In short
Phuket is not a postcard island: it is a city of several hundred thousand people, with an international airport, hospitals at Western standards, and schools.
That changes everything for a long stay. You live here year-round without ever depending on a ferry.
What it really costs
The gap between districts is enormous. Rawai and Chalong stay affordable, Patong and Bang Tao charge European prices.
Transport is the black spot: little public transport, expensive taxis, and a scooter quickly becomes essential.
When to go
From November to March the west coast is calm and sunny. From May to October the swell makes swimming dangerous on several beaches — the red flags are there to be obeyed.
Low season halves the rents.
What nobody tells you
Drownings are frequent in the monsoon, and lifeguards are not everywhere.
Scooter rental is a classic trap: invented damage on return, passport held as deposit. Photograph everything, and never leave your passport.