Phuket is the place to buy in Thailand if you want a resort home with an international airport, international schools and an active resale and rental market on one island. It is also heavily supplied: property worth THB 194.5 billion was awaiting buyers in 2026, second only to Bangkok and its surrounding provinces. Condominiums sold for an average of THB 125,000 to 160,000 per sqm in 2025, with Bang Tao far above that at about THB 283,975. A foreign buyer can hold a condominium freehold. A villa means a registered lease.
How Phuket divides
Phuket is long and narrow, and the district you choose decides the price, the tenant and the daily drive. The airport sits in the north-west, so the north and the central west coast are the convenient end, and the south is close to an hour away.
- The north: Mai Khao and Nai Yang, quiet beaches beside the airport.
- The central west coast: Layan, Bang Tao, Surin and Kamala, where most new supply, branded residences and the highest prices are.
- Patong and the south-west: Patong, the resort town, then the hotel beaches of Kata and Karon.
- The south: Rawai and Nai Harn and Chalong, where long-stay residents live at lower entry prices.
- The town and the east: Phuket Town, Kathu inland, the headland of Cape Panwa, and the marinas of Cape Yamu.
Every district's price per square metre and time to the airport are compared side by side in where to buy in Phuket. Treat prices as a guide and check recent transfers in the building.
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What you will see
- Each area scored from 0 to 5 on ten things, from beaches to value
- Entry prices per square metre for each area
- Drive time to the nearest airport
What property costs in Phuket
Cumulative supply on the island reached 42,061 condominium units and 7,789 villas at the end of 2025. In early 2025 the median was THB 144,000 per sqm for condominiums and THB 70,000 per sqm for villas and other landed homes. Branded condominiums averaged THB 181,000 and branded villas reached THB 162,000. New units cost more than resales: non-branded condominiums sold new at THB 139,000 per sqm against THB 100,000 on resale.
Budget for the costs on top. The purchase cost calculator and the guide to property taxes and buying costs set out transfer fees, taxes and sinking funds. For the ownership choice itself, read freehold versus leasehold and buying a villa in Thailand.
Rental demand and yields in Phuket
Demand follows flights. Phuket International Airport handled 4.39 million passenger arrivals in the first half of 2026, down 1.4% on a year earlier, with hotel occupancy at 67.7% and an average daily rate of THB 5,658. Russian visitors were the largest group, followed by Indian and Chinese travellers.
Condominiums yielded 5% to 8% a year in 2024. Villa yields of 10% to 15% are quoted in the market; treat that as a high-season best case, not a planning figure. Two points matter more than the headline number. Income is seasonal, and letting for under 30 days needs a hotel licence, which most condominiums do not have. See short-term rental rules and hotel-managed and rental pool schemes, then test your own numbers in the rental yield calculator.
Who buys in Phuket
International buyers made up 67% of purchasers in the first half of 2026. The villa market is led by Russian and Chinese buyers relocating for the long term, with more Singaporean, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Dubai-based and European buyers each year. On the condominium side, Russian purchasing has begun to slow and developers are courting buyers from India, Europe and expatriates in the Middle East.
Families tend to cluster within reach of the international schools in the centre and north of the island. Buying does not confer a right to stay, so check the visa pathfinder early.
Getting to and around Phuket
Phuket International has direct long-haul and regional services as well as frequent Bangkok flights: see flights and getting around for routes. On the island you will drive or be driven. Expect 15 minutes from the airport to Mai Khao, 25 to Bang Tao and an hour to Rawai, more in peak season.
What to watch for in Phuket
Supply is the main risk. In September 2026 there were 90,597 units on the market, and existing stock would take about 19.2 months to sell with no new launches. Completions fell 56.8% in the first half of 2026 because projects were delayed or not ready for handover, so check the developer's track record closely. Read the off-plan buying process before paying a deposit.
The west coast is exposed to the southwest monsoon. Climate and seasons and the seasons tool show what that does to beaches and bookings. The atlas maps every district against schools, hospitals and marinas.
