Phuket Relocation Guide — Cost of Living & Visa (2026)
winter is a rumor, on the water — bring a phrasebook
More of Phuket
Day viewTL;DRPhuket in one sentence
Pack a Central Thai phrasebook before you pack anything else — English goes nowhere in Phuket. Practically speaking: rent runs ~$708/mo, PR in ~3 years.
Pack a Central Thai phrasebook before you pack anything else — English goes nowhere in Phuket. Practically speaking: rent runs ~$708/mo, PR in ~3 years.
Thinking about moving to Phuket? Expect rent from $708/month, generally safe for expats, Central Thai is essential for daily life. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.
Moving to Phuket — the short version
- 📅Residency timeline: PR in ~3 years, citizenship in ~8y
- 🏠Housing: 1-bed centre from $708/mo · first-month landing cost ~$2,874
- 🔑Finding a place: easy — 1–5 days
- 🗣️Language: Central Thai is essential for daily life — budget time to learn
Full details in the sections below — residency, costs, safety, and everything else settlers actually care about.
#99 in Livability because road safety underperforms. #6 in Beach Life because coastline, sun, and warm winters are all that count. See Beach Life
Just you against the world. And the rent.
Expenses = rent + food + transport + utilities · Rent alone: $708/mo
How the Livability Score is calculatedShow score breakdown ▸
~ = estimated (global median, no city-specific data)
Total: 76.2/130 raw pts → normalized to 59/100 · Full methodology
Data: Numbeo · UNODC · EIU · EF EPI · Ookla · How is this calculated?
Is Phuket a Good Place to Live in 2026?
Phuket checks the key boxes for long-term settlers — democratic governance, reasonable safety, and manageable cost of living. Permanent residency is achievable in 3 years. Here's what the numbers say about settling in Phuket, Thailand.
- ›Flawed democracy: Democracy index 6.3/10 — a flawed democracy — elections happen, but institutional weaknesses persist.
- ›Cost of living: A 1-bedroom in the center runs ~$708/mo — affordable by any Western benchmark.
- ›Safety: Homicide rate 4.8 per 100k (Numbeo safety index: 61/100) — average safety — normal street-smarts apply.
- ›Central Thai + English: English proficiency: very low — invest in language courses before or immediately after arrival.
- ›Residency path: PR in ~3 years, citizenship in 8 — standard timeline — typical for most destinations.
- ›Climate: Summers peak around 88°F, winters dip to 75°F.
Life in Phuket
✦ Sections reordered for Warm & Affordable Europe
What It Actually Costs
$1,891/mo
What It Actually Costs
$1,891/mo
Monthly cost of living
$1,891/mo
Rent, groceries, utilities, transit — what settling actually costs.
Spot prices
Numbeo
What Paychecks Look Like
Junior $15k · Mid $32k · Senior $63k
What Paychecks Look Like
Junior $15k · Mid $32k · Senior $63k
Annual gross in USD — with what Thailand actually lets you keep
Levels.fyi · as of May 2026
Junior ~ $15k · Mid ~ $32k · Senior ~ $63k — see breakdown
Software Engineer by level
Net = employee rate, your settings
Punch in your actual salary for a personalized breakdown →Costs & Money
6Rent, taxes, landing fees, and the freelance paperwork maze
Costs & Money
6Rent, taxes, landing fees, and the freelance paperwork maze
Cost to Land
1-bed centre: $708/mo
Cost to Land
1-bed centre: $708/mo
The price of showing up (before real life starts)
$3,204one-time
Then it's ~$1,891/mo to actually live here.
Can you afford it?
Enter your salary in the sidebar to see how far it stretches here.
Numbeo
Local tenancy law
IKEA estimate
Thai BOI
Source: Numbeo · updated Apr 2026 — numbers we didn't make up
How Hard to Find a Place?
1/5 · 1–5 days
How Hard to Find a Place?
1/5 · 1–5 days
The part Numbeo doesn't tell you
Walk in, sign, move in. Bring your passport and a deposit.
