Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Thailand Property Pack
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Get all the data you need about the real estate market in Koh Samui
We constantly update this blog post so the rent figures for Koh Samui stay useful for buyers, landlords and long-stay renters.
As of June 2026, Koh Samui rents are still shaped by tourism, expats, remote workers, international schools and the island’s limited supply of easy-to-live-in homes.
The key point is simple: Koh Samui apartments can still be affordable inland, but rents rise quickly near beaches, schools, restaurants and the airport.
And if you’re planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Koh Samui.
Fact-checked and reviewed by our local expert
Daniel Rouquette 🇫🇷
CEO & Co-Founder at Villa Finder
What are typical rents in Koh Samui as of 2026?
As of June 2026, a normal long-term renter in Koh Samui should expect about THB 18,000 to THB 28,000 per month for a studio, THB 28,000 to THB 45,000 for a 1-bedroom, and THB 45,000 to THB 75,000 for a 2-bedroom apartment or condo.
That means Koh Samui rents in 2026 are still lower than many prime Phuket beach areas, but higher than many mainland Thai cities because Koh Samui has a small island market and strong lifestyle demand.
What's the average monthly rent for a studio in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, the average monthly rent for a studio in Koh Samui is about THB 22,000, which is around USD 670 or EUR 580.
For most studios in Koh Samui in 2026, a realistic rent range is THB 15,000 to THB 52,000 per month, or about USD 450 to USD 1,580 and EUR 390 to EUR 1,370.
The main reason studio rents vary so much in Koh Samui is that a simple inland studio in Maenam or Lamai is very different from a furnished resort-style studio near Bo Phut, Bang Rak, Choeng Mon or the sea-view hills.
What's the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Koh Samui is about THB 35,000, which is around USD 1,060 or EUR 920.
For most 1-bedroom apartments in Koh Samui in 2026, a realistic monthly rent range is THB 20,000 to THB 55,000, or about USD 610 to USD 1,670 and EUR 530 to EUR 1,450.
Within that range, the cheapest 1-bedroom rents in Koh Samui are often in inland Maenam, inland Lamai and older parts of Bo Phut, while the highest rents are usually around Fisherman’s Village, Bang Rak, Chaweng, Choeng Mon and sea-view buildings.
What's the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Koh Samui is about THB 58,000, which is around USD 1,760 or EUR 1,530.
For most 2-bedroom apartments and condos in Koh Samui in 2026, a realistic rent range is THB 40,000 to THB 75,000 per month, or about USD 1,210 to USD 2,270 and EUR 1,050 to EUR 1,970.
The cheapest 2-bedroom rents in Koh Samui are usually in older inland parts of Maenam and Lamai, while the most expensive 2-bedroom homes are often in Plai Laem, Choeng Mon, Bo Phut, Chaweng Noi and sea-view areas above Bang Rak.
By the way, you will find much more detailed rent ranges in our property pack covering the real estate market in Koh Samui.
What's the average rent per square meter in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, the average rent per square meter in Koh Samui for furnished apartments and condos is about THB 620 per sqm per month, which is around USD 19 or EUR 16 per sqm.
Across Koh Samui neighborhoods in 2026, most ordinary long-term apartments sit around THB 450 to THB 700 per sqm per month, or about USD 14 to USD 21 and EUR 12 to EUR 18 per sqm.
Compared with Bangkok, Koh Samui can look expensive per sqm for small furnished units, but the island is still often cheaper than the most tourist-heavy parts of Phuket for similar beach-lifestyle rentals.
In Koh Samui, rent per sqm usually rises above average when the property has a sea view, a walkable beach location, a modern interior, strong internet, parking, a pool or fast access to Bo Phut, Bang Rak, Chaweng or Choeng Mon.
How much have rents changed year-over-year in Koh Samui in 2026?
as of 2026, average long-term asking rents in Koh Samui are about 8% to 12% higher than one year earlier.
The main reason Koh Samui rents are rising in 2026 is that tourism demand, long-stay expats, remote workers and family renters are competing for the same furnished homes near Bo Phut, Bang Rak, Choeng Mon, Chaweng and Lamai.
