Renting near Kata Beach, Phuket: what to know (2026)

Kata is a favourite beach town, but long-term homes there are scarce. What renting near Kata is really like, and where nearby to find more choice