Where Do Wealthy Expats Actually Live in Phuket?
Where Do Wealthy Expats Actually Live in Phuket?
Phuket stopped being just a vacation spot a while ago. These days, it’s where people put down roots — launching businesses, enrolling kids in school, buying property they actually live in.
The crowd that’s moved here lately? Think tech entrepreneurs working from beachside cafés, investors managing portfolios remotely, and professionals who got tired of gray skies and commuter trains. They wanted something different, and Phuket delivered.
Here’s the thing though — they didn’t just pick random spots on the map. Most gravitated toward a few specific neighborhoods that checked all the boxes: good food, reliable internet, actual community, and yeah, those views that make you forget what day it is.
Bang Tao — Where Everyone Seems to End Up
Ask anyone who’s lived here a few years where the action is, and they’ll probably say Bang Tao. It’s become the de facto hub for expats with money to spend.
Picture this: morning walk around the Laguna lakes, coffee at Boat Avenue (where you’ll overhear at least three different languages), and evening drinks at Catch Beach Club. International schools? Check. Decent supermarkets? Yep. Golf course? Got that too. It’s all there, spread across a few square kilometers.
Apartments start around $200K–250K. Villas with pools? You’re looking at $900K minimum, climbing well into the millions if you want ocean views.
What makes Bang Tao work isn’t just the amenities — it’s that it feels real. People live here, not just vacation. You see the same faces at the gym, run into neighbors at the market, watch kids bike to school. Lots of folks work remote jobs or run their own companies, so cafés are full of laptops and conference calls.
Picture this: morning walk around the Laguna lakes, coffee at Boat Avenue (where you’ll overhear at least three different languages), and evening drinks at Catch Beach Club. International schools? Check. Decent supermarkets? Yep. Golf course? Got that too. It’s all there, spread across a few square kilometers.
Apartments start around $200K–250K. Villas with pools? You’re looking at $900K minimum, climbing well into the millions if you want ocean views.
What makes Bang Tao work isn’t just the amenities — it’s that it feels real. People live here, not just vacation. You see the same faces at the gym, run into neighbors at the market, watch kids bike to school. Lots of folks work remote jobs or run their own companies, so cafés are full of laptops and conference calls.
Kamala — If You Like It Quiet
Ten minutes north, Kamala is basically Bang Tao’s chilled-out older sibling. Beautiful bay, green hills rising behind it, and a vibe that says “leave me alone, I’m reading.”
Europeans and Asians who value silence over social scenes have been buying up hillside villas here for years. We’re talking homes with infinity pools overlooking the Andaman Sea, floor-to-ceiling glass, the kind of place where you can hear yourself think.
Expect to pay $1.5 million and up for those hillside properties. Newer condos closer to the beach, like The Title Coralina, go for $220K–250K. Land’s getting scarce, so prices have jumped about 35% in three years.
The people here skew older, quieter, more international. Dinner parties over beach clubs. That kind of crowd.
Europeans and Asians who value silence over social scenes have been buying up hillside villas here for years. We’re talking homes with infinity pools overlooking the Andaman Sea, floor-to-ceiling glass, the kind of place where you can hear yourself think.
Expect to pay $1.5 million and up for those hillside properties. Newer condos closer to the beach, like The Title Coralina, go for $220K–250K. Land’s getting scarce, so prices have jumped about 35% in three years.
The people here skew older, quieter, more international. Dinner parties over beach clubs. That kind of crowd.
Nai Harn and Rawai — For People Who Actually Live Here
Head south and you hit Nai Harn and Rawai, where expats aren’t just visiting — they’re staying. These neighborhoods feel less like resorts and more like actual towns. Calm beaches, palm-lined streets, vegan cafés next to traditional Thai restaurants, kindergartens with teachers from four different countries.
Two-bedroom apartments start around $180K. Villas with pools? From $650K. It’s cheaper to maintain property down here than on the west coast, fewer tourists, and honestly just easier for everyday life.
Your routine might look like: sunrise yoga, scooter to the market for mangoes, back home for a Zoom call while half of Europe is still asleep. It works.
Two-bedroom apartments start around $180K. Villas with pools? From $650K. It’s cheaper to maintain property down here than on the west coast, fewer tourists, and honestly just easier for everyday life.
Your routine might look like: sunrise yoga, scooter to the market for mangoes, back home for a Zoom call while half of Europe is still asleep. It works.
Cape Panwa — The Hideaway
Down at the southeastern tip, Cape Panwa is where people go when they really want to disappear. No beach clubs. No traffic. Just private villas tucked into the trees, sea breezes, and the occasional yacht in the bay.
