Phuket Island is one of the most sought-after places for foreigners to holiday, live, and buy property in Thailand. The island welcomed 8.65 million visitors in 2024, and more than 7.6 million in the first seven months of 2025 alone. Russia, China and India are Phuket’s key source markets, followed by the United Kingdom and Germany.
Content:
- Bang Tao
- Karon
- Rawai
- The three areas compared
- What to check in person
- Buying property in Phuket
- Frequently asked questions
Phuket is very popular due to its picturesque nature and long beaches, which are great not only for relaxing and swimming but also for various water sports. Phuket also boasts affordable prices for food, clothing, cosmetics, and many other goods.
The island is divided into 3 major districts:
- Mueang Phuket is the southern part of the island, home to the capital, the city of Phuket, and the popular coastal neighbourhoods of Karon, Kata, Rawai, Chalong, and Rassada Pier.
- Thalang is the northern part of Phuket, where the popular Sirinat National Park is located, with many wild beaches, tropical forests, and nature reserves. The most visited tourist locations in the district are Bang Pae Waterfall, the colourful Sri Sunthon temple with a Buddha statue, and Peranakan Museum. There are beaches of Nai Yang and Mai Khao, where you can watch low-flying aircraft. It is also home to the prestigious coastal community of Bang Tao with the namesake beach.
- Kathu is a lively tourist area in the heart of the island. There are many nightclubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants, as well as the quiet Kamala Beach.
Each Phuket’s district has unique features, so if you are planning to move here for the winter or permanent residence, you should choose a suitable location in advance. Let’s look at the 3 most popular resort areas in the island:
- Bang Tao
- Karon
- Rawai
Bang Tao
Bang Tao is one of the island’s most prestigious areas with an ideal environment for comfortable living for families with children and those who appreciate a relaxing holiday by the sea.
Bang Tao is about a 25 to 30-minute drive from Phuket Airport. Upscale restaurants, beach clubs, cafes, and retail facilities are in the southern part of the area. The northern part of the resort is more tranquil and quieter.
Bang Tao has a wide beach with yellow sand and casuarina trees. The beach is one of the longest in the island and is surrounded by an open bay. The entrance to the water here is quite gentle. It gets deep 15 m from the shore. There are some areas of the bottom with sharp drop-offs, so it is better to swim with children in specially designated places. On the beach, you can rent sun loungers, umbrellas, air mattresses, and various equipment for activities on the seashore.
Since this is a high-end destination, the prices in local restaurants, cafes, and hotels are higher than in other coastal locations.
Public transport here includes regular buses, which run along routes between hotels and shopping centres. Ferries ply the sea. There are also taxis. Locals, as in other parts of Thailand, prefer to travel on motorcycles and scooters.
Property in Bang Tao
As for property, in Bang Tao, it mainly comprises upmarket residential complexes, houses, and premium hotels. Most of the housing has high-level services and modern amenities.
Here you can find both new high-rise residential buildings, with limited access to outsiders, and stylish modern villas or townhouses. Multi-unit residential developments usually feature swimming pools, gyms, spas, restaurants, and other amenities. Some complexes offer hotel services for an additional fee.
A 38 m² 1-bedroom apartment here starts at $111,000. A modern 106 m² 2-bedroom villa is for sale at $157,000. These are prices as at the time of publication. For reference, the median price per square metre in Phuket is now around THB 144,000 ($4,350), and Bang Tao sits in the upper part of that range.
Karon
Karon is perfect for families with children and those who prefer a quiet pace of life. It has one of the best and cleanest beaches in Phuket with a gentle entry into the water and yellow sand. Its length is 3.5 km. The coastline is divided into 2 parts: Small Karon, a little bay with a coral reef, and Big Karon, a long coastal area bordering Cape Sai and Kata Beach. From July to September, steady winds and waves allow for surfing. Those same months bring strong rip currents: Karon is one of the island’s most dangerous beaches in a swell, and red flags go up along the shore.
The advantages of Karon also include:
- Inexpensive guest houses, hotels, and rental rooms within walking distance from the beach
- A treeline separating the beach area from the road, which reduces the noise level
- Clean streets and a quiet, peaceful atmosphere
Karon has markets, numerous restaurants, cafes, grocery stores, and travel agencies, where you can book excursions to the sights of Thailand.
Property in Karon
Housing in Karon includes villas, houses, and small apartment complexes. There are both more budget-friendly options and premium high-priced properties.
For example, a 45 m² 1-bedroom apartment can be purchased for $111,000. A high-end 100 m² 3-bedroom villa with sea and mountain views is offered for $542,000. The mansion is 1.2 km from the sea. These are prices as at the time of publication; check the catalogue for current listings.
Rawai
Once Rawai was a small fishing village, but due to tourists coming to Phuket, it has turned into a popular resort area. There is a port and residential buildings in its southern part, and in the north there is a beach, which is not used for recreation and swimming. The coast is normally occupied by numerous fishing, excursion, and rental boats. At low tide, the water recedes very far. Many residents of the area prefer to rent a boat to sail to one of the small islands, where they can relax on a quiet secluded beach.
