Phuket or Koh Samui — which should you buy on?
Nightly rates, season length, entry prices and ownership structures differ sharply island by island. Pick the trade-off first — then browse villas and foreign-freehold condos ranked by realistic, after-tax net yield.
Yields shown are realistic after-tax net — the Thai island median is 2.8%, the best buys reach ~8.3%. No gross-on-asking hype.
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A+Thailand by island
Median after-tax net yield and median asking price per island, from the live for-sale catalog. USD-quoted; ownership structure shown per listing.
| Island | For sale | Median net yield | Median price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket The deepest, most liquid market — Rawai, Chalong, Bang Tao and the west-coast beaches. | 4,405 | 2.2% | $302,778 |
| Koh Samui Higher rates, stronger villa yields — Maenam, Bophut, Chaweng and Lamai. | 1,217 | 5.7% | $400,000 |
| Koh Phangan The rising island — value entry prices with demand-spiky season peaks. | 216 | 6.4% | $302,778 |
Net yield is after-tax and after realistic operating costs, over the all-in acquisition cost — not gross-on-asking.
Ownership structures and short-term rental rules in Thailand
Two questions decide whether projected yield is achievable at all: how you hold the property, and whether it can legally rent short-term.
How ownership works
Foreigners can own condominium units outright within the 49% foreign quota of a building — the cleanest structure, with a title deed in your name. Land and villas cannot be foreign-owned directly: they are held on registered 30-year leaseholds (often structured 30+30+30 with contractual renewals) or through a Thai limited company. Each structure carries different acquisition costs, security and exit liquidity — every listing here is labelled, and the ownership-security score prices the difference in.
Short-term rental — the Hotel Act
Renting for under 30 days without a hotel licence is technically an offence under the Thai Hotel Act. In practice, most Phuket and Koh Samui stock operates short-term through licensed buildings, branded-residence rental programs, or villa-estate management companies that hold the permits. Condo juristic persons can also prohibit daily rental outright.
Buyer checkpoint
Before underwriting daily-rental income, confirm how the specific building or estate is permitted to operate, and have a Thai lawyer verify the ownership structure and (for leaseholds) the renewal mechanics. Rules and enforcement vary by island and municipality.
Regulation overview only, current as of mid-2026 — not legal advice. Verify with a local lawyer before purchase.
Live Airbnb market data, island by island
Real occupancy, nightly rates and RevPAR from live Airbnb calendars across Phuket, Koh Samui and the Thai islands — the numbers behind every yield on this page.
10,730
Tracked Listings
25
Areas Covered
39%
Avg Occupancy
$195
Typical ADR
$77
RevPAR
Occupancy and ADR are observed from live Airbnb calendars across Mar 2026–Nov 2026 (10,730 tracked listings), shown in USD. ADR reflects asking prices; upcoming months show booking pace to date and typically rise as the month approaches.
Thailand by Region
Phuket
The deepest, most liquid market — Patong, Kata, Bang Tao, Surin and the west-coast beaches.
11 areas tracked
Islands
Phangan, Tao, Lanta, Phi Phi & Koh Chang — smaller, demand-spiky markets.
8 areas tracked
Koh Samui
Higher rates, longer season — Chaweng, Bophut, Lamai and Maenam.
6 areas tracked
Airbnb Performance by Area in Thailand
Live Airbnb performance by area — occupancy and typical nightly rate (USD) from tracked calendars, all property sizes blended.
| Area | Region | Listings | Occupancy | Typical ADR | Est. Monthly Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Phangan | Islands | 1,345 | 47% | $156 | $2,276 |
| Surin/Bang Tao | Phuket | 838 | 38% | $152 | $1,821 |
| Lamai | Koh Samui | 777 | 47% | $222 | $3,058 |
| Rawai/Nai Harn | Phuket | 745 | 39% | $168 | $2,032 |
| Choeng Mon | Koh Samui | 724 | 44% | $279 | $3,830 |
| Koh Tao | Islands | 683 | 27% | $126 | $1,223 |
| Thalang | Phuket | 672 | 38% | $240 | $3,041 |
| Patong | Phuket | 656 | 40% | $168 | $2,241 |
| Maenam | Koh Samui | 567 | 44% | $254 | $3,399 |
| Kamala | Phuket | 504 | 41% | $234 | $2,981 |
| Mai Khao | Phuket | 449 | 34% | $124 | $1,420 |
| Kata/Karon | Phuket | 384 | 35% | $196 | $2,182 |
| Chalong | Phuket | 369 | 38% | $152 | $1,794 |
| Bophut/Fisherman | Koh Samui | 340 | 45% | $226 | $3,054 |
| Koh Lanta | Islands | 266 | 30% | $108 | $1,042 |
| Koh Chang | Islands | 258 | 27% | $148 | $1,284 |
| Phi Phi | Islands | 238 | 23% | $93 | $741 |
| Taling Ngam | Koh Samui | 234 | 40% | $319 | $3,815 |
| Chaweng | Koh Samui | 206 | 42% | $187 | $2,311 |
| Cape Panwa | Phuket | 173 | 39% | $195 | $2,484 |
| Koh Kood | Islands | 112 | 27% | $116 | $1,565 |
| Cape Yamu | Phuket | 91 | 34% | $718 | $11,337 |
| Koh Jum | Islands | 66 | 44% | $120 | $1,655 |
| Ao Po | Phuket | 30 | 34% | $1,041 | $15,765 |
| Koh Racha | Islands | 3 | 35% | $144 | $1,285 |
Booking Pace by Month
Calendar-observed occupancy per month. Upcoming months show bookings already on the calendar and fill further as dates approach.
Performance by Property Size
Studio
30% occupancy
$72 per night
640 tracked
1 bedroom
35% occupancy
$75 per night
4,195 tracked
2 bedrooms
43% occupancy
$147 per night
2,253 tracked
3 bedrooms
45% occupancy
$233 per night
1,945 tracked
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreigners buy property in Thailand?
Yes, with structure. Foreigners can own condominium units outright (foreign freehold, within the 49% foreign quota of a building), while land and villas are held on registered 30-year leaseholds (often structured 30+30+30) or via a Thai company. Each structure has different costs and security — every listing here shows its ownership type, and the score prices it in.
Is short-term renting legal in Thailand?
Under the Hotel Act, renting for under 30 days without a hotel licence is technically an offence. In practice most Phuket and Koh Samui stock operates short-term through licensed buildings, branded-residence rental programs, or villa-estate management companies. Verify how the specific building or estate is permitted before underwriting daily rental income — we flag this on every listing.
How is net yield calculated?
True net: projected rental income minus realistic operating costs (management, utilities, common-area fees, maintenance, insurance, Thai income tax) over the all-in acquisition cost (price + transfer or lease-registration fees, legal, furnishing). It is the number you actually keep as a remote, fully-managed owner — not gross-on-asking. If a listing promises double digits, question the assumptions.
Where does this data come from?
Brixfox tracks live Airbnb availability calendars across Phuket, Koh Samui and the Thai islands and derives occupancy, ADR and net yield from observed bookings — the same engine behind our Bali, Portugal, Spain and Dubai markets. Real market data, not survey estimates.