristy.

Then why did you start a thread on it? Not being rude, I just dont understand. You also have one going on Chaing Mai.

[terry57]

^

" Misstraveller " does ask many questions that could simply be answered by a quick Google search and are more suited to " Thai-visa ".

But she is a Female and we need more Females so carry on " Misstraveller".

Harmless enough ain't ya.

[aging one]

Good point terry. Cheers mate.

[MissTraveller]

Nah, I just want to know more about a place before I go..especially from people that are there or have been there recently. I'm a bit indecisive, but also very cautious..that is why I ask so many questions. I always like to be prepared as much as possible.

[terry57]

^

That's Ok, your going along well and are welcome here.

Carry on. Teakdoor has a wealth of knowledge available and willing to share.

Cheers.

[Mr Earl]

Great time to rent is NOW thru Oct.
here in kamala u can find a 2 bedroom house 10-15,000 and some are 6 months, some 1 year some are month to month. Over the years i have seen more and more empty places throughout the year. Means there is an oversupply of homes. I have not rented in years ( since i built my home) but before it was always 1 month rent/deposit.

Today took a ride along the road that runs overlooking Patong on the mtn; TONS of places homes, apts, condos for rent, Not idea the price thou.

Suggest after u get the job stay at a hotel/GH and check out the route to where ur working and imagine double the traffic in the high season, before u rent long term

Over the past 2 years i have seen prices go up alot. market for food what i was paying 25 baht/dish for is now 40. Prices continue to increase 20% ( even the 20 lt bottle of water i have always paid 10 baht form is now 12) yea its not a lot of money but that's 20% increase.

Truthfully i don't see how the thai's live on the wages they are receiving and it seems more and more Burmese in camps working construction and if u go into Patong many of the night market/shopping areas on the third road have non thai's working ( lots of Nepali's, Bangladeshis, Burmese)

Traffic is getting worse each year BUT if u avoid the main road thru phuket town that goes via Central an stay off chao fa road and the road between Patong and Phuket town during rush hour its not that bad.
WAY to many taxi's now on the island and i expect to see lots of tem for sale in the upcoming months when they realize there are not enough tourists to pay the monthly $$$

Still a great place to live ( especially the low season ) and retire or raise a family

If ur a teacher QSI and PIA both pay over 60,000/month PLUS 15,000 baht/month for a house and a flight back home each year

Horizons will be around 55-65 plus housing allowance

BIS is up over 80,000 if ur hired out of Thailand plus housing

Excellent info;

Kamala is one of the last really laid back pleasant places to live in Phuket.

Prices are going up dramatically. Two years ago a street vendor somtam was 40 baht, now it's 60 baht. This kind of inflation hits you know who the hardest... the folks who work there.
I'm having a hard time foreseeing the future for Phuket right now, between the illiterate, boorish, cheapskate Russian and the rampant inflation it's anyone's guess, but I'll tell it's getting harder and harder to earn any money there.
Personally I'm preparing an exit strategy.

[MissTraveller]

^Good luck, and thanks for the post Mr. Earl.

Teakdoor has a wealth of knowledge available and willing to share. Cheers.

Cheers, Terry. Indeed.

[waradmiral]

Great time to rent is NOW thru Oct.
here in kamala u can find a 2 bedroom house 10-15,000 and some are 6 months, some 1 year some are month to month. Over the years i have seen more and more empty places throughout the year. Means there is an oversupply of homes. I have not rented in years ( since i built my home) but before it was always 1 month rent/deposit.

Today took a ride along the road that runs overlooking Patong on the mtn; TONS of places homes, apts, condos for rent, Not idea the price thou.

Suggest after u get the job stay at a hotel/GH and check out the route to where ur working and imagine double the traffic in the high season, before u rent long term

Over the past 2 years i have seen prices go up alot. market for food what i was paying 25 baht/dish for is now 40. Prices continue to increase 20% ( even the 20 lt bottle of water i have always paid 10 baht form is now 12) yea its not a lot of money but that's 20% increase.

Truthfully i don't see how the thai's live on the wages they are receiving and it seems more and more Burmese in camps working construction and if u go into Patong many of the night market/shopping areas on the third road have non thai's working ( lots of Nepali's, Bangladeshis, Burmese)

Traffic is getting worse each year BUT if u avoid the main road thru phuket town that goes via Central an stay off chao fa road and the road between Patong and Phuket town during rush hour its not that bad.
WAY to many taxi's now on the island and i expect to see lots of tem for sale in the upcoming months when they realize there are not enough tourists to pay the monthly $$$

Still a great place to live ( especially the low season ) and retire or raise a family

If ur a teacher QSI and PIA both pay over 60,000/month PLUS 15,000 baht/month for a house and a flight back home each year

Horizons will be around 55-65 plus housing allowance

BIS is up over 80,000 if ur hired out of Thailand plus housing

Excellent info;

Kamala is one of the last really laid back pleasant places to live in Phuket.

Prices are going up dramatically. Two years ago a street vendor somtam was 40 baht, now it's 60 baht. This kind of inflation hits you know who the hardest... the folks who work there.
I'm having a hard time foreseeing the future for Phuket right now, between the illiterate, boorish, cheapskate Russian and the rampant inflation it's anyone's guess, but I'll tell it's getting harder and harder to earn any money there.
Personally I'm preparing an exit strategy.

For a Thai person earning 12,000 baht a month that increase is a problem but it isn't for someone earning 45,000 baht a month.