Phuket is small, but its districts are very different: in one you live by a quiet lagoon next to schools, in another above a noisy street full of clubs. Here are the eight main districts: who each one suits, what is nearby and how much rent costs.
Click a district on the map to jump to its description.
Surin
Best for people who want a beautiful beach and a quiet neighbourhood, with Bang Tao and Kamala close by.
Surin is a small beach of white sand and turquoise water between Bang Tao and Kamala. In the dry season it is one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast, lined with shady trees and small cafés.
The hills around it are dotted with sea-view villas and boutique hotels, while condos and smaller houses sit closer to the road. Bang Tao shops and restaurants are five to ten minutes away, Kamala about the same, the airport around half an hour.
Our own office is next door in Cherng Talay, so Surin and Bang Tao are the areas we know best: we can tell you which streets are quieter and where you can walk to the beach.
- one of the most beautiful beaches on the island
- quiet, yet everything is 5–10 minutes away
- sea views from the hills
- villas cost more than average
- the beach is small and gets busy in high season
We currently list 27 villas and 26 condos for rent in this area — view listings.
Bang Tao and Laguna
Best for families with children, remote workers and anyone who wants resort life without the noise.
Bang Tao is one of the longest beaches on the west coast, about six kilometres of sand. The northern part is home to the Laguna Phuket resort with its hotels, golf course and lagoons; the southern part has beach clubs and restaurants.
Everyday life revolves around Boat Avenue and Porto de Phuket: supermarkets, cafés, pharmacies and a weekend market. Families move here because several international schools and kindergartens are nearby, and the airport is 25–30 minutes away.
The one downside is price. It is one of the most expensive areas on the island for villa rentals, and in high season good houses are booked a month or two in advance.
- long beach and calm sea in the dry season
- schools, shops and restaurants nearby
- close to the airport
- more expensive than other areas
- a lot of construction around new developments
We currently list 105 villas and 58 condos for rent in this area — view listings.
Rawai and Nai Harn
Best for long-stay visitors: winterers, families and fans of a calm, village-style life.
Rawai sits at the southern tip of the island and is probably the most lived-in area of Phuket. A large expat community has settled here long ago, with its own cafés, gyms, kids’ clubs and martial arts schools.
Rawai beach itself is a pier with long-tail boats and a seafood market where your catch is cooked on the spot. For swimming, people drive five minutes to Nai Harn, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, or to tiny Ya Nui bay. Promthep Cape, famous for its sunsets, is right next door.
Pool villas here are noticeably cheaper than in Bang Tao, but the airport is about an hour away.
- villas cheaper than in the north
- large community with everything you need
- Nai Harn and Ya Nui five minutes away
- far from the airport
- Rawai beach itself is not for swimming
We currently list 71 villas and 39 condos for rent in this area — view listings.
Kamala
Best for couples and families who want a calm sea but like having Patong within reach.
Kamala is a small bay between Surin and Patong. The beach has a gentle slope into the water, a promenade with cafés runs along it, and the village has a market, a school and everything for daily life.
It is quieter than Patong, yet Patong’s restaurants and malls are 15 minutes away. Houses on the hillsides often have sea views, which is why villas in Kamala are, according to our listings, even pricier than in Bang Tao.
- calm bay and promenade
- sea views from the hills
- Patong and Surin nearby
- few flat streets, lots of hills
- limited choice of villas
We currently list 16 villas and 25 condos for rent in this area — view listings.
Karon and Kata
Best for those who want to live by the sea, walk to the beach and not overpay.
Karon is a wide beach with soft, “squeaky” sand. Over the hill to the south are Kata and little Kata Noi. Both are calmer than Patong but lively: night markets, affordable cafés and surf schools.
In the dry season the sea is calm and clear; in the rainy season the waves arrive and Kata becomes a place to learn to surf. People who live here usually choose condos, so they can walk to the beach.
- beach within walking distance
- reasonable condo prices
- surfing in the rainy season
- strong waves and red flags in the rainy season
- few villas
We currently list 28 villas and 48 condos for rent in this area — view listings.
Chalong
Best for those who drive a car or scooter and want to live in the middle of the island.
Chalong is not a beach area: it has the pier where boats leave for the islands, plus diving schools. In return, Rawai, Kata and Phuket Town are all equally close.
Wat Chalong temple and the Big Buddha are nearby, along with large supermarkets and clinics. Villas in Chalong are among the most affordable on the island, especially new houses in gated communities.
- central location, everything is close
- affordable villas in gated communities
- island boats right nearby
- no swimming beach
- inconvenient without transport
We currently list 12 villas for rent in this area — view listings.
Patong
Best for young people, short stays and anyone who wants life around the clock.
Patong is the island’s main resort town: Bangla Road, Jungceylon mall, restaurants, clubs and a long beach in a wide bay. Everything is within walking distance, so you hardly need transport.
Condos in Patong are the most affordable of all the beach areas, but you pay for it with noise: music on Bangla Road plays until morning, and in high season the beach and streets are crowded.
- the cheapest condos near the sea
- all the nightlife and shops close by
- you can live without a scooter
- noise and crowds
- less suitable for families with children
We currently list 21 condos for rent in this area — view listings.
Kathu
Best for people who work in town or in Patong and want a quiet, affordable home.
Kathu is a green valley over the hill between Patong and Phuket Town. There is no sea here, but Patong beach is about 15 minutes away and the malls in town 10–15 minutes.
The area has golf clubs, schools, Kathu Waterfall and many new housing estates. According to our listings it is the most affordable district of all: a villa averages around 28,000 ฿ and a condo around 14,000 ฿ a month.
- the lowest villa and condo prices
- quiet and green
- Patong and town nearby
- no sea
- you need a scooter or a car
We currently list 25 villas and 26 condos for rent in this area — view listings.
District comparison
| District | Villa, ฿/month | Condo, ฿/month | Swimming beach | To the airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surin | 85,000 | 20,000 | yes | ~30 min |
| Bang Tao | 72,500 | 21,000 | yes | 25–30 min |
| Rawai | 65,000 | 25,000 | Nai Harn, 5 min | ~60 min |
| Kamala | 80,000 | 22,000 | yes | ~30 min |
| Karon / Kata | 60,000 | 20,000 | yes | ~50 min |
| Chalong | 55,000 | — | no | ~45 min |
| Patong | — | 16,000 | yes | ~40 min |
| Kathu | 28,000 | 14,000 | no | ~40 min |
Travel times are approximate, without traffic. Prices are medians of our listings as of September 2026; short-term rentals cost more in high season (December–March).
How to choose
A beautiful beach and peace and quiet — Surin: the beach is close, Bang Tao and Kamala are 5–10 minutes away.
Long stay with children — Bang Tao or Rawai: schools, kindergartens, doctors and a large community nearby.
The sea a few steps from home — Karon, Kata or Kamala: walk to the beach, plenty of condos.
Budget matters more than the view — Chalong and Kathu: cheaper villas and condos, but no beach and a scooter helps.
A holiday of a couple of weeks — Patong or Karon: everything is close, no transport needed.
And most importantly: from May to October the west coast has its rainy season and strong waves. If you travel then, look not only at the beach but also at what is near the house.
Tell us your dates and budget, and we will send you suitable villas and condos in the right district. View all rentals →