Furniture, Appliances and Air Conditioning for a Phuket Home: Where to Buy and What to Pay

Where to shop

• HomePro covers appliances, hardware and furniture and arranges installation.
• Index Living Mall and other Thai chains sell mid-range furniture, often from stock.
• IKEA has a store in Phuket, according to one guide, and also delivers, with delivery fees quoted at a few hundred to a couple of thousand baht.
• Facebook Marketplace and expat groups are the biggest second-hand market. See the second-hand guide.

One guide estimates a basic furniture set for a one-bedroom apartment at about 30,000 to 60,000 baht, and notes resale usually recovers only 30 to 50 percent.

Air conditioning

Guides quote inverter split units at roughly 12,000 to 50,000 baht or more depending on size and brand, installation at about 3,000 to 6,000 baht a unit, and monthly electricity at roughly 800 to 2,000 baht a unit when used eight hours a day. Servicing is quoted at about 400 to 1,500 baht a unit, every few months to once a year in Phuket's humidity. A reader account of buying five units warns that similar-looking models can differ in features, so compare model numbers and specifications before paying.

Check the BTU against room size, the energy rating, the warranty and who handles after-sales service on the island. See the electricity guide.

Materials in humid weather

Particleboard and MDF absorb moisture and can swell, so solid wood, metal and treated materials last better. Leave gaps behind wardrobes for airflow, run air conditioning or a dehumidifier, and see the mould guide.

Before you buy

• Read your lease for what the landlord provides and what you may fix. See the renting guide.
• Keep receipts and warranty cards, and photograph serial numbers.
• Plan for movers and delivery. See the moving guide and shipping guide.
• Think about resale when you leave.