Utilities in Phuket are a mixed story: water is very cheap, internet is excellent value, but electricity — especially in a hot climate where AC runs most of the day — can be surprisingly high. And the landlord electricity surcharge catches almost every new arrival off guard.
Electricity (PEA)
฿1,500–6,000/month
Depends heavily on AC use. PEA direct billing: ฿3.2482–4.4217/kWh tiered. Landlord resale: ฿6–8/kWh (effectively doubles the bill). ฿2,000 deposit for new PEA account.
Water (PWA)
฿80–450/month
Provincial Waterworks Authority bills ฿8–18/m³ tiered. Often bundled into rent. Drinking water extra: ฿0.50/litre from refill stations or ฿200–400/month delivered.
Home Internet
฿599–1,200/month
True Online, AIS Fibre or NT (National Telecom). 300–1,000 Mbps fibre available in most expat areas. 12-month contracts typical; router included. True Online 600Mbps: ฿599.
Mobile Data
฿199–299/month
AIS or True Move H unlimited data SIM plans. AIS 1175 for support. Can replace home wifi for light users. Excellent 4G/5G coverage across Phuket's expat areas.
Cooking Gas (LPG)
฿300–500 per tank
Standard 15kg LPG tank from PTT or local dealer: ฿300–450 delivered. Lasts 2–4 months for a single person. Exchange-and-refill model — keep your tank, exchange when empty.
Pool Maintenance
฿2,000–5,000/month
If you have a private pool: technician visits twice weekly (฿2,000–4,000/month), chemicals (฿500–1,000/month). Pool pump adds ฿2,000–4,000/month to electricity. Usually tenant's responsibility in villa leases.
⚠️ The Landlord Electricity Surcharge — Most Important Thing on This Page
Most rental properties in Phuket don't have their own PEA electricity meter. The landlord has a master account and resells power to tenants, charging ฿6–8 per unit instead of PEA's official ฿3.25–4.42 per unit. On a monthly usage of 300 units, you pay ฿1,800–2,400 instead of ฿975–1,325 — an overcharge of ฿825–1,075/month or nearly ฿10,000–13,000/year. Always ask about the electricity billing method before signing any lease.
Most rental properties in Phuket don't have their own PEA electricity meter. The landlord has a master account and resells power to tenants, charging ฿6–8 per unit instead of PEA's official ฿3.25–4.42 per unit. On a monthly usage of 300 units, you pay ฿1,800–2,400 instead of ฿975–1,325 — an overcharge of ฿825–1,075/month or nearly ฿10,000–13,000/year. Always ask about the electricity billing method before signing any lease.
PEA Electricity Rates 2026
| Monthly usage (kWh) | PEA rate (per kWh) | Monthly cost (PEA direct) | Landlord rate (฿7/unit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–150 units (minimal AC) | ฿3.2482 | ฿487–975 | ฿1,050 |
| 150–400 units (bedroom AC nights) | ฿4.2218 | ฿1,281–2,133 | ฿2,100–2,800 |
| 400–800 units (AC day + night) | ฿4.4217 | ฿3,289–4,421 | ฿2,800–5,600 |
| 800+ units (large home/pool villa) | ฿4.4217 | ฿4,421+ | ฿5,600+ |
Note: Thailand has a flat service charge (฿8.19–228.17/month depending on meter size) and a fuel adjustment charge added to each bill. The above rates are the energy charges only.
Internet Providers in Phuket
| Provider | Speed | Monthly price | Contract | Best areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Online | 300–1,000 Mbps fibre | ฿599–1,099 | 12 months | All main expat areas |
| AIS Fibre | 300–1,000 Mbps fibre | ฿549–999 | 12 months | Most expat areas |
| NT (National Telecom) | 100–500 Mbps | ฿499–899 | 12 months | Rural/less-covered areas |
| AIS Unlimited SIM | 4G/5G unlimited | ฿199–299 | Monthly | Island-wide (4G/5G) |
Internet setup tip: True Online has the broadest coverage in Bang Tao, Chalong, Kata and Phuket Town. Call True 1686 to check availability at your address before committing to a lease. In some older Chalong and Rawai neighbourhoods, NT is the only fixed-line option — acceptable for streaming and video calls but slower than True or AIS fibre.
Monthly Utility Summary by Property Type
| Property | Electricity | Water | Internet | Gas | Total utilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio apartment (minimal AC) | ฿1,000–1,800 | ฿80–150 | ฿599–799 | ฿100–150 | ฿1,800–2,900 |
| 1-bed condo (bedroom AC nightly) | ฿1,800–3,000 | ฿120–200 | ฿599–799 | ฿120–180 | ฿2,600–4,200 |
| 2-bed house (AC day + night) | ฿3,500–6,000 | ฿150–300 | ฿599–799 | ฿150–250 | ฿4,400–7,350 |
| 3-bed pool villa (AC all rooms) | ฿7,000–14,000 | ฿250–450 | ฿799–1,199 | ฿200–400 | ฿8,250–16,050 |
Tips to Reduce Utility Bills in Phuket
- Get a direct PEA account if at all possible — ask the landlord before signing. Some will agree; saves ฿10,000–15,000/year
- Use inverter AC — typically 30–40% more energy efficient than older non-inverter models
- Set AC at 25°C, not 23°C — ceiling fan + slightly higher AC temp uses significantly less power
- Close interior doors when AC is running — only cool rooms you're in
- Use refill water stations (฿1/litre) instead of delivered water (฿2–3/litre) or plastic bottle purchases
- AIS/True SIM as backup internet — unlimited 4G/5G for ฿199–299/month is excellent fallback during outages
- Pay PEA at 7-Eleven (no fee, 24hr) or use PEA Smart Plus app (free) to avoid bank transfer fees
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is electricity in Phuket per month?
Electricity costs ฿1,500–3,500/month for a 1-bed with bedroom AC at night. A 2-bed house with all-day AC runs ฿4,000–7,000/month. Pool villa with all rooms: ฿8,000–15,000/month. PEA direct billing: ฿3.25–4.42/kWh. Landlord resale: ฿6–8/kWh — nearly double the PEA rate.
How much does internet cost in Phuket?
Home fibre internet costs ฿599–1,200/month for 300–1,000 Mbps. True Online and AIS Fibre are the main providers. Most expats pay ฿599–799/month for True Online 600 Mbps. Add ฿199–299/month for an unlimited mobile data SIM from AIS or True Move H.
Do I pay for water in Phuket?
PWA bills ฿8–18/cubic metre. A typical household pays ฿80–450/month for tap water. You'll also need drinking water — refill stations charge ฿0.50–1/litre; delivered bottles run ฿200–400/month for a single person.
What internet provider is best in Phuket?
True Online has the most comprehensive coverage. AIS Fibre is comparable and sometimes cheaper. NT covers areas where True and AIS don't reach. Call True 1686 to check availability at your specific address before committing to a lease — coverage varies even within the same street in older areas.
What is the landlord electricity surcharge in Phuket?
Many landlords resell electricity from their master PEA account at ฿6–8/unit instead of the PEA rate of ฿3.25–4.42/unit. This effectively doubles electricity costs. A tenant using 300 units/month pays ฿1,800–2,400 instead of ฿975–1,325. Always ask about electricity billing before signing — and request a direct PEA account or a rate cap clause if possible.