Quick answer: Phuket runs about EUR 70 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: November-April - the dry season with calm seas; May-October brings rain, swells and red flags on west-coast beaches.
What things actually cost
| street-stall pad thai | 2 EUR |
| beer from 7-Eleven | 1.50 EUR |
| beer in a beach bar | 3 EUR |
| scooter rental per day | 7 EUR |
| one-hour Thai massage | 9 EUR |
| Phang Nga Bay group tour | 40 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Pad thai or basil chicken from a street stallabout 2 EUR
- Tom yum goong at a local restaurantabout 4 EUR
- Moo hong (Phuket-style braised pork belly) in Old Town, e.g. at Raya or One Chun - about 6-8 EUR
- Fresh grilled seafood at the Rawai seafood market stallspick your fish, about 10-15 EUR
- Mango sticky rice from a market stallabout 2 EUR
- Roti pancake with banana from a night-market cartabout 1.50 EUR
Money mistakes to avoid
- Renting a scooter without a motorcycle license and helmetinsurance will not cover you and police checkpoints fine tourists daily
- Taking unmetered taxis or tuk-tuks without agreeing a price first - use Grab or the Smart Bus instead
- Booking a hotel in Patong by defaultmost of the island's charm is in Old Town and the south
- Swimming past red flags in green season (May-October)rip currents on the west coast are genuinely dangerous
Transport without the tourist tax
From the airport, the Smart Bus runs down the west coast for about 2.50 EUR, a metered taxi to Patong or Kata costs 18-25 EUR (45-60 min). On the island use Grab or rent a scooter for about 7 EUR per day; there is no real public transport between beaches.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 5-day Phuket itinerary.