Are you considering moving somewhere warm, safe, and filled with high quality, low cost food that’s fit for even the pickiest gastronome?
Maybe you want to live in Phuket, Thailand. If you’ve been here before, you’ll know that the island is absolutely paradise, especially if you live in the less touristy parts. We live in Chalong, close to Naiharn and Rawai and about 15 minutes from Phuket Town. It’s home to both Thais and expats alike, with an array of dining options to choose from.
Cost of Living in Phuket
To rent a house, it can cost between 8000 baht for an unfurnished townhouse to 20000 baht for a furnished 3 bedroom. If you speak Thai or have time to drive around areas like Thalang, you can find cheaper pricing that is sometimes only advertised word of mouth. Our house is about 19000 baht. Townhouses can be great if you are looking to start your own company here, as you can have the bottom floor be your office or business and live in the top floors.
Car rental is pricy compared to other parts of Thailand. It can cost between 12,000 to 15,000 baht
( we pay the latter) per month for a fully insured vehicle.
Finding a Home
We have used and highly recommend Welta from House in Phuket. Her services are free and she was incredibly helpful and supportive of our decisions.
House in Phuket
9/101 Chalong Park View, Moo9 Chaofa Road, Chalong Muang Phuket 83130, Thailand. Tel./Fax 076 282441
Progressive Phuket
Ask for Thomas
+66 0 76 284 311 – 511 – 611
Mobile:+66 0 80 521 0757
Kata Beach, Option Plaza, 83100 Phuket Thailand
Patong Beach, Jungceylon, 83150 Phuket Thailand
Living in Phuket is wonderful for families who work online or who homeschool/unschool as well. For families who have been employed by a local company and are looking for schools for their children, here are some options to investigate:
Buds Phuket Nursery and Preschool
5/3 Chao Fa Road, Moo 1, T. Chalong (Near Lumpooon Secondhand Store.)
Tel: +66 (0) 76-282232 or +66 (0) 87-2785511
email: fo@buds-phuket.com
British International School
59 Moo 2, Thepkrasattri Rd., Koh Kaew (the road leading to the school is diagonally opposite Royal Phuket Marina)
+66 (0)76-238711-20
HeadStart International School Phuket
41/6 Moo 5, Vichitsongkram Rd., T. Vichit, A. Muang Phuket 83000 (diagonally opposite Makro Self Service.)
+66 (0)76-612876
QSI International School of Phuket
Near Tesco Lotus junction in Phuket Town (the entrance to QSI is next to Wat Samkong on the Bypass Road.)
+66 (0) 76-354077
phuket@qsi.org
Rawai Progressive International School
14/1 M.5 Rawai, Viset Rd., Muang, Phuket
+66 (0)76-289200, +66 (0)76-288281
Shipping
Big Move Phuket
| Telephone : | (076) 263-987, (076) 263-988, (076) 263-989 |
Phuket Transport
58/24 Moo 6, Thepkrasattri Rd.,Rassada, Muang, Phuket 83000
66 (0) 76 238824 – 26 Fax: 66 (0) 76 238927 Mobile phone: 084-8433492 (English), 085-9212191
Visas
You can easily enter Thailand on a tourist visa on arrival, which is for 30 days. See this site for more info.
We used Siam Legal to help us get our visa, and we have to do a visa run every 3 months to get it renewed. Siam and other companies can help you with getting:
- MARRIAGE VISA – If you are married to a Thai, you can apply for a Thai Marriage Visa. This visa will allow you to stay in Thailand for an initial of 3 months and can be extended to 1 year.
- RETIREMENT VISA – If you are 50 years old or above and have the financial ability to retire, you can apply for a Thai Retirement Visa.
- BUSINESS VISA – Applying for a job or opening a business will require a Thai Business Visa and this can be best applied for before coming to Thailand.
- 1-YEAR THAI VISA – If you don’t fit the above categories, you can apply for a 1-year multiple entry visa that will allow you to stay in Thailand and travel in and outside of the country all year.
Obtaining Work
If you are looking to find work in Thailand, wait until you arrive. It is better if you can go into the job in person and not contact them from your home country. Many ESL teaching jobs have people contact the schools before they arrive in Phuket, only to stand up the school later or never come. The more serious you are, the more serious the employers are about hiring you.
The easiest way to find a job here is to look through the local English newspapers under the job section, Phuket Gazette and Phuket News.
You will need a work permit if you are going to work in Phuket, unless your company sponsors your visa. Click here for more info.
Starting your own business in Phuket
If you are looking to live in Phuket and start your own business, this is a great option. The cost of setting up a business in Thailand is not nearly as expensive as in Western countries. People come here and open up everything from real estate companies, bars, scuba diving shops, schools, and restaurants.
Teaching English in Phuket
Teaching English in Phuket is generally not as lucrative as doing it in say Korea or Japan. With some research and contacting schools here once you arrive, you can way which are best for you. Phuket Gazette and Phuket Times have schools regularly looking for teachers. Many prefer if you have either a BA and/or a TEFL certification.
Dining In Phuket
One can eat very cheaply here, between 30 and 60 baht per meal. We regularly go to the food court in Central Festival and eat Indian, Chinese, and Thai delicacies, for around this price. But if you have the budget, you can find Western restaurants all throughout the island providing German, Mexican, Italian, French and a plethora of other cuisines.
Hospitals
In general, hospitals are fantastic here, but if you are pregnant and want a more natural birth, I recommend going to Bangkok. I say this because C sections are the norm here, and if you are looking for a VBAC it will be tough getting it done here. Check out the Parent Vine for birth stories and suggestions.
Vachira Phuket Hospital, Ministry of Thailand Public Health.
Address: 353 Yaowarat Rd.,Muang Phuket Thailand 83000
Phone: +66 7636-1234
Bangkok Hospital Phuket
| Address: | 2/1 Hongyok Utis Road, Muang District, Phuket, 83000, Thailand. |
| Phone: | +66 (0) 7625 4425 |
| Fax: | +66 (0) 7625 4430 |
| Email: | info@phukethospital.com |
| Web page: | www.phukethospital.com |
Phuket Dental Center
371/95 Yaowarat Rd., Phuket Town, Phuket 83000,Thailand
Tel: 66-76-255336 Email: info@phuketdentalcenter.com
Chiropractor Dr. Cracknell
Wellness House Naturopathic Detox
14/93 Moo 1
Rawai – Phuket
080 530 9555 or 081 677 4555
Grocery Stores
If you are not looking for wet markets ( thai markets) here are our favorites.
Villa Supermarket Chalong, in the Home Pro complex
089-991-1199
Central Supermarket, bottom floor
74-75 Moo 5 Vichitsongkram Rd., Amphur Muang,
Talat Yai, Phuket 83000
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