Koh Samui was voted the world’s best island in 2026, and more buyers are looking at owning a home there. Here is what to expect.
Prices
A typical new 1 bedroom condo of 40 to 70 sqm sells for around 3.5 million baht. A 2 bedroom condo is around 7.2 million baht, and a 3 bedroom pool villa around 14.9 million baht.
Ownership for foreign buyers
Foreigners can own a condo unit freehold, in their own name, within the building’s 49% foreign quota. The money must come from abroad and the unit is registered at the Land Office. Villas and land are held on registered 30 year leases, because foreigners can’t own land in Thailand.
Buying costs
The Land Office transfer fee is 2% of the registered value, often shared between buyer and seller. Stamp duty of 0.5% applies on top. If the seller has owned the property for less than 5 years, a 3.3% specific business tax applies in place of stamp duty.
Seasons
Villa occupancy on Samui peaks at around 76% in February and drops to around 39% in September. Plan for a strong high season and a quieter low season if you want to rent your home out.
Running costs
If you rent it out, a management company usually takes 20 to 25% of rental income. Maintenance, insurance and, for condos, common area fees come on top.
A new freehold condominium near Bophut
Bophut, on Samui’s calm north coast, is home to Fisherman’s Village, the island’s old fishing village with wooden shophouses and a Friday night walking street. A new foreign freehold condominium with over 250 homes is coming nearby. Comment THAILAND on our Instagram post or send us a message to join the waiting list for launch updates and webinars.
