Plan your move to Phuket
What you need to work in Phuket, what a job usually includes and what living there costs.
Can I work in Phuket?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: Non-B visa and an online work permit; employers need 4 Thai staff per foreigner.
Watch for: Massage, beauty and guiding jobs are reserved for Thais.
Official source: Board of Investment One Stop Service: visas and work permits. Checked October 2026.
What the job usually comes with
Usual for Phuket, varies by employer. Checked October 2026.
| Housing | Dorms at some resorts; an allowance for senior staff |
|---|---|
| Meals | Staff canteen |
| Flights | Senior packages only |
| Service charge | Shared evenly; 5-star high season THB 30,000 to 40,000 a month, about half in low season |
| Contract | 1 to 2 years; probation often 119 days |
| Leave | 6 days |
| Income tax | 0% to 35% |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.
What living there costs
Typical prices, checked November 2026. Yours depend on where and how you live.
Some resorts have staff dormitories and senior staff may get a housing allowance, but many staff rent.
| Basic room near Phuket Town | About THB 2,000 to 5,500 a month (about USD 60 to 165) Listings, 2026 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat near the beaches, from Patong to Bang Tao | About THB 15,000 to 35,000 a month (about USD 445 to 1,040) 2026 |
| Local meal | About THB 150 (about USD 4.50) 2026 |
| Rented scooter | About THB 2,500 to 4,000 a month (about USD 75 to 120) 2026 |
| Minimum wage, for comparison | THB 400 a day (about USD 12) 2026 |