Make it a trip · Phuket, Thailand
What Phuket costs
once you land
Real prices, from the airport ride to a room for the night, each with where we found it. Checked October 2026, around Patong.
Prices as the source quoted them.
Dorm bed, three cheap meals, getting around, a coffee, two beers and water.
Private room, a cheap lunch, dinner out (your half), a coffee, two beers, two rides and the top sight.
Half a villa or 4-star room, two meals out, a coffee, two beers and the signature experience.
Arriving
-
Visa free for 30 days Fixed
For AU, NZ, GB, US, CA, IE, NL, DE, FR, SG passports.
Cut from 60 to 30 days on 15 September 2026. A 300 baht tourist fee has been announced but was not being charged at the time of writing.
Sources: TAT Newsroom (2026-09), Wego, Thailand tourist entry fee (2026)
Free -
Smart Bus from the airport to Patong Fixed
Cash, about 80 to 90 minutes, roughly hourly until evening. A taxi costs about 800 to 1,000 baht with the airport surcharge.
Sources: Phuket 101, airport bus (2026), Inside Our Suitcase, airport to Patong (2026)
Getting around
-
Songthaew or local bus ride Many reports
Phuket has no metered taxi culture. Use Grab or Bolt and agree tuk-tuk prices before you get in.
Source: Numbeo, Phuket (2026-10)
฿50 -
Scooter hire, per day Range
A 125cc automatic. You need a motorcycle licence and an international permit; police checkpoints fine riders without one, and insurance won't pay.
Sources: Byklo, Phuket scooter prices (2026), SkootPhuket price list (2026)
฿200 to ฿300 Rent a scooter -
Small car hire, per day Range
A Honda Jazz or similar. Driving is on the left and the hills around Patong are steep.
Sources: Cheapflights Thailand, Phuket (2026-04), Momondo, Phuket car hire (2026)
฿548 to ฿737 Compare cars -
Minivan with driver, 8 hours Range
Local drivers' rates for an island tour. Extra hours run 200 to 300 baht.
Sources: Phuket 101, private drivers (2025-01), Expedia, Phuket private car with driver (2026)
฿1,800 to ฿2,500 Book a driver
Eating and drinking
-
Meal at a local place Many reports
Pad thai or a curry with rice. Walk a few streets back from the beach and it drops to about 80 baht.
Source: Numbeo, Phuket (2026-10)
฿150 -
฿290
-
Dinner for two, three courses Many reports
A mid-range restaurant, without drinks. Seafood priced by weight costs more.
Source: Numbeo, Phuket (2026-10)
฿1,100 -
฿93
-
Chang or Singha on tap, half a litre Many reports
Bangla Road bars charge more; happy hours bring it down to about 60 baht.
Source: Numbeo, Phuket (2026-10)
฿85
At the supermarket
-
฿18
-
Coca-Cola, small bottle Many reports
Cheaper at 7-Eleven than at beach stalls.
Source: Numbeo, Phuket (2026-10)
฿31 -
Chang or Singha, half a litre, to take away Many reports
Shops can only sell alcohol from 11am to 2pm and 5pm to midnight.
Source: Numbeo, Phuket (2026-10)
฿60 -
7-Eleven toastie, double pack Fixed
Ham, cheese and spinach, toasted at the counter. Single packs cost about 29 baht.
Source: CK Travels, 7-Eleven toastie guide (2026-06)
฿39
Doing
-
Phi Phi Islands national park fee Fixed
Foreign adult. Many tours don't include it, so check before you book. Maya Bay closes each August and September.
Source: Thai National Parks, Mu Ko Phi Phi (2026)
฿400 Get tickets -
Simon Cabaret show in Patong Range
Regular seat or VIP. Book a day ahead for the lower price.
Sources: Ticket2Attraction, Simon Cabaret (2026), Thaiest, Phuket ladyboy shows (2026)
฿800 to ฿1,000 Get tickets -
Phi Phi Islands speedboat tour, with pickup Range
A full day with snorkelling and lunch. Bigger, slower boats cost less but feel crowded.
Sources: Phuket Dream Company, budget Phi Phi tour (2026), Expedia Thailand, Phi Phi by speedboat (2026)
฿1,400 to ฿2,100 Book the tour -
One-hour Thai massage Range
At a local shop. Bangla Road shops charge 400 to 600 baht, and spa chains up to 900.
Sources: Phuket Expat Guide, spas and massage (2026-03), Thailand Magazine, massage in Patong (2026)
฿200 to ฿350 Book a spa
Everyday
-
Laundry, per kilo Range
Washed and folded, usually back the next day.
Sources: Phuket Expat Guide, laundry services (2026), Phuket Expat Guide, laundry business (2026)
฿30 to ฿50 -
Coworking, day pass Range
Most spaces are in Rawai, Chalong and Phuket Town rather than Patong.
Sources: Thai Holiday Guide, Phuket coworking (2026), Phuket Expat Guide, Garage Society (2026)
฿300 to ฿500
Sleeping, per night
-
Hostel dorm bed, Patong Range
Party hostels near Bangla Road sit at the top.
Sources: Travel Guides Tip, Phuket budget hotels (2026), Hostelz, Patong Beach (2026)
฿300 to ฿500 Find a hostel -
Private room, budget hotel or hostel Range
Air con and a private bathroom. Prices roughly halve from May to October.
Sources: Travel Guides Tip, Phuket budget hotels (2026), Hostelz, Patong Beach (2026)
฿800 to ฿1,400 Find a guesthouse -
Four-star hotel, Patong Range
Usually with a pool. High season, November to March, costs much more than May to October.
Sources: Kayak, Patong 4-star hotels (2026), Kayak, Patong hotels (2026)
US$83 to US$122 Find a hotel -
Villa with a private pool Range
Budget pool villas around Kamala and Rawai. Resort villas cost many times more.
Sources: Vrbo, Kamala pool villa (2026), Travelling King, Phuket pool villas (2024-03)
US$112 to US$200 Find a villa
Prices change. Fixed fees come from official or widely reported figures; ranges are what travellers and operators report for 2026. Some links are affiliate links: they never change what you pay. How we make money.
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