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Phuket
#91 of 124
Asia

Phuket

Thailand

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Phuket compare to Irvine?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Phuket is 42% worse off vs in Irvine

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Phuket compared to Irvine, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$35,341
-$145K (-80%) vs Irvine
Based on 235 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$30,040
-$82K (-73%) vs Irvine
Tax Rate: 15%

Community Insights

New

Phuket offers a distinct trade-off for software engineers: you swap the urban convenience and connectivity of a major capital for a laid-back island lifestyle with premium beaches. While the cost of living is significantly higher than Thailand's average, it remains attractive for those earning foreign currencies. The city functions more as a remote work outpost than a tech hub; you won't find a bustling local job market or rapid transit, but you will find reliable infrastructure and a high degree of comfort. It is ideal for those who prioritize air quality and nature over urban efficiency.

Resident Sentiment

Long-term residents often express a love-hate relationship with the island. They adore the scenery and slower pace, often citing it as a paradise for mental health and work-life balance. However, there is growing frustration regarding over-tourism, rising costs, and the influx of short-term crowds that can make the island feel transactional. Many tech expats eventually migrate to Bangkok for better convenience or Samui/Ko Lanta for a quieter vibe, feeling Phuket has become too commercialized.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Irvine.

Rankings

Tax Rate

Top 10%

#12

of 124 cities

15%

Current value (lower is better)

Cost of Living

Top 26%

#32

of 124 cities

35/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#55

of 124 cities

58.5/100

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Phuket compared to Irvine?

Avg. Property Price
$3,690 / m²
55% cheaper than Irvine
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Phuket to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
54% cheaper than Irvine
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Phuket

Coda Payments logo
Coda Payments
Agoda logo
Agoda
Aviasales logo
Aviasales

The Good

  • Outstanding beach lifestyle with easy access to world-class coastal scenery and water sports, offering a relaxed pace compared to Bangkok.
  • Strong digital infrastructure with reliable high-speed internet and a growing selection of co-working spaces (e.g., Homa) catering to remote workers.
  • Vibrant expat community with diverse networking opportunities, though often more focused on tourism/retirees than pure tech compared to Chiang Mai.
  • High quality of life relative to cost; while more expensive than other Thai cities, it remains affordable globally for those on Western tech salaries.
  • Clean air quality generally better than Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai) during the burning season, making it a refuge for nomads fleeing pollution.

The Bad

  • Lack of public transportation creates a heavy reliance on motorbikes or cars; there is no BTS/MRT rail system like in Bangkok.
  • Notorious traffic and "taxi mafia" result in inflated transport costs and frustration when getting around the island.
  • Higher cost of living compared to the rest of Thailand; often described as a "tourist trap" with inflated prices for food and accommodation.
  • Isolation from tech hubs; unlike Bangkok, there is no significant local startup scene or major tech events, leading to potential professional isolation.
  • Rainy season impact can be severe (over 150 rainy days/year), limiting outdoor activities and sometimes causing local flooding.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

The senior remote individual contributor who has a stable job with a Western company and wants to maximize their leisure time by the ocean. It is perfect for beach lovers who are comfortable riding a motorbike and want to avoid the severe pollution found in Northern Thailand during the burning season. Those looking for a "workation" vibe rather than a career ladder climb will thrive here.

Skip it if...

Junior engineers looking for mentorship or a local job, as the local market salaries are very low compared to global standards. People who rely on public transportation or crave the energy of a dense metropolis will likely feel frustrated by the island's sprawl and traffic. If you are budget-conscious and expecting the rock-bottom prices found elsewhere in Southeast Asia, you may find Phuket surprisingly expensive.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather1.5/10-84% vs Irvine
Safety59-16%
Pollution51+48%
Events0
1.5/10TechCities weather score vs 9.2/10 in Irvine

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
32°C(vs 23°C in Irvine)
Average Low
25°C(vs 13°C in Irvine)
Sunshine Hours
2,220h/yr-800h/yr(-26%)
Hottest Month High
33°C(vs 27°C in Irvine)
Coldest Month Low
24°C(vs 9°C in Irvine)
Rainy Days
154/yr+127/yr(+465%)

Community & Quality

Phuket community pulse

Phuket has 0 Luma events listed.

Irvine has no listed Luma events for comparison.

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#70

of 124 cities

50.6/100

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#78

of 124 cities

≈9.8 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 28%

#91

of 124 cities

Net Income

Bottom 25%

#94

of 124 cities

$30,040/yr

Current value

Community Events

Bottom 13%

#109

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 4%

#120

of 124 cities

15/100 weather score

Current value

SWE Affordability
9.8 years
4.0 years longer than Irvine
Muggy Days
363/yr+351/yr(+3137%)
Cloud Cover
82%(vs 24% in Irvine)