This 2026 rent increase is stronger than the previous year’s more uneven recovery, because by June 2026 more landlords are pricing homes for a market that feels busy again in the best island locations.
What's the outlook for rent growth in Koh Samui in 2026?
as of 2026, our working forecast is that rents in Koh Samui could rise another 5% to 8% over the next 12 months for well-located furnished apartments and condos.
The key drivers are simple: Koh Samui has limited island supply, strong air-linked tourism, more remote workers, more expat families and steady demand for homes near schools, beaches and daily services.
The strongest rent growth in Koh Samui is likely in Bo Phut, Fisherman’s Village, Bang Rak, Choeng Mon and Chaweng Noi because these areas combine lifestyle, access, restaurants and premium tenant demand.
The main risks are weaker tourism, too many new premium villas, higher flight costs, poor property maintenance, water problems and landlords asking high-season rents during low-season months.
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Which neighborhoods rent best in Koh Samui as of 2026?
The best-renting neighborhoods in Koh Samui in 2026 are Bo Phut, Fisherman’s Village, Bang Rak, Choeng Mon, Chaweng, Chaweng Noi, Maenam and Lamai.
Bo Phut and Bang Rak are especially strong because they sit close to the airport, beaches, restaurants, schools and services that long-stay tenants use all year.
Which neighborhoods have the highest rents in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, the three highest-rent areas in Koh Samui are Choeng Mon, Plai Laem and Chaweng Noi, where good 2-bedroom homes often ask around THB 80,000 to THB 120,000 per month, or about USD 2,420 to USD 3,640 and EUR 2,100 to EUR 3,160.
These Koh Samui neighborhoods command premium rents because they offer sea views, private pools, quiet beaches, short airport transfers, villa-style living and easy access to restaurants and beach clubs.
The typical tenant in these high-rent Koh Samui areas is an expat family, a remote-working couple with a high budget, a seasonal retiree or a lifestyle tenant who wants comfort more than the lowest price.
By the way, we’ve written a blog article detailing Sources and methodology: we compared premium listings on Thailand-Property, FazWaz and DDproperty. We looked closely at sea view, pool, beach access and airport access. We then checked the premium areas against our own Koh Samui neighborhood map.
Where do young professionals prefer to rent in Koh Samui right now?
The top three Koh Samui neighborhoods for young professionals are Bang Rak, Bo Phut and Chaweng because these areas make daily life easy without feeling too isolated.
Young professionals in these Koh Samui neighborhoods usually pay around THB 25,000 to THB 55,000 per month, or about USD 760 to USD 1,670 and EUR 660 to EUR 1,450, depending on unit size and finish.
Young renters choose Bang Rak, Bo Phut and Chaweng because these areas have cafes, gyms, coworking-friendly places, nightlife, beaches, restaurants, scooter access and short trips to the airport.
By the way, you will find a detailed tenant analysis in our property pack covering the real estate market in Koh Samui.
Where do families prefer to rent in Koh Samui right now?
The top three Koh Samui neighborhoods for families are Bo Phut, Maenam and Lamai or Maret, with Choeng Mon and Chaweng Noi also popular for higher-budget families.
Families in these Koh Samui neighborhoods usually pay around THB 45,000 to THB 95,000 per month for a 2- or 3-bedroom home, or about USD 1,360 to USD 2,880 and EUR 1,180 to EUR 2,500.
Families like these areas because they offer more space, easier school runs, calmer roads, parking, larger homes, access to beaches and a better mix of services than remote inland pockets.
Important education options near these family areas include International School of Samui in Bo Phut, PBISS near the Bo Phut and Chaweng side, and Lamai International School for families around Lamai and Maret.
Which areas near transit or universities rent faster in Koh Samui in 2026?
as of 2026, the fastest-renting access areas in Koh Samui are Bang Rak, Bo Phut and Plai Laem because the island has no major university rental node and rental speed follows airport, ferry, school and lifestyle access.
Well-priced rentals in these high-demand Koh Samui areas often stay listed for about 15 to 30 days, while larger or more expensive homes can take 30 to 60 days.
