How much does it cost to live by the sea?

52 minutes ago

When the name Phuket is mentioned, the first things that come to mind for most people are white sandy beaches, a blue sea, and tropical landscapes. However, as you begin to observe the island from within, another reality becomes clear: the real estate market here has moved far beyond the simple stage of "selling houses." Along with the apartment, the buyer is offered the surrounding environment, services, recreation opportunities, and even their future daily lifestyle. A "Daryo" correspondent inspected a number of residential projects in Phuket to find out what buyers are actually paying for, how much life by the sea costs, and how projects located close to each other differ.

Before choosing a house, the area is chosen

It is not easy to compare many of the new residential complexes in Phuket with typical new constructions in Tashkent. Here, rather than asking "how many rooms do I need?", the buyer seems to be looking for an answer to the question: "what kind of environment do I want to live in?" For example, in the Laguna Phuket area, one can choose a lakeside apartment, a house overlooking a golf course, a residence close to the beach, or a complex based on a quiet and wellness concept.

Because hotels, restaurants, a golf course, educational institutions for children, beach clubs, and other services are available within the area, not only the house but also the life around it is of great importance to the buyer.

When visiting Phuket and seeing these projects, another aspect becomes noticeable: while some of the buyers aim for permanent residence, others use their homes during specific seasons of the year. Another group views real estate as an investment and plans to rent it out the rest of the time.

A lake visible from the window

Some of the projects in the Laguna area are being built around lakes and green spaces. For example, Skypark Elara consists of modern multi-story apartments. The complex features a rooftop pool, relaxation zones, and access to green areas.

In offers found on the open market in 2026, apartments started from around 8.29 million baht. This is approximately $250,000 at the exchange rate of that period. The main difference of such homes is felt more in their external environment than in their interior decoration. Tropical greenery and water are visible from the balcony or window, and there is little car noise around.

Another project — Bellaguna Lake Residences — is also being built by the lake. It offers 1–3 bedroom apartments. The distance to the sea is about 350 meters. In open offers, the starting price is indicated at around $445,000. The complex is planned to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2029.

Laguna Lakelands, on the other hand, is not a single building but a large residential area. Over an area of more than one million square meters, seven lakes, green zones, apartments, houses with private pools, and waterfront villas are being laid out.

Walking through the area, one senses that the main concept here is not dense construction, but living amidst water and greenery.

Golf, beach, and tranquility

Some projects in Phuket are built around golf courses. Part of the apartments in Bellaguna Golf Residences overlook the golf course. In one of the open offers in 2026, the price of a 54-square-meter apartment was slightly above 10 million baht.

In another project — Laguna Golf Residences Hibiscus — apartments start from 67 square meters, with some residences reaching nearly 300 square meters. Some homes on the upper floors even have their own pool.

The distance to the beach is about 1.2 kilometers. The starting price in open offers is indicated at around $360,000. In Phuket, such a distance is not considered far. Thanks to the internal transport and services, the sea can be reached in a few minutes.

Living by the sea

In projects around Bang Tao Beach, prices increase significantly. For example, Garrya Residences is located very close to the beach. The project emphasizes a concept of tranquility and wellness rather than a simple resort apartment.

Apartments range between 57–220 square meters. In open offers, prices started from 15.4 million baht. In such a place, the buyer pays not only for proximity to the sea, but also for a relatively closed and quiet environment.

This is also the most quickly noticeable aspect when looking at residential projects in Phuket: sea views, walking distance to the beach, or living directly on the shoreline drastically affect the price.

Not everyone moving to the island is looking for a large villa. Complexes like Skypark Celeste offer relatively compact studios, one-, and two-bedroom homes. A rooftop pool, walking paths, and bridges connecting the buildings give the project a resort atmosphere.

In previous open offers, the smallest apartments started from 4.87 million baht — which is considered one of the options with a relatively lower entry price for premium areas in Phuket.

Eight houses and a beach

One of the most unusual among the projects viewed was Banyan Tree Beach Residences Varuna. The project consists of only eight houses. They will be located directly next to the beach. Each house is planned to have a private pool and an open area on the roof.

Here, privacy and location take priority over square footage. The construction of only eight houses also shows that it is not a mass residential complex. Prices are not listed publicly and are provided individually.

While touring the Laguna area, the internal transport system catches one's attention. There are free shuttle buses and, on some routes, boat services within the area. They connect hotels, beaches, and various facilities. Therefore, a person living inside the complex may not need a car every time.

This seems like a simple detail, but the quality of life in large gated areas is shaped precisely by such small conveniences.

A house is purchased, but what happens next?

One of the main problems for a person buying a house abroad is that they do not always live in that country. In some projects in Phuket, if the owner wishes, they can hand over the property to a professional management company. Banyan Living offers one such service.

In this case, the company manages finding tenants, looking after the house, and other operational matters. However, this does not mean automatic income. Rental income depends on the season, location, apartment type, demand, and management expenses.

Therefore, rather than promises like "buy a house and get a certain percentage of income per year," the buyer should calculate real expenses and management terms separately.

Another feature of large projects in Phuket is the system of various privileges for residents. For example, in some Banyan Group projects, special conditions are available at hotels, restaurants, spas, and other services through the Sanctuary Club.

In some offers, golf club membership, property management, or insurance services may also be included in the package. However, such opportunities are not automatically applied to all homes. They vary depending on the project, apartment, and purchase conditions.

What does a square meter mean in Phuket?

One of the main impressions after the trip to Phuket is that directly comparing the price of a square meter here with the indicator in Tashkent or other cities is not always correct.

For example, the area of two apartments may be the same. But one overlooks an ordinary street, while the other faces a lake or a golf course. From one, you have to drive to the beach, while from the other, you can walk.

Therefore, a significant part of the price is paid not for the walls and renovation, but for the location, services, and surrounding environment. This is one of the most important features of the Phuket real estate market.

After reviewing the projects in Phuket over several days, one can understand that their audience is also diverse. Those looking for a compact apartment and a relatively lower entry price look at projects of the Skypark type. Buyers for whom nature and a lakeside environment are important may choose residences around Laguna Lakelands.

For golf enthusiasts, there are residences overlooking the course. Those who want the sea and a wellness environment are more interested in projects around Bang Tao. For those who want to live directly on the shoreline with maximum quietness, the offers are much fewer and, naturally, more expensive.

Not a house, but a lifestyle

Looking at the real estate market in Phuket, it is not difficult to understand one thing: developers here do not try to sell just four walls to the buyer.

One project offers life by a quiet lake, another a golf course, a third a morning by the sea, and another privacy. As a result, the buyer's main question becomes not "how many square meters do I get?", but "how will I live here?" The price of homes in Phuket is probably shaped precisely by the answer to this question.

The prices mentioned in the article are based on open offers from September 2026 and earlier. The price of an apartment may change depending on the project, area, floor, view, and sales stage.

In Thailand, the procedure for foreigners to own real estate also differs depending on the type of property. Therefore, before making a purchase, it is advisable to independently verify property rights, long-term leases, taxes, and other legal conditions with a lawyer.