Lamai suits a buyer who wants a real beach town at a slower pace than Chaweng, and who does not mind a longer drive to the airport. It is the island's second resort centre and a secondary property market: Maret sub-district, which covers it, held 15% of the units on sale in mid-2025. It is also one of the main places on Samui to buy a condominium, at an island average of THB 60,000 to 80,000 per sqm.
What it is like to live in Lamai
Lamai Beach is a wide bay on the south-east coast. The town behind it has what a resident needs: supermarkets, a night market, restaurants and a modest bar scene.
The area has a strong wellness identity, with yoga and health retreats around the bay, among them Vikasa on the northern headland. The Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks at the southern end are the local landmark, and Wat Lamai sits just inland. North of the bay, the road climbs over a headland past Silver Beach and Crystal Bay towards Chaweng Noi. The Royal Samui Golf and Country Club is in the hills on that side.
Bangkok Hospital Samui, on the ring road at the southern edge of Chaweng, is the nearest large private hospital. The International School of Samui is in Bophut, a long school run from here.
Property in Lamai and what it costs
Stock is a mix of hillside pool villas above the bay and a small number of condominium buildings near the beach. Maret sub-district accounted for 15% of units on the primary market in June 2025 and 12% of value. A smaller share of value than of units means lower average prices than in the north-east.
Price against the island as a whole. Median asking prices in mid-2025 were THB 60,600 per sqm for landed property and THB 88,500 for condominiums. Condominiums averaged THB 60,000 to 80,000 per sqm in Q1 2026, and since Lamai is one of the main condominium locations, that range is the closer guide for a unit here.
A condominium unit can be owned freehold within the foreign quota. A villa is bought as a lease of up to 30 years with ownership of the building: see buying a villa in Thailand. The purchase cost calculator shows the fees on each, including lease registration.
Who buys in Lamai
Lamai tends to attract long-stay residents and retirees, alongside investors looking for a lower entry price. Foreigners make up 85 to 90% of demand across the island. If you plan to live here for much of the year, check your visa route first: the retirement visa and the Destination Thailand Visa are the common ones.
Holiday letting is seasonal. Island-wide villa occupancy was 56.6% in 2024, peaking in February and bottoming out at 38.7% in September. Lamai's distance from the airport makes it less attractive for stays of a few nights, and the island's average stay is 4.6 nights. Read rental yields in Thailand and short-term rental rules before relying on rental income.
Getting to and around Lamai
From the southern end of Lamai, Samui International (USM) is 30 to 45 minutes by car, depending on route and traffic. The coast road north over the headland is the direct route and can be slow.
What to watch for in Lamai
Liquidity is the main consideration. Lamai has fewer buyers than Bophut or Chaweng, so allow time for a resale and do not stretch on price. Our guide to selling property and repatriating funds explains the exit.
Check hillside villas against their building permits. Slopes of 35 to 50% carry a six-metre height limit, and authorities acted on breaches elsewhere on Samui in 2025. See title deeds and due diligence.
Ask about water and about access in the wet months. November averages about 445 mm of rain on Samui. For the island as a whole, return to the Koh Samui overview.