What stands between you and a lease
- •Passport sufficient
- •1–2 months' deposit
- •Tourist infrastructure = abundant furnished units
- •Seasonal price variation
Numbeo, hipflat.co.th · 2026-Q1
Tax on Savings
Capital gains 0% · Dividends 10% · No wealth tax
Tax on Savings
Capital gains 0% · Dividends 10% · No wealth tax
What Thailand takes from your investments, not your paycheck
Source: PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries · 2025 rates · tax-resident individuals
Freelance Setup in Thailand
Individual Taxpayer / Sole Proprietorship · THB 0 for freelancers without employees; voluntary Social Security Section 40 from THB 70-300/mo for basic coverage
Freelance Setup in Thailand
Individual Taxpayer / Sole Proprietorship · THB 0 for freelancers without employees; voluntary Social Security Section 40 from THB 70-300/mo for basic coverage
What it takes to get legal and stay legal in Phuket
Best-fit path
Register as individual taxpayer with the Revenue Department. Progressive income tax 0-35%. Voluntary Social Security Section 40 for healthcare.
Registration requirements
Thailand doesn't have a formal 'freelancer' registration — you simply register as an individual taxpayer. Social security is voluntary for self-employed (Section 40, three tiers). VAT registration mandatory at THB 1.8M/yr. Work permits are required for foreigners earning in Thailand — the LTR (Long-Term Resident) visa or SMART visa are the legal paths.
Freelancing in Phuket
Freelancing in Phuket
What it takes to invoice clients from Phuket without an employer holding your hand
How the government sees you
Limited for self-employed foreigners. Social Security Fund available for employees only
Getting paid
Cost of doing business
Freelancer visa
LTR visa: 10-year, 17% flat tax. High income requirement
Source: Revenue Department Thailand · BOI · rates as of 2025–2026
Daily Life
10Weather, vibes, nightlife — will you actually enjoy it here?
Daily Life
10Weather, vibes, nightlife — will you actually enjoy it here?
Weather in Phuket
Summer 88°F high · 12.6h daylight (Jun) · Winter 75°F low · 11.7h daylight (Dec)
Weather in Phuket
Summer 88°F high · 12.6h daylight (Jun) · Winter 75°F low · 11.7h daylight (Dec)
Average daytime high per season
Spring
91°F
15% sunny
Summer
88°F
9% sunny
12.6h daylight
Fall
88°F
13% sunny
Winter
90°F
35% sunny
11.7h daylight
Year-round warm — temperatures don't swing by season the way they do in temperate climates. Winter looks similar.
Daylight contrast
Winter 11.7h (Dec) vs summer 12.6h (Jun)
+0.9h
Source: WeatherSpark
Will You Survive Summer Here?
1.9→0.2 days ≥95°F by 2045 · 20% have A/C
Will You Survive Summer Here?
1.9→0.2 days ≥95°F by 2045 · 20% have A/C
Days ≥95°F now
1.9
per year
Days ≥95°F in 2045
0.2
projected / year
Tropical nights 2045
365.2
nights ≥68°F / yr
2045 numbers are a 5-model mean over 2040–2050 under CMIP6 HighResMIP · ~RCP8.5 (high-emissions) — the high-emissions pathway, not a best case. Open-Meteo (CMIP6 Climate).
The trend (days ≥86°F): Phuket used to get 9.9 days a year over 86°F in the 1970s. Now it gets 154.7. That's 144.8 more sweaty days than your parents' generation put up with. The tiles above count the rarer ≥95°F days; this line counts ≥86°F so the change is visible.
Homes with air conditioning
Most homes here were never built to be cooled. Bring a fan and low expectations.
20%
A/C data: IEA (Future of Cooling)
Source: Open-Meteo (ERA5 Archive)
Will You Have a Thursday Night?
Will You Have a Thursday Night?
Nightlife & social scene
as of May 2026
Can't walk a block without passing one
It exists, alongside the laptops
Scene tags
Is Phuket a Good Place to Live in 2026?
4 pros · 3 cons
Is Phuket a Good Place to Live in 2026?
4 pros · 3 cons
Derived from cost, safety, weather, democracy, and internet data
For
- +$708/mo in Phuket. Money actually lasts all month.
- +88°F summers plus Phuket's coast. Not a drill.
- +1.4% inflation in Thailand. Phuket budgets hold month to month.
- +PR in Thailand in 3y from Phuket. Finite paperwork.