The typical access premium near the airport, ferry piers, schools or walkable lifestyle areas is around THB 5,000 to THB 15,000 per month, or about USD 150 to USD 450 and EUR 130 to EUR 390.
Which neighborhoods are most popular with expats in Koh Samui right now?
The top three expat neighborhoods in Koh Samui are Bo Phut, Bang Rak and Maenam, with Choeng Mon, Chaweng Noi and Lamai also very popular depending on budget and lifestyle.
Expats in these Koh Samui neighborhoods usually pay around THB 30,000 to THB 90,000 per month, or about USD 910 to USD 2,730 and EUR 790 to EUR 2,370, depending on whether they rent an apartment, house or pool villa.
Expats like these areas because they offer international schools, beaches, cafes, hospitals, gyms, restaurants, shops, better road access and a large supply of furnished rentals.
The most visible expat communities in Koh Samui include French, British, German, Russian and other European renters, plus remote workers and digital-nomad tenants from many countries.
And if you are also an expat, you may want to read our Sources and methodology: we combined C9 Hotelworks, FazWaz and International Schools Database. We used tourism source markets, school locations and listing clusters. We then cross-checked the result with our own expat-neighborhood analysis.
Get to know the market before buying a property in Koh Samui
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Who rents, and what do tenants want in Koh Samui right now?
Koh Samui rental demand in 2026 is led by expats, remote workers, families with children in international schools, hospitality workers, retirees and long-stay tourists.
Most tenants want furnished homes with reliable internet, air-conditioning, parking, simple access to daily services and a location that does not make every errand difficult.
What tenant profiles dominate rentals in Koh Samui?
The top three tenant profiles in Koh Samui are remote-working singles or couples, expat families and seasonal long-stay lifestyle tenants.
As a working estimate, remote-working singles or couples represent about 30% of demand, expat families about 25%, and seasonal long-stay lifestyle tenants about 20%, with the rest spread across hospitality staff, retirees and local renters.
Remote workers usually seek studios and 1-bedrooms, expat families usually seek 2- to 3-bedroom houses or condos, and seasonal lifestyle tenants often seek furnished apartments, sea-view homes or pool villas.
If you want to optimize your cashflow, you can read our Sources and methodology: we used FazWaz, C9 Hotelworks and International Schools Database. We inferred tenant profiles from unit size, location, amenities and demand anchors. We also used internal tenant segmentation built for Koh Samui.
Do tenants prefer furnished or unfurnished in Koh Samui?
In Koh Samui in 2026, about 85% to 90% of foreign long-stay tenants prefer furnished rentals, while only about 10% to 15% seriously consider unfurnished homes.
A furnished apartment in Koh Samui can often command a premium of THB 5,000 to THB 15,000 per month, or about USD 150 to USD 450 and EUR 130 to EUR 390, compared with a similar unfurnished unit.
The tenants most likely to prefer furnished rentals in Koh Samui are remote workers, expat couples, families arriving from abroad, retirees and monthly holiday renters who do not want to buy furniture on the island.
Which amenities increase rent the most in Koh Samui?
The five amenities that increase rent the most in Koh Samui are a private pool, sea view, walkable beach access, high-speed internet and covered parking or easy parking.
As a simple 2026 guide, a private pool can add THB 15,000 to THB 40,000 per month, sea view THB 8,000 to THB 25,000, beach walkability THB 5,000 to THB 20,000, strong internet THB 2,000 to THB 6,000, and good parking THB 2,000 to THB 5,000, equal to about USD 60 to USD 1,210 or EUR 50 to EUR 1,050 depending on the amenity.
In our property pack covering the real estate market in Koh Samui, we cover what are the best investments a landlord can make.
What renovations get the best ROI for rentals in Koh Samui?
The five renovations that usually get the best rental ROI in Koh Samui are fast internet, new inverter air-conditioning, a bathroom refresh, a simple kitchen upgrade and mosquito screens or blackout curtains.
As a practical 2026 range, these upgrades can cost about THB 5,000 to THB 250,000, or USD 150 to USD 7,580 and EUR 130 to EUR 6,580, and can raise rent by about THB 1,000 to THB 12,000 per month when they solve a real tenant problem.