One of the most popular locations among tourists and expats in Rawai is the promenade. This is a busy street where you can find many restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, massage parlours, and shops selling souvenirs, inexpensive clothes, and accessories.
One of the advantages of Rawai is more affordable prices for real estate, food, and services. Most of the population are Thais. However, there is also a small percentage of expats, who have been living in Thailand for many years.
Rawai or the neighbouring Nai Harn has all the infrastructure necessary for comfortable living: shops, gyms, markets, bakeries, supermarkets, kindergartens, and schools. From Phuket Airport, the area can be reached in about an hour.
The location caters to those who prefer a tranquil lifestyle away from noisy resorts. Rawai is also often chosen by expats who want to find a more budget-friendly area for long-term residence.
Property in Rawai
Property in Rawai mainly comprises residential apartment buildings and detached villas. You can easily find long-term rental housing. There are also resorts and hotels, but there are much fewer of them than in popular tourist locations such as Karon or Patong.
Rawai is known for its budget-friendly property prices. Housing here is cheaper than in resort areas such as Bang Tao and Karon. For example, in Rawai, you can find a 37 m² 1-bedroom apartment for $96,000. The apartment is in a modern gated residential complex, 800 metres from the sea, with security, a swimming pool, and a playground. A stylish 175 m² 3-bedroom villa with a private pool and a terrace is for sale at $197,000.
The three areas compared
The three areas sit far apart on the island and solve different problems. Here is the short version.
| Criterion | Bang Tao | Karon | Rawai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price level | The highest on the island | Mid-range, from budget to premium | The most affordable of the three |
| To the airport | 25–30 minutes | about an hour | about an hour |
| The beach | Wide, long and sandy with a gentle entry | One of the cleanest, 3.5 km, waves and currents in summer | A working beach, not used for swimming: people drive to neighbouring beaches or take a boat to the islands |
| Who lives there | Well-off families, Europeans, few Russian speakers | Many Russian-speaking expats and tourists | Mostly Thais and long-term expats |
| Who it suits | Those who want a premium standard and will pay for it | Families who want a Russian-speaking community near the beach | Those living on the island long term and watching the budget |
"On Phuket you choose an area not by the beach but by the distance to whatever you do every day: school, work, the airport. There is a beach everywhere, while driving across the island twice a day wears anyone down, however good the view from the window."
— a property consultant in Phuket
What to check in person
Three things the photographs do not show and that most often change the decision.
- The drive at rush hour and in the rain. Distances on Phuket are short, but hill roads and downpours easily turn twenty minutes into an hour.
- The beach in low season. From May to October the picture changes: the west coast gets swell, and in Rawai the tide exposes tens of metres of seabed.
- The neighbours in your building. In resort areas part of the stock is let daily, which affects the quiet. While you are at it, check whether the building regulations allow such letting at all.
Buying property in Phuket
Foreign nationals can buy houses and apartments in Thailand both freehold and leasehold. The maximum lease term under the law is 30 years. The "30+30+30" structure that promised 90 years in total was ruled a circumvention of the law by the Supreme Court in March 2025, so count on the first thirty years, and register any lease longer than three years with the Department of Lands. Properties purchased with the right to use may be resold and bequeathed.
Ownership depends on the type of property. For example, a foreigner cannot obtain the right to own a land plot in Thailand, but the house built on it can be registered separately from the land: in Thai law the building and the plot are different objects. It is important to note that freehold properties usually sell for 10% more than leasehold properties.
Freehold apartments can be found in condominiums, which are shared ownership properties. Overseas buyers rarely receive loans from local banks, but they can take advantage of an interest-free instalment plan from a developer when buying an off-plan apartment or villa in Thailand.
You can view the current offers on the Phuket real estate market on our website. In the catalogue, you will find listings for apartments, penthouses, villas, and townhouses for sale in the island’s most prestigious areas. We aggregate offers from various real estate agents and developers so that you can compare prices and technical specifications and choose the best housing option for a future purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Which area is the most affordable?
Rawai. Units there cost less than in Bang Tao or Karon, and everyday infrastructure is right in the area and in neighbouring Nai Harn.
Where do expats tend to settle?
Mostly in Karon and Rawai. Bang Tao has noticeably fewer Russian speakers and more Europeans.
Can you swim in Rawai?
The local beach is a working one: it is lined with boats, and low tide pulls the water far out. Residents drive to nearby beaches or take a boat to the islands.
How long is the drive from the airport?
Twenty-five to thirty minutes to Bang Tao, about an hour to Karon and Rawai. Rain and rush hour stretch that noticeably.
Which area is better for letting?
Bang Tao commands higher rents but costs more to enter. Karon has steadier tourist demand, while Rawai is more often let long term.