Homes start at $1.5 million, many with sweeping water views. The residents? Diplomats, successful entrepreneurs, people who value privacy more than convenience. It’s 25 minutes to Phuket Town but feels like a different planet.
Homes start at $1.5 million, many with sweeping water views. The residents? Diplomats, successful entrepreneurs, people who value privacy more than convenience. It’s 25 minutes to Phuket Town but feels like a different planet.
Phuket Town and Chalong — Not Everyone Needs a Beach View
Plenty of wealthy expats skip the beach entirely and settle in Phuket Town or Chalong instead.
Phuket Town has serious character — those colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, indie coffee spots, art galleries, bars with live music. It attracts creatives and remote workers who want a city vibe without Bangkok-level chaos.
Chalong, just south, is more practical. Close to international schools, the marina, good gyms. Great for families or anyone who travels between islands a lot.
Modern condos here start at $130K, villas from $500K. You get easy access to the whole island and pay less for property. Hard to argue with that.
Phuket Town has serious character — those colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, indie coffee spots, art galleries, bars with live music. It attracts creatives and remote workers who want a city vibe without Bangkok-level chaos.
Chalong, just south, is more practical. Close to international schools, the marina, good gyms. Great for families or anyone who travels between islands a lot.
Modern condos here start at $130K, villas from $500K. You get easy access to the whole island and pay less for property. Hard to argue with that.
Why Phuket?
The weather. No winter. Enough said.
Safety. Thailand’s one of the safest places in Asia. Most expats describe life here as “stupidly easy.”
Taxes. The system’s pretty friendly if you’re earning money abroad.
Investment returns. Good properties pull 6–8% annual rental yield in USD. New beachside projects sometimes see 30–40% appreciation between launch and handover.
Community. This isn’t a retirement village anymore. It’s full of young entrepreneurs, remote workers, families from everywhere. Everyone speaks English, and you’ll find your people fast — usually within a couple weeks.
Safety. Thailand’s one of the safest places in Asia. Most expats describe life here as “stupidly easy.”
Taxes. The system’s pretty friendly if you’re earning money abroad.
Investment returns. Good properties pull 6–8% annual rental yield in USD. New beachside projects sometimes see 30–40% appreciation between launch and handover.
Community. This isn’t a retirement village anymore. It’s full of young entrepreneurs, remote workers, families from everywhere. Everyone speaks English, and you’ll find your people fast — usually within a couple weeks.
What a Typical Day Looks Like
Morning swim in the lagoon. Few hours of work from your terrace. Lunch at that café where the owner knows your order. Sunset drive to Surin for dinner.
That’s the rhythm. There’s money around, sure, but nobody’s really showing off. People came here to slow down, not to compete.
Compared to Bali (too chaotic), the Maldives (too isolated), or the French Riviera (too expensive), Phuket hits this sweet spot. You can own property, your kids can get a solid education, and you can still walk to the beach barefoot.
That’s the rhythm. There’s money around, sure, but nobody’s really showing off. People came here to slow down, not to compete.
Compared to Bali (too chaotic), the Maldives (too isolated), or the French Riviera (too expensive), Phuket hits this sweet spot. You can own property, your kids can get a solid education, and you can still walk to the beach barefoot.
FAQ
Can foreigners buy beachfront property?
Yep. Condos are freehold. Villas are usually 30-year leases, often renewable.
Best areas for families?
Bang Tao, Nai Harn, Rawai — schools, safe beaches, lots of other expat families.
What’s villa maintenance cost?
Around $3K–4K a year for pool, garden, and cleaning.
Easy to rent out when you’re gone?
Very. Property management companies handle everything and send you monthly reports
.
Is the market still growing?
Yeah. Tourism’s back, demand from foreigners is strong, prices keep climbing — especially for new builds near the coast.
Yep. Condos are freehold. Villas are usually 30-year leases, often renewable.
Best areas for families?
Bang Tao, Nai Harn, Rawai — schools, safe beaches, lots of other expat families.
What’s villa maintenance cost?
Around $3K–4K a year for pool, garden, and cleaning.
Easy to rent out when you’re gone?
Very. Property management companies handle everything and send you monthly reports
.
Is the market still growing?
Yeah. Tourism’s back, demand from foreigners is strong, prices keep climbing — especially for new builds near the coast.
Conclusion
Phuket’s appeal is pretty straightforward: it gives wealthy expats what they’re actually looking for — a comfortable life without the pressure, beauty without the isolation, and time that finally moves at the right pace.