Landlords in Koh Samui should be careful with expensive design-only renovations, oversized luxury furniture, fragile finishes and fancy features that do not fix heat, humidity, water, internet, storage or maintenance issues.
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How strong is rental demand in Koh Samui as of 2026?
Rental demand in Koh Samui is strong in 2026, especially for furnished homes that can work for both long-stay tenants and monthly holiday renters.
The tightest rental segments are 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units near Bo Phut, Bang Rak, Choeng Mon, Chaweng, Chaweng Noi and Lamai.
What's the vacancy rate for rentals in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, the estimated vacancy rate for well-priced furnished rental properties in Koh Samui is about 4% to 7% in prime areas.
Across Koh Samui, a realistic vacancy range is about 4% to 7% for strong locations like Bo Phut and Bang Rak, 8% to 12% for older inland homes, and higher for expensive villas between peak rental periods.
Compared with the softer years before the full tourism recovery, Koh Samui vacancy in 2026 looks lower in the best neighborhoods, although weak locations and overpriced villas still sit empty longer.
Finally please note that you will have all the indicators you need in our property pack covering the real estate market in Koh Samui.
How many days do rentals stay listed in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, well-priced long-term rentals in Koh Samui usually stay listed for about 25 to 45 days on average.
In practice, furnished studios and 1-bedrooms in Bo Phut, Bang Rak, Chaweng and Lamai can lease in 15 to 30 days, while larger 2-bedroom homes often take 25 to 45 days and expensive villas can take 45 to 90 days.
Compared with one year ago, good Koh Samui rentals appear to move faster in 2026 because tourism, remote-work stays and family demand have made the best furnished stock more liquid.
Which months have peak tenant demand in Koh Samui?
The peak tenant-demand months in Koh Samui are December, January, February and March, with July and August forming a second smaller peak.
This pattern happens because Koh Samui rents follow tourism seasons, European school holidays, winter sun demand, remote-work stays and international-school family moves.
The softest rental months in Koh Samui are usually May, September and parts of October, when rain, lower tourism and fewer new arrivals reduce tenant urgency.
Don't buy the wrong property, in the wrong area of Koh Samui
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What will my monthly costs be in Koh Samui as of 2026?
For a typical apartment landlord in Koh Samui in 2026, non-financing costs often take around 15% to 25% of gross rent before income tax.
For villas, the safer budget is 25% to 40% of gross rent because pools, gardens, pumps, humidity, salt air and island repairs cost more.
What property taxes should landlords expect in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, a typical landlord in Koh Samui should budget about THB 2,000 to THB 10,000 per year for annual land and building tax on a normal residential property, or about USD 60 to USD 300 and EUR 50 to EUR 260.
The realistic low-to-high range for annual property tax in Koh Samui is roughly THB 1,000 to THB 25,000, or about USD 30 to USD 760 and EUR 25 to EUR 660, depending on official appraised value, use and classification.
Property tax in Koh Samui is based on the official land and building tax framework, with the bill depending on the appraised value, property type, local classification and whether the home is treated as residential or commercial rental use.
Please note that, in our property pack covering the real estate market in Koh Samui, we cover what exemptions or deductions may be available to reduce property taxes for landlords.
What utilities do landlords often pay in Koh Samui right now?
In Koh Samui in 2026, landlords most commonly pay common-area fees, pool care, garden care, pest control, building maintenance and sometimes internet, while tenants usually pay electricity and water in long-term leases.
Typical landlord-paid monthly costs can be around THB 1,000 to THB 3,000 for internet, THB 2,000 to THB 6,000 for common fees, THB 3,000 to THB 8,000 for pool care, and THB 2,000 to THB 6,000 for garden care, or about USD 30 to USD 240 and EUR 25 to EUR 210 per item.
The common practice in Koh Samui is that long-term tenants pay metered electricity and water, while serviced monthly rentals may include Wi-Fi, cleaning or water but often charge electricity separately.
How is rental income taxed in Koh Samui as of 2026?
as of 2026, Thai-source rental income from Koh Samui is taxable in Thailand, and individual landlords usually declare it under personal income tax with progressive rates after allowable deductions.
