Apartments for sale in Phuket

The apartment market in Phuket is attracting more and more foreign investors - the island welcomes tens of millions of tourists a year, and entry-level prices start from around 3.3-4 million THB. If you are looking for an apartment for sale in Phuket and want to understand how the purchase works, what you can own outright and what it costs, this article answers the most important questions.

Why Phuket - tourism, rentals, demand

Phuket is Thailand's largest island and one of the most visited places in the whole of Southeast Asia. Year after year the island receives tens of millions of tourists - both at peak season (November-April) and in the rainy season, when the driver is guests from East Asia and China. This mass tourist traffic translates directly into steady demand for short-term rentals.

At the same time the population of long-term residents is growing: digital nomads, retirees from Europe and Australia, and expats employed in the hospitality and education sectors. The resulting demand for long-term rentals fills the gap outside the season and keeps occupancy in many apartments up throughout the year.

The island's infrastructure is well developed: an international airport with direct connections to Europe and Asia, private hospitals of the Bangkok Hospital chain, schools with IB and English-language programmes, and large shopping malls. This is not just a holiday destination - it is a fully fledged place to live, increasingly resembling the mature Asian markets.

We cover the specifics of the entire Thai market in more detail in our guide to property in Thailand.

What apartments in Phuket - studios, 1-, 2- and 3-room units

The primary market in Phuket offers a wide spectrum of sizes and layouts - from compact studios to spacious three-bedroom apartments. The choice depends on the purpose of the investment and the budget.

• Studio (25-40 m²) - the cheapest entry point, often available from 3.3 million THB. The highest demand in short-term rentals, easy to manage. Ideal for an investor who does not plan to use it personally.
• One-bedroom apartment (40-60 m²) - the most popular segment among both owner-occupiers and investors. More comfort than a studio, still good rental yield. Prices from around 4-6 million THB depending on location and standard.
• Two-bedroom apartment (60-90 m²) - the family segment, or for couples with children. Longer rental periods, lower tenant-turnover risk. Popular in districts with access to international schools, such as Bangtao.
• Three-bedroom apartment and penthouse (over 90 m²) - the premium segment, often with a terrace, a private pool or a sea view. Prices range from a dozen-odd to several dozen million THB. Buyers are usually people seeking their own residence or demanding tenants with a high budget.

Each of these segments has its own profitability logic - you will find a detailed breakdown of prices and returns in our article on property prices in Thailand.

Ownership: freehold and the 49% limit

One of the first questions every buyer asks is whether a foreigner can own an apartment in Thailand outright. The answer is: yes, but with an important caveat.

Thai law allows foreigners to acquire residential units (condominiums) on a freehold basis - full ownership for an unlimited period, just as back home. There is one condition: within a single building, foreigners may own no more than 49% of the total floor area of the units combined. The remaining 51% must belong to Thai citizens or Thai legal entities.

In practice, developers in Phuket manage this split and clearly communicate how many units in a given project are still available in the foreign pool (the so-called foreign quota). If the quota is full, a purchase on a leasehold basis is possible - a long-term lease of 30 years with an option to renew. Leasehold does not confer title, but it provides stable usage rights.

For most buyers we recommend freehold as the more transparent solution that better protects the buyer's interests. We describe the differences between the two forms of ownership in more detail on our page about beachfront apartments in Phuket.

Prices of apartments for sale in Phuket - indicative ranges

Prices on the Phuket primary market are quoted in Thai baht (THB). When converting to euros, you should take into account the current rate - indicatively 1 THB is around EUR 0.025-0.028, but the rate changes and it is worth checking it on the day of the transaction.

The entry point for the primary market is usually 3.3-4 million THB for a studio or smaller one-bedroom apartment in a project a little set back from the shoreline. Projects on the beachfront or with extensive hotel infrastructure (pool, spa, reception, rental management programme) are priced clearly above this threshold.

The price is driven above all by:

• Location relative to the sea - a sea view and the distance from the beach are the strongest pricing factors
• The sale stage - buying at the pre-sale stage gives a lower price and a wider choice of units; prices rise as construction progresses
• The standard of the project - a boutique developer with its own rental management operator vs. a mass project is a difference on the order of 30-60% per metre
• Layout and floor - higher floors and corner units with a panorama are priced at a premium

You will find a detailed breakdown of prices by unit type and a comparison with other regions of Thailand in our article on property prices in Thailand. You can browse the full current range on the page with all Twins Real Estate listings.

The best districts - where to look for an apartment in Phuket

Phuket is not uniform - the individual districts differ in character, prices and buyer profile. Below is a brief overview of the most important locations.

• Bangtao and Layan - the west coast, 7 km of peaceful beach, strong infrastructure (Boat Avenue, Porto de Phuket, international schools). The most popular choice among families and investors seeking premium. Details: Bangtao - the district and its property.
• Kamala - an intimate bay between Patong and Bangtao. Peaceful, with no nightlife, increasingly chosen by buyers from Western Europe. A varied price range.
• Karon and Kata - popular tourist districts in the south of the island. Extensive shopping and dining infrastructure; strong short-term rentals. A lower entry point than the west coast.
• Rawai and Nai Harn - the southern part of the island, popular among long-term residents. Fewer tourist crowds, a more intimate character, good infrastructure for expats.
• Patong - the most developed nightlife and shopping centre. Very high short-term rentals, but a noisy area - more often chosen by pure-income investors than by owner-occupiers.

You can also use our page on beachfront apartments in Phuket, where we list offers organised by distance from the sea.

Buying with a European agency - what buying an apartment in Thailand looks like

For a foreign buyer the biggest barrier is usually the language, an unfamiliarity with Thai law and the geographical distance. This is where the value of working with a European agency that operates directly in Phuket comes in.

Twins Real Estate is a European agency specialising exclusively in property in Phuket. We serve buyers personally - from the first contact, through presenting projects and verifying developer documents, to support in signing the contract and registering the property in the buyer's name at the Thai Land Office.

Important: the buyer pays no commission. Our fee comes from the developer - this is the standard on the Thai market. The price you pay is identical to buying directly from the developer, and you gain dedicated support throughout the process.

For buyers who cannot travel to Phuket before making a decision, we organise virtual project presentations with commentary and provide a full set of documents for verification. The purchase can be finalised remotely - a visit on site is valuable, but not mandatory at the stage of reservation and signing the preliminary contract.

We invite you to browse our current listings or get in touch directly. You can also read our guide to property in Thailand, which comprehensively covers the entire purchase process from the formal side.

All prices are indicative and expressed in Thai baht (THB) based on primary-market offers available in mid-2026; they do not constitute an offer within the meaning of the law. The THB exchange rate against your home currency changes - always convert at the current rate on the day of the transaction. The content of this article is informational in nature and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Last updated: 6 June 2026.