Phuket on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Phuket can be done on a budget if you stay in Phuket Town and eat local, though it costs more than most of Thailand. Plan on about 1,500 baht per person per day in high season (bed 400, food 400, boats and activities 500, transport 200 baht).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | baht400 | baht1,500 | baht6,000 |
| Food & drink | baht400 | baht900 | baht2,500 |
| Sights & tickets | baht500 | baht1,500 | baht3,500 |
| Local transport | baht200 | baht500 | baht1,500 |
| Per person, per day | baht1,500 | baht4,400 | baht13,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Phuket day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk Old Phuket Town's Thalang Road, Soi Romanee and Dibuk Road with their Sino-Portuguese shophouses
- Visit the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill (free, donations welcome) and its view over Chalong Bay
- See Wat Chalong, the island's most important temple
- Watch the sunset from Promthep Cape or the Karon viewpoint
- Swim at Nai Harn or Kata Noi
- Browse the Sunday Lard Yai Walking Street market on Thalang Road
Cheap eats
- Khanom jeen with curries for breakfast: roughly 50–80 baht
- Hokkien noodles in Phuket Town: roughly 60–120 baht
- Dim sum baskets: roughly 15–40 baht each
- Rice with one or two southern curries: roughly 50–90 baht
- Oh-tao (taro and oyster omelette) at an evening stall: roughly 50–100 baht
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Old Phuket Town, where rooms cost about 600–1,200 baht and there are hostels with cheaper dorm beds. It is characterful and has the best cheap food, but it is far from the beaches, so factor in transport. Beach areas such as Kata and Karon also have some guesthouses and hostels.
Getting around cheaply
From the airport, the Smart Bus (about 100 baht) runs along the west-coast beaches. Local songthaew buses connect Phuket Town with some beaches cheaply in the daytime. Otherwise Grab and Bolt are much cheaper than street taxis; a scooter is the cheapest option for experienced riders with a licence.
A sample budget day
- Morning: khanom jeen and coffee in Phuket Town (about 100 baht), then a walk through the old town
- Lunch: Hokkien noodles (about 80 baht)
- Afternoon: ride to the Big Buddha and Nai Harn beach (transport about 200 baht)
- Evening: sunset at Promthep Cape and dinner at a night market (about 200 baht)
- Total: about 600 baht plus your bed (400 baht), so roughly 1,000–1,500 baht
More ways to save
- Base yourself in Phuket Town and make day trips to the beaches.
- Choose one big boat trip rather than several, and go with a smaller early-departure group.
- Visit in May, June or late October for low-season room rates on calmer days.
- Buy water and snacks at convenience stores rather than beach stalls.
- Go to the Naka Weekend Market or Banzaan night stalls for dinner.
- Share a ride-hailing car with others when going between beaches.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
Can you visit Phuket on a budget?
Yes: stay in Phuket Town, eat at markets, use the Smart Bus and ride-hailing, and choose one boat trip.
What is the cheapest way from the airport?
The Smart Bus, about 100 baht, along the west-coast beaches; otherwise a ride-hailing car.
What is free in Phuket?
The Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Old Phuket Town, the beaches and sunset at Promthep Cape.