Rent by area and type
Asking rents from listings and relocation guides, October 2026. Sources disagree, so read these as ranges, not quotes.
| Area | 1-bed condo / month | 3-bed pool villa / month |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket Town, Kathu | 8,000–18,000 THB | Kathu sample median ≈52,500 THB (10 listings) |
| Patong | 14,000–28,000 THB | no reliable sample yet |
| Rawai, Nai Harn | 12,000–25,000 THB | Rawai: 35,000–105,000 THB, sample median 105,000 (18 listings) |
| Kamala | 15,000–40,000 THB | no reliable sample yet |
| Bang Tao, Laguna, Cherngtalay | 22,000–45,000 THB | 55,000–160,000 THB, sample median ≈160,000 |
Villas we saw advertised in October 2026: a two-bedroom in Thep Krasattri at 75,000 THB on a one-year lease, three-bedroom villas in Chalong at 60,000–78,000, a three-bedroom in Kathu at 100,000, a four-bedroom pool villa in Mai Khao at 150,000, and a six-bedroom in Cherngtalay at 260,000.
Browse current homes in long-term rentals.
What the rent includes, and what it does not
Most long-term homes in Phuket are let furnished. A villa's rent often covers pool cleaning and the garden, sometimes weekly cleaning and internet; a condo's rent covers the building's pool, gym and security.
What you usually pay on top:
- Electricity. Billed by the meter. In a villa with air conditioning in several rooms it is the largest monthly bill after rent. Agree the rate per unit in the contract: landlords covered by the 2025 rules may not charge above the official tariff.
- Water. Metered or a flat monthly amount; in condos it is often small.
- Internet. Included in many villas; otherwise a fibre plan.
- Extra services. Daily cleaning, a gardener on top of the basic service, laundry.
Ask the landlord to list every inclusion in writing. "Pool service included" should say how often.
Deposit, advance rent and the 2025 rules
Since 4 September 2025 Thailand's Office of the Consumer Protection Board treats letting three or more residential units as a contract-controlled business; hotels and dormitories are excluded, and the rules below apply to those landlords' residential leases:
| Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Deposit plus advance capped at 3 months' rent (monthly leases) | You cannot be asked for more up front |
| Deposit returned when the lease ends; if an inspection is needed, within 7 days (14 if there is damage) | No months of waiting for your money |
| Signed move-in condition report, photos optional | Your best protection against deductions |
| No renewal fees, no mid-term rent increases | The price is fixed for the term |
| Utilities at official tariffs | No marked-up electricity |
| Tenant may end a fixed term after living there for half of it, with 30 days' notice and all payments cleared | Some flexibility if plans change |
A private owner of one or two homes is outside these rules: the contract decides. Two months' deposit plus one month in advance is the common pattern. Read the deposit clause before you sign, and photograph every room on the day you move in.
TM30 and your visa
Within 24 hours of a foreigner moving in, the house owner must report the address to Immigration on form TM30 (Immigration Act 1979, section 38). Phuket Immigration has said publicly that this is the landlord's duty, not the tenant's.
In practice the TM30 receipt matters to you: visa extensions and some bank procedures ask for it. Put "landlord files TM30 and gives the tenant a copy" into the contract. If you travel abroad and come back, ask whether the landlord re-files; officers' practice varies, so check before your next extension.
How to rent in Phuket, step by step
- Decide the area first: school run, beach, quiet or nightlife. Rent differs more between areas than between houses.
- Set a total monthly budget including electricity, not just rent.
- View in person or on a live video call, at the time of day you would actually be home. Listen for road and construction noise.
- Ask for the contract, the inclusions list and the electricity rate before paying anything.
- Pay the deposit by bank transfer, never in cash without a receipt.
- Sign the condition report with photos on move-in day.
- Get your TM30 copy within the first days.
Agent commission on a long-term let is usually one month's rent, normally paid by the landlord. If an agent asks the tenant to pay too, negotiate it before viewing, not after.
Questions buyers ask
How much is rent in Phuket per month?
About 8,000–45,000 THB for a one-bedroom condo depending on the area, and about 35,000–160,000 THB for a three-bedroom pool villa. Phuket Town and Kathu are cheapest, Bang Tao and Laguna the most expensive. Electricity is extra.
Can I rent a house in Phuket for one month?
Yes. A stay of 30 days or more is outside hotel business, but a single 30-night booking does not by itself make a place lawful to let: what matters is how the operator runs it. Look for homes advertised for monthly stays and expect a higher rate than on a six- or twelve-month lease.
Is it cheaper to rent long term in Phuket?
Usually yes. Landlords price longer leases lower per month because the home is let for longer. For example, a two-bedroom villa in Thep Krasattri was advertised at 75,000 THB a month on a one-year lease in October 2026.
Who pays the agent fee when renting in Phuket?
Usually the landlord, typically one month's rent on a long-term let. Some agents try to split it with the tenant; agree on it before viewings.
Sources
Editorial guidance, not legal or tax advice. Thai rules change; confirm your case with an independent Thai lawyer before paying a deposit.
