Angela Killian

It’s no secret that Phuket is the most expensive province in Thailand. Tourists rarely notice the difference because Phuket is still much more cost effective than many other destinations, but when you plan to be here for an extended period of time, those late night runs to Burger King sure do add up!

If you’re working in Thailand, take advantage of the canteen! You can usually get at least 2 meals per day out of it and sometimes even 3. Most companies have staff canteens and provide meals for employees, which was a nice change for me. However, most are barely edible for the foreign palate. I am lucky to have a canteen that serves salad everyday, but all canteens will have white rice. If you’re one of the lucky ones who doesn’t need to watch your waistline, white rice will be your new best friend. It’s cheap and very filling. For foodies like myself, it’s hard to justify so many empty calories on something so flavorless.

Below are some tips and tricks I sometimes use in Phuket to help cut down on my food costs:

1- Drink plenty of water

I chug water on my way to work and I bring an additional 1.5 liter bottle of water daily. It helps curb your appetite & it’s good for you too. The only downside is that you have to take several bathroom breaks.

2- Eat western sparingly

Learn to love Thai food & you will save a lot of money. Of course you can always splurge for a burger, sub or pizza on the weekend. You can get pretty much any type of food you want in Phuket, but you have to pay extra.

3- Buy fruit & veggies at local markets

They’re fresher and cheaper, plus you will be supporting the local community. I am guilty of buying produce at Tesco out of convenience, but I TRY to buy local when possible.

4- Eat eggs

They’re cheap & easy to cook. I eat egg whites which are low in fat and high in protein. You could even boil eggs in a hot water kettle in your hotel / house if you don’t have a stovetop.

5- Use local condiments

They’re cheap and delicious! Aside from being a Heinz Ketchup snob, I prefer the Thai sauce brands…especially the hot sauce or chicken dipping sauce- yum yum!

6- Drink local beer

The foreign options aren’t that great & definitely not worth the inflated prices. 1 can of local beer at 7-11 is around 30 THB ($1 USD) whereas the imported stuff ranged from 45 – 250 THB ($1.50 – $8.00 USD) per can. If you really want to splurge, go for the Heineken as it’s on the cheaper side of the scale – 45 THB ($1.50 USD).

7- Stay away from wine

The import tax is huge (400%) and you end up paying a lot for crappy wine. Also beware, most Thai restaurants serve the red wine chilled (ew, why?) However, for winos like myself, I recommend buying bottles at Wine Connection where they offer wholesale prices.

8- Eat carbs

Any dish made with a lot of meat is going to be pricy. The rice / noodle dishes typically contain half the meat of any curry / main dish. Add an egg on top of your rice for extra protein. Trust me, it’s a thing here & it’s amazing.

9- BYOB

Lots of people do it & most local restaurants don’t charge corkage fees. You can pay a fee for ice buckets for your beer / wine. Some places might even let you keep your beers in their fridge if you’re a regular.

10- Eat family style

It’s the way most Thais eat & you can have a variety of items for a smaller price. Keep in mind that the portions are generally small. A good rule of thumb is 2 dishes per person.

 

Below are items I buy frequently / every week. I shop at foreigner friendly places such as Tesco Lotus, Tops and Villa Market. Tesco Lotus is the cheapest, then Tops and Villa Market is the most expensive place to shop. The more expensive the store, the more imported selections they will offer.

Coffee out= 60 -150 THB (not including Starbucks)

Local beer at 7-11 / Tesco= 30 – 40 THB

Local beer at bar= 60 -150 THB

Cocktail at bar= 100 – 350 THB

Small bottle of water at 7-11 / Tesco= 5 – 10 THB

Bottle of cheapest red / white wine= 300 THB

2 raw chicken breasts at Tesco= 55 THB

Bundle of broccoli at Tesco= 30 THB

Bag of lettuce (1-2 servings)= 60 THB

Bottled salad dressing= 100-150 THB

Small jar of peanut butter= 180-200 THB

10 raw eggs= 70-80 THB

Bag of apples (5)= 60 THB

Campbell’s condensed soup= 60 THB

1 pound of Tesco brand / local brand coffee= 150-200 THB

1 large box of Silk Vanilla Soy Milk= 60-70 THB

1 single serving almonds= 30 THB

For other prices, visit this website – http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Thailand

Keep in mind, the prices will vary depending on which province you are in. The market prices are generally the same everywhere, but eating out at restaurants will vary greatly. You can select different city prices on Numbeo.com to get a better idea of particular areas.