After 6 years in Phuket, I've watched hundreds of new arrivals make the same mistake: shipping a container of stuff that they could have bought locally for half the price — or realising they'd left behind the one thing they can't find here. This guide tells you exactly what to bring, what to ship, and what to buy when you land.
Moving to Phuket is different from moving to a remote location. This is an international tourist island with surprisingly good shopping. Villa Market, Tops Supermarket, Homepro, Makro, Big C — you can source almost everything you need. The question isn't "can I find it?" but "will I pay three times the price for it?"
The Golden Rule: Bring, Ship, or Buy?
There are three decisions for every item you own: bring it in your luggage, include it in a sea freight shipment, or just buy it in Phuket. Here's my framework:
| Category | Decision | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription medication | BRING | 3-month supply minimum; controlled drugs need doctor's letter |
| Laptops, tablets, cameras | BRING | Higher prices in Thailand; import duty adds 5–20% |
| Favourite shoes (size 43+) | BRING | Large Western sizes hard to find in Phuket markets |
| Professional/formal clothing | SHIP | Tailors in Phuket Town cheap (5,000–10,000 THB/suit) but takes time |
| Books, sentimental items | SHIP | Worth shipping if doing full container; small LCL okay |
| Furniture | BUY LOCAL | Homepro, Index Living Mall, IKEA delivery — affordable quality |
| Kitchen equipment | BUY LOCAL | Makro Phuket Town has full range at great prices |
| Bedding, towels | BUY LOCAL | Thai linen is excellent quality; cheap at Central Festival |
| Winter clothing | BUY LOCAL | Leave it — Phuket is 27–35°C year-round |
| Motorbike/car | BUY LOCAL | Import duty 80–100%; buy second-hand Honda PCX locally |
Essential Items to Bring in Your Luggage
💊 Medications & Health
💻 Electronics & Tech
👟 Clothing & Footwear
📄 Documents (All Critical)
🧴 Personal Care & Toiletries
What You Can Easily Buy in Phuket
Don't waste your luggage allowance or shipping budget on these — all readily available and often cheaper than at home:
Makro Phuket Town (on Chao Fah West Road, open 6am–midnight) is your best friend for bulk household goods. Homepro on the bypass road has everything for the home. Central Festival mall in central Phuket has international brands. Villa Market in Bang Tao/Cherng Talay stocks imported Western goods.
Furniture & home: Homepro, Index Living Mall (Central), and IKEA delivery from Bangkok (2–3 days) mean you can furnish a condo completely for 30,000–80,000 THB. Thai rattan furniture and ceramics are beautiful and cheap at Talat Tai market in Phuket Town.
Bedding & towels: Excellent quality at Homepro or Central Festival. Thai cotton products are high quality and reasonably priced — around 500–1,500 THB for a good set of bed linen.
Kitchen equipment: Makro has everything from a full knife set to a rice cooker. A functional kitchen kit costs around 3,000–6,000 THB. Note: Thai electric stoves are common; many landlords include a basic setup.
Motorbike: A second-hand Honda PCX 150 (the standard Phuket expat bike) costs around 35,000–55,000 THB. A new one is 80,000–95,000 THB. Do not ship a motorbike from home. Read our guide to buying a motorbike in Phuket.
Baby & kids items: Nappies (Pampers, Mamy Poko), formula, and basic baby gear are widely available. Specialist items like specific formula brands or sleep aids: bring a supply and order online via Lazada/Shopee.
Electronics: Why You Should Bring Everything from Home
Thailand's import duties and local market pricing mean electronics are significantly more expensive than in the West. A MacBook Pro M4 that costs £1,800 in the UK will be around 85,000–95,000 THB (≈ £1,950–2,050) in Phuket, before considering the weaker buying power for a new arrival.
Key points: Thailand runs on 220V/50Hz. Most modern electronics (laptops, phone chargers, cameras) are dual-voltage and work fine. UK and European plugs need adapters — buy a multi-pack before you leave. Buy a good surge protector locally (Homepro has them) as power fluctuations are occasional.
For your internet setup at home, read our Phuket internet and phone guide — AIS Fibre and True Online are the main broadband providers in most areas.
Planning Your Move? Get Our Full Relocation Checklist
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Download Free Checklist →Medications & Health: What to Bring vs. What's Available
Phuket has good pharmacy coverage — Boots and Watsons have branches across the island, and independent pharmacies (raan khai ya) are on virtually every street. Many common Western medications are available over the counter at a fraction of the home price.
What you can typically buy without prescription in Phuket: antibiotics (amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin), antifungals, antiparasitic drugs, Valium (diazepam) in some pharmacies, and many more. Bangkok Hospital Phuket's pharmacy stocks a comprehensive range of branded and generic medications.
What you should bring from home: specialist medications for chronic conditions, ADHD medications (highly restricted in Thailand), specific antidepressants (some SSRIs available, but not all brands), and any controlled substances. Always carry a doctor's letter. See our full healthcare guide for what to expect from Phuket's medical system.
What to Leave Behind (Seriously)
The biggest mistake new arrivals make is over-packing. Here's what I wish someone had told me:
Winter clothing: You won't wear it. Phuket is hot 365 days a year. Even in "winter" (December–February), it's 27–30°C. The only cold you'll experience is restaurant air-con — a light cardigan handles that. Storing a wardrobe of winter gear costs money and takes up space.
Your car: Import duty is 80–100% of the vehicle value plus 35% excise tax plus VAT. A car worth USD 20,000 could cost USD 35,000+ to import legally. Just don't. Buy locally or rent. See our transport guide.
Bulk food supplies: Tempting to pack Marmite and decent coffee — and you should bring a small supply — but you can order almost anything via Lazada, Shopee, or Amazon Thailand. Villa Market stocks many Western essentials. The premium is real but not catastrophic.
That "just in case" pile: Everything you pack because you "might" need it, you probably won't. Be ruthless. Phuket is 25 minutes from Central Festival and 40 minutes from Makro. You can solve almost any household problem within a day.
Need Health Insurance Before You Arrive?
Don't land in Phuket uninsured. Bangkok Hospital emergency visits start from 5,000 THB and can reach 100,000+ THB for anything serious. Compare expat health insurance plans.
Compare Insurance Plans →The Budget for "Settling In"
Even if you arrive with just a suitcase, you can set up a liveable home in Phuket within a few days. Here's a realistic budget for furnishing a 1-bedroom condo from scratch:
| Item | Where to Buy | Approx Cost (THB) |
|---|---|---|
| Bed (frame + mattress) | Homepro / Index | 8,000–20,000 |
| Bedding set | Central / Homepro | 800–2,500 |
| Towels × 4 | Central / Makro | 600–1,200 |
| Kitchen kit (basic) | Makro Phuket Town | 3,000–6,000 |
| Desk + chair (WFH) | Index / IKEA delivery | 5,000–12,000 |
| Motorbike (second-hand) | Dealer / Facebook | 35,000–55,000 |
| SIM card + 30-day plan | AIS / True at airport | 350–600 |
| Total (excl. motorbike) | ~18,000–42,000 |
This covers the essentials. Add 10,000–20,000 THB for extras (lamp, storage, small appliances) and you're genuinely comfortable. Use our cost of living calculator to build your full monthly budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
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