Property to rent in Phuket
Property rental on Phuket includes studios and apartments in condominiums, units in condo‑hotels, houses, and villas with private pools. The market is divided into two segments: long‑term rental from one month, with a written lease agreement — this is how expats and families staying through the winter rent; short‑term daily rentals are only possible where the building holds a hotel license.
The island stretches 50 kilometers, and prices vary significantly by coastline. The western coast is beachfront and expensive: Bang Tao and Laguna with villas, lively Patong, family‑friendly Kata and Karon, Rawai and Nai Harn with expat houses, and quiet Nai Thon and Nai Yang near the airport. The eastern coast has no beaches and is noticeably cheaper: Chalong and Phuket Town, where people live for schools, hospitals, and work. The price difference between the two sides can be up to fivefold.
A studio in a condominium costs roughly three times less than a two‑bedroom apartment, while a villa with a pool is four to five times more expensive than the same apartment. Beyond the rent, there are mandatory additional costs, and they are significant. Below — Phuket's areas with rental prices, a full cost breakdown, and rules that are only discovered after moving in.
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3-bedroom villa with panoramic pool and sea view in Kamala
Studio 32 m² in Sea Heaven Garden, Nai Thon — 1 minute to the beach
Studio 32 m² in the Sea Heaven Garden complex, Nai Thon
Within a single area, price variation can be greater than between different areas: much depends on proximity to the beach, the presence of a pool, and the contract term. Below — what is rented in each location and what to look for when choosing.
| Area | What is rented | Price per month | Best suited for | What to consider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bang Tao and Laguna | Villas with private pools, apartments in gated projects, houses in complexes | 28,000 – 1,000,000 ฿ — house 75 m² — 28,000 ฿, 2‑bedroom apartments — 44,500 ฿, 6‑bedroom villa — up to 1,000,000 ฿ | Families with children and those renting long‑term with an above‑average budget | The widest selection of villas on the island and the greatest price variation within a single area — from a budget house to a resort‑style villa |
| Patong | Studios and condominium apartments — the most affordable rental option on Phuket | from 7,000 ฿ — the lowest market entry point for studios | Short‑term stays and those who prioritize price over peace and quiet | The center of nightlife: noise until morning and heavy traffic. Check which side the windows face — the difference in comfort is greater than the price difference |
| Kata and Karon | Apartment rentals in condo‑hotels, 1–2 bedroom units | 15,000 – 75,000 ฿ — 1‑bedroom apartment 500 m from the beach — 75,000 ฿ | Family holidays: gentle entry into the sea, calmer than Patong | A significant portion of the supply consists of condo‑hotels with pools and reception desks; short‑term formats are more common there, but they are only legal with a license |
| Rawai and Nai Harn | Villa rentals with pools, less frequently houses without pools | 130,000 – 250,000 ฿ — 3‑bedroom villa from 130,000 ฿ | Expats and families living on the island year‑round | The only area on the island where the market consists almost entirely of villas rather than apartments; apartment choices here are minimal |
| Nai Thon and Nai Yang | Studios and small apartments in new developments | from 67,000 ฿ — 32 m² studio 100 meters from the beach | Those seeking tranquility and proximity to the airport | Northern part of the island: about an hour to Patong and Phuket Town. Living without a car or motorbike is inconvenient |
| Chalong and Phuket Town | Apartments and studios in residential condominiums: the most affordable long‑term rental option on Phuket | from 2,000 ฿ — minimum rate in the long‑term apartment rental market | Work, study, and long‑term living on a minimal budget | Eastern side without beaches: 20–30 minutes to the sea. However, schools, hospitals, shops, and non‑resort prices are available |
Prices are based on current market listings as of August 2026; specific amounts are based on properties in our database. For villas, the monthly rate is shown; for apartments, a typical long‑term rental range is provided.
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Prices and additional costs
Electricity — the most common source of overpayment. The official rate for May–August 2026 is 3.95 baht per kilowatt‑hour, including the fuel adjustment charge, before tax. For rental properties, a separate rule applies: the Consumer Protection Board regulation limits the rate to 4.88 baht per unit, and landlords are not permitted to charge more. In practice, condominiums charge 6–8 baht — double the ceiling. Ask for the exact rate before signing the lease and request to see the actual bill from the electric utility company: with an air conditioner running at night, the difference between 4.88 and 8 baht adds up to 1,500–2,500 baht per month.
Water is usually inexpensive — around 100–150 baht per month per person — but it is also often marked up at the building's internal rate. Internet in a condominium costs 600–1,000 baht. In total, utilities and communications add approximately 1,500–5,000 baht per month to the rent, depending on how much the air conditioner is used.
A security deposit is almost always required: one month's rent for contracts of several months, two months for an annual contract. It is refunded after move‑out, less any damages or unpaid bills. Separately, clarify whether the maintenance fee for the complex is included in the rent — in some projects it is, while in others it is charged to the tenant.
The 30‑day rule and why it matters to tenants
Thirty days is not a recommendation — it is the boundary between two laws. Anything rented for less than 30 days falls under the Hotel Act B.E. 2547 and requires a hotel license. A residential condominium does not hold such a license, so short‑term rentals there are illegal: the owner faces a fine of up to 20,000 baht and up to one year of imprisonment. In Phuket, there is a known case where an owner was fined 70,000 baht because their tenant was subletting the unit on a daily basis.
For the tenant, the risk is not abstract: the building management company has the right to evict occupants without a license, and in that case the money paid in advance is refunded not by the management, but by the person who sublet the unit. If you are booking for less than a month, choose a property in a building that holds a hotel license — you can ask for the license number directly when booking.
TM30 notification
The second rule applies to all foreigners regardless of the duration of stay. Under Section 38 of the Immigration Act, the property owner is required to notify the immigration office of a foreigner's stay within 24 hours — the TM30 form. The fine for failure to notify is paid by the owner, 800–2,000 baht. However, the consequences fall on the tenant: without a TM30 record in the system, you cannot complete the 90‑day reporting or extend your visa, and each time you return from abroad — even to the same unit — a new notification must be filed. Before check‑in, ask whether the landlord is registered in the TM30 system and whether they will send you the confirmation — it is a one‑page PDF worth keeping on your phone.
What to check in the lease agreement
In the lease agreement, check five items: the exact electricity rate in baht per unit, the amount and conditions for the refund of the security deposit, who pays the complex maintenance fee, the right to early termination and the penalty for it, and the landlord's obligation to file the TM30 notification. The first and last items are usually absent from standard forms — they are added at the tenant's request.
When to look for housing
The high season runs from November to April, and during this period rates go up, and by October very few properties remain available in good areas. The low season runs from May to October: prices drop and the selection is wider. For those planning to spend the winter, the optimal time to start searching is May–July, when owners have not yet raised prices for the upcoming season.