Against
- −Phuket: 4.8 homicides/100k — well above European norms. Pick your area.
- −Thailand: 6.3/10 — "flawed" democracy band. Phuket's institutions wobble.
- −Central Thai is essential in Phuket. Factor in language school.
What You're Breathing
PM2.5 9.1 μg/m³ · 1.8× WHO limit
What You're Breathing
PM2.5 9.1 μg/m³ · 1.8× WHO limit
Invisible particles in every breath
Sources: WHO Air Quality Database V6.1, OpenAQ
Not All of Phuket Is the Same
Not All of Phuket Is the Same
5 zones that feel like different cities
Bangla Road's neon strip — loud, late, and not for the easily overwhelmed
Good surf, family-friendly beach, bars close before midnight
Long quiet beach, resort hotels, and not much reason to stay past sunset
Where expats actually live — seafood markets, no tourists, no nightlife
Upscale and sleepy — Millionaire's Mile is nearby, noise is not
Safety & Family
5Crime stats, healthcare, schools — the stuff that keeps you up at night
Safety & Family
5Crime stats, healthcare, schools — the stuff that keeps you up at night
Is Phuket Safe?
Homicide rate: 4.8 per 100k
Is Phuket Safe?
Homicide rate: 4.8 per 100k
Mixed safety profile. Research neighborhoods carefully, especially for evening routines.
People generally feel safe day-to-day. Petty crime exists but isn't a constant worry.
Neighborhood breakdown
We don't have an official neighborhood-level crime feed wired for Phuket yet. The figures above are still citywide or regional.
Settling the family in Phuket
PISA 394 · Daycare $583/mo
Settling the family in Phuket
PISA 394 · Daycare $583/mo
Schools, daycare, healthcare, and partner work rights on one page
Family Healthcare
Universal Coverage Scheme for Thai nationals only. Foreigners: private insurance required (~$45/mo) and mandatory for some visa types. Private hospitals are excellent and cheap by Western standards — a GP visit costs ~$20 out of pocket.
Spouse / Dependent Rules
Townleap does not have dependent work-rights data for this city yet.
But can they actually find a job?
Teaching English is the major expat employer. Tech startups exist in Bangkok. Only about 10% of job-seeking expats get legal work permits — budget accordingly.
Sources: ISD (Tuition Data), OECD PISA, Wikipedia (Intl. Schools), Townleap (Public School Viability), Numbeo, National health ministry websites, OECD Health at a Glance 2025
Crossing the Street
25.4 road deaths/100k
Crossing the Street
25.4 road deaths/100k
Road traffic deaths — country-level data; city-specific rates not available
Traffic fatality rates are high. Choose your commute route and transport mode carefully. You're 5× more likely to die crossing the street than being murdered here.
Who dies on the road
Data year: 2016
Will You Survive Getting Sick?
Will You Survive Getting Sick?
Quality, access, and costs for settlers
Score = 50% outcomes + 30% access + 20% perception. Missing components are re-weighted.
Universal Coverage Scheme for Thai nationals only. Foreigners: private insurance required (~$45/mo) and mandatory for some visa types. Private hospitals are excellent and cheap by Western standards — a GP visit costs ~$20 out of pocket.
Numbeo survey — higher is better. Based on resident perceptions.
Vaccination coverage: WHO/UNICEF estimates, 2024
Good healthcare system. Competent doctors, modern equipment, and reasonable wait times at most facilities.
Sources: National health ministry websites, OECD Health at a Glance 2025
For the Kids
6 international schools · PISA 394
For the Kids
6 international schools · PISA 394
Schools, childcare costs, and whether your children can actually enroll
6 international schools · $5k–$21k/yr · Slim pickings. Visit before you commit.
International schools aren't optional here — public education isn't a realistic path for most expat families.
Sources: ISD (Tuition Data), OECD PISA, Wikipedia (Intl. Schools), Townleap (Public School Viability), Numbeo
Work & Logistics
6Wi-Fi speed, banking, getting around — boring but essential
Work & Logistics
6Wi-Fi speed, banking, getting around — boring but essential
How You'll Actually Pay for Things
How You'll Actually Pay for Things
Banking & money mobility for settlers
Since 2025, tourist and short-term visa holders are completely shut out — you need a non-immigrant visa (work, retirement, marriage); banks are freezing non-compliant foreign accounts at record rates.
RU / BY passport holders
Effectively blocked -- need retirement or work visa; tourist account era is over
What settlers actually do: Bangkok Bank stopped opening accounts for tourists since Jan 2025. Only long-term visa holders (retirement, work, marriage) can maintain accounts. Settlers keep Georgian/Turkish bank accounts.
Will Your Pension Survive the Move?
Will Your Pension Survive the Move?
Will Your Pension Survive the Move?
Bilateral agreements & where retirement funds go to die
No bilateral agreement needed. US Social Security pays to Thailand via direct deposit. Clean transfer, well-tested by the large US retiree community.
SSA Publication 05-10137
Other passports ›
No agreement. Russian pension receivable through Russian banks — Thai ATMs accepted Mir cards until 2023, now mostly blocked. Settlers use intermediary transfers via Georgian or Armenian banks.
PFR (Russia); Thai Social Security Office
No agreement. Belarusian pensions don't leave the country. Thailand has no mechanism to help.
ФСЗН (Беларусь); Thai Social Security Office
No agreement. Ukrainian pension payable abroad through Ukrainian banks, but wartime currency controls and limited SWIFT access add friction.
Пенсійний фонд України; Thai Social Security Office
UK state pension pays to Thailand, but frozen at the rate when you left. No annual increases. A known pain point for UK retirees in Thailand.
The British community in Thailand has lobbied for uprating for decades. Still frozen.
DWP International Pension Centre; GOV.UK 'State Pension if you retire abroad'
If You're Fleeing a War Zone
If You're Fleeing a War Zone
Wartime support for Ukrainian settlers
No formal refugee support programs for Ukrainians. Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
No simplified pathway. Standard visa categories apply.
No refugee framework at all -- Thailand doesn't recognize refugee status
Can Your Mom Visit?
Can Your Mom Visit?
Thailand, the Country
Visa paths, politics, rights, and what the country looks like from the outside
Thailand, the Country
Visa paths, politics, rights, and what the country looks like from the outside
Can You Actually Live Here?
PR in ~3 yrs · Citizenship in 8 yrs
Can You Actually Live Here?
PR in ~3 yrs · Citizenship in 8 yrs
Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay
For a US citizen passport: Moderate
What you need to earn
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
LTR Visa (Work-from-Thailand)
Requires Thai language proficiency. Formal declaration to renounce prior citizenship required but not enforced in practice — dual nationality is tolerated.
Updated Mar 2026 · Source
Who's Running the Show
Democracy index: 6.3/10
Who's Running the Show
Democracy index: 6.3/10
Politics, freedom, and press independence
Source: EIU Democracy Index
Peace: IEP Global Peace Index
We show our work. It's a radical concept.
How is this calculated?What Will Break 6 Months In
Central Thai is non-negotiable. Doctor's visits, landlord disputes, tax forms — all in Central Thai. Start lessons before you land.
Paperwork moves when it wants to. Follow up in person. Bring every document you own. Then bring copies.
Do People Trust Each Other Here?
29% trust most people · falling
Do People Trust Each Other Here?
29% trust most people · falling
Whether a stranger here expects you to screw them over
The fine print, for the distrustful
Interpersonal: Integrated Values Surveys (World Values Survey + European Values Study), via Our World in Data · 2022 wave
Do They Want You Here?
2.5/9 acceptance · holding steady
Do They Want You Here?
2.5/9 acceptance · holding steady
How the locals feel about people who moved here — public sentiment, measured country-wide. Not immigration law.
Would rather you settled literally anywhere else — when Gallup last asked, in 2019. A lot has happened since.
Acceptance index down 0.2 points between 2016 and 2019 (Gallup).
The fine print, for the unconvinced
Gallup's Migrant Acceptance Index: how welcome migrants are as neighbours, colleagues and in-laws. Not a measure of immigration policy, border enforcement, or how any of it looks now.
Index: Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index · 2019 wave
How Close Is the US, Really?
14791 km from Washington DC · 2.8% trade share
How Close Is the US, Really?
14791 km from Washington DC · 2.8% trade share
You moved to the other side of the planet. Committed.
Thailand's trade with the US
10% less trade dependency since 2019
14791 km from Washington DC. This is a real move, not an extended trip.
Sources: IMF DOTS, World Bank WITS, OEC, NATO, Europa.eu, OpenStreetMap (distances). Trade figures 2024.
LGBTQ+ Rights & Reproductive Access
Rainbow 65/100 · Marriage legal
LGBTQ+ Rights & Reproductive Access
Rainbow 65/100 · Marriage legal
LGBTQ+ protections, reproductive rights, and who the law actually covers
Moderate protections
via Equaldex Equality Index
Trans Rights
Reproductive Health Access
On request up to 12 weeks since 2021. Between 12-20 weeks with counseling.
Source: Equaldex Equality Index
Reproductive: Center for Reproductive Rights
How this Rainbow Index works: Outside Europe there's no Rainbow Map, so this 0–100 number comes from the Equaldex Equality Index — a different beast that blends a legal-rights index with a public-opinion index. It measures roughly the same thing (how good it is to be queer here) but isn't directly comparable to the European scores, which are pure law-on-the-books. Read it as a ballpark, not a decimal-precise ranking.
Jewish Safety
Antisemitic attitudes, hate crimes, and community presence
Jewish Safety
Antisemitic attitudes, hate crimes, and community presence
Antisemitic attitudes, hate crime incidents, and Jewish community presence
Below average
ADL Global 100 (2024) — % agreeing with 6+ of 11 antisemitic stereotypes
No synagogues found on OpenStreetMap — Jewish community infrastructure is likely minimal or absent.
Attitudes: ADL Global 100
Synagogues: OpenStreetMap (Synagogues)
How to read this: These three metrics are shown separately because they measure different things. ADL measures attitudes (what people believe), OSCE counts reported incidents (what gets filed), and synagogues show community presence (not safety). A country can have high attitudes and low incidents (Saudi Arabia) or low attitudes and high incidents (UK). No single number captures "Jewish safety" — read all three together.
English in Phuket
Very Low
English in Phuket
Very Low
Primary language is Central Thai.
Assume the office runs in the local language unless the employer says otherwise.
For long-term settling, plan to function in the local language.
Office English follows EF EPI. Street English is stricter because landlords, clinics, and bureaucracy usually lag behind workplace English.
FSI-style difficulty — 1 (practically a dialect) to 5 (new everything)
Source: EF English Proficiency Index
Who Keeps the Lights On?
Dirty and borrowing · 17% clean · mostly gas
Who Keeps the Lights On?
Dirty and borrowing · 17% clean · mostly gas
Where the power comes from, and who can switch it off
Net importer — buys roughly 16% of its electricity from neighbours.
Sources: Ember (generation mix), GlobalPetrolPrices (household rate), IEA (trajectory) · 2025
More on Phuket
Not sold yet?
Other cities exist. Some of them are even good.
Reality-check it
Got an offer in Phuket?
Head-to-head
Phuket vs Bali
Head-to-head
Phuket vs Kuala Lumpur
Cut from the same cloth
Bali
Let the algorithm judge you
2 min quiz — surprisingly accurate
Phuket — FAQ
9 questions answered
Phuket — FAQ
9 questions answered
What should I know before moving to Phuket?▾
Phuket is a real relocation destination, not a backpacker layover. What you need to know: permanent residency in ~3 years, 1-bed rent from $708/month, primary language is Central Thai. This page breaks down the full picture — cost of living, visa paths, safety, language barrier, and what daily life actually looks like for someone who stays past the honeymoon phase.
How safe is Phuket, really?▾
Homicide rate: 4.8 per 100,000 (UNODC). World average is 5.8, so Phuket is generally safe — about what you'd expect. Numbeo Crime Index sits at 39.5/100 (lower = safer) — that's what residents actually say about walking home at night, not what the tourism board says. Learn the neighborhoods before signing a lease — every city has blocks you'll love and blocks you won't.
What's the real cost of living in Phuket?▾
A 1-bed in the centre runs about $708/month (Numbeo). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $6.24, monthly transit pass: $24. All in — rent, food, getting around, keeping the lights on — budget $1108–$1508/month depending on whether you cook or eat out. That's the settler number, not the tourist number.
What's the weather actually like in Phuket?▾
Phuket: Summers reach around 88°F with about 12.6 hours of daylight in Jun, winters drop to around 75°F and 11.7 hours of daylight in Dec. Warm enough to regret not having AC, cool enough that some people try.
Can you get by in Phuket without the local language?▾
Very Low English proficiency (EF EPI). But that one word hides two very different realities: office English 17/100 (can you work in English?) and street English 7/100 (can you argue with your landlord in English?). The office is usually easier. The landlord is the real test.
Is Phuket actually worth settling in long-term?▾
Thailand scores 6.3/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. Functional enough, but keep an eye on the political weather. Some expats find the bureaucracy more autocratic than the government. Rent from $708/month.
What's the job market really like in Phuket?▾
Unemployment: 0.8%. Translation: jobs exist and companies are actually hiring — a rarity worth noting. If you're planning to job-hunt locally, research your industry before booking a one-way ticket. If you work remotely, this number matters less — but your visa type might not let you.
Is Phuket any good for expats?▾
Depends what kind of expat you are. Key facts: rent from $708/month. The numbers above — livability score, safety, cost of living — tell you whether the city works on paper. Whether it works for you depends on what you're optimizing for. Take the quiz if you want a more honest answer than "it's great for expats."
How long until you get permanent residency in Thailand?▾
Permanent residency typically takes 3 years of legal residence; citizenship eligibility after 8 years total. The usual prerequisites: proof of income, a clean criminal record, and sometimes enough local language to prove you're serious. Rules change — check with an immigration lawyer before building your five-year plan around a Reddit thread.
Can you actually move abroad?
Check real visa paths based on your passport, profession, and savings. Not the tourist visa — the one that lets you stay.
Find visa paths that actually work for you →Other cities in Thailand
See all →▸Show full data table
🇹🇭 Phuket
$1,891/ mo
Rent: $708 · Rest: $1183
🥑 That's 158 avocado toasts/mo
~71/100
86th
3y
8y
🌞 88°F
😊 75°F
Thailand
Economics · World Bank / IMF
GDP per capita (PPP)2024
$24,712
GDP Growth2024
+2.5%
Inflation2024
1.4%↓
Boringly steadyUnemployment2025
0.8%
Gini Index2024
33.3
Population2021
418,785
Politics · EIU / Freedom House
Democracy Index
6.3→57th
Regime
Flawed democracy
Freedom House
34/100
Press Freedom
85th
Safety · UNODC / Numbeo
Homicide per 100K
4.8
Safety Index
~60.5/100
Residency Path · ltr.boi.go.th
Visa Difficulty
Time to Permanent Residency
3 years
Path to Citizenship
8 years
Work Permit
complex
Language · EF EPI
Languages
Central Thai
English Proficiency
Very Low116th
Next up
Start with the closest follow-up paths, then open the long tail if you want more.
Cities Similar to Phuket
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More ways to explore›
Phuket appears in
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Data sources
Open-Meteo Air QualityADL Global 100OpenStreetMap (Synagogues)Townleap (Banking Access Research)IEA (Future of Cooling)ND-GAIN Country IndexOpen-Meteo (ERA5 Archive)Open-Meteo (CMIP6 Climate)NumbeoUNODCDiaspora DataWikidataWorld BankEmberEF English Proficiency IndexTownleap (Curated)Townleap (Curated)Townleap (Computed)Townleap (Pediatric Healthcare Research)Numbeo HealthcareOokla SpeedtestWikipediaEqualdex Equality IndexGallup Migrant Acceptance IndexTownleap (Neighborhood Research)EIU Democracy IndexIEP Global Peace IndexCenter for Reproductive RightsGovernment SourcesWHO Road SafetyLevels.fyiSalary DataISD (Tuition Data)OECD PISAWikipedia (Intl. Schools)Townleap (Public School Viability)Travel AdvisoryTownleap (Computed)Numbeo Quality of LifeTownleap (Nightlife Research)Townleap (Compiled Research)Our World in Data (Integrated Values Surveys)Townleap (Wartime Support Research)Derived from Astronomical DataWeatherSpark
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