The main deduction landlords can usually consider is the standard rental-income deduction shown in the official PND.90 guide, with the guide showing a 30% deduction option for rental income, while some landlords may use actual expenses if properly documented.
Common Koh Samui tax mistakes include ignoring Thai-source rental income, assuming villa income is always treated like simple residential rent, mixing personal use with rental use without records, and failing to keep invoices for repairs, management and maintenance.
We cover these mistakes, among others, in our Sources and methodology: we used the Revenue Department personal income tax page, the official PND.90 guide and Thailand rental-cost assumptions. We treated tax carefully because foreign-owner situations can vary. We also use local tax checks in our Thailand Property Pack.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Thailand versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it’s in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Koh Samui, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can … and we don’t throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we’ve listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why we trust it | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of Thailand residential property price index | The Bank of Thailand is Thailand’s central bank and publishes official housing-price data. | We used it to anchor the national and southern Thailand housing-price context. We did not use it as a rent index because it does not publish exact Koh Samui rents. |
| Revenue Department personal income tax | The Revenue Department is Thailand’s official tax authority. | We used it to explain that Thai-source rental income is taxable in Thailand. We used it with the PND.90 guide to keep the tax section simple and careful. |
| Revenue Department PND.90 guide | This is an official Thai personal income tax guide in English. | We used it for the rental-income deduction logic. We treated the 2024 English guide as the best available official English reference for our June 2026 assumptions. |
| Thailand legal portal on land and building tax | This is Thailand’s official legal-information portal. | We used it to frame annual land and building tax as the relevant property holding tax. We then translated the legal framework into a practical Koh Samui landlord budget. |
| C9 Hotelworks Samui Hotel & Tourism Market Review | C9 Hotelworks is a Thailand-based hospitality consultancy with Samui-specific tourism research. | We used it to understand tourism pressure, seasonality and island demand. We treated tourism data as a rental-demand proxy because Koh Samui residential demand is closely linked to long-stay tourism. |
| Samui Airport | This is the official airport website for Koh Samui travel access information. | We used it to support the access logic around airport and local transport links. We did not use it to estimate rent levels. |
| FazWaz Koh Samui rental listings | FazWaz is a major Thailand property portal with live listings and unit details. | We used it to estimate asking rents by unit type, bedroom count and size. We trimmed luxury villas when estimating normal apartment and condo rents. |
| FazWaz studio apartments in Koh Samui | This page gives current studio listings with asking rent and floor area. | We used it to estimate the studio rent range in Koh Samui. We cross-checked the result against broader listing portals to avoid relying on one dataset only. |
| Thailand-Property 1-bedroom apartments | Thailand-Property is a recognized property portal with active apartment listings. | We used it as a second dataset for 1-bedroom apartments. We also used neighborhood examples such as Bo Phut, Chaweng and Maenam to map demand. |
| Thailand-Property 2-bedroom apartments | This source gives current 2-bedroom apartment supply and asking rents in Koh Samui. | We used it to estimate 2-bedroom rent ranges. We cross-checked the figures against FazWaz and DDproperty. |
| DDproperty Koh Samui rentals | DDproperty is one of Thailand’s major real estate marketplaces. | We used it as a third live-listing check. We mainly used it to confirm that villa-style supply can distort Koh Samui rent averages. |
| International Schools Database Koh Samui | This source organizes international-school information in a structured format. | We used it to identify family-demand anchors in Koh Samui. We then checked school locations against official school websites. |
| International School of Samui | This is the official website of a major international school in Koh Samui. | We used it to support Bo Phut as a family rental anchor. We used the school location as a demand signal, not as a rent source. |
| PBISS International School | This is the school’s official contact and location page. | We used it to support family demand around Bo Phut and the Chaweng side. We used it only for location and lifestyle-demand logic. |
| Lamai International School | This is the school’s official location page. | We used it to support family rental demand around Lamai and Maret. We used it to explain why some families prefer the southeast of Koh Samui. |
Get fresh and reliable information about the market in Koh Samui
Don't base significant investment decisions on outdated data. Get updated and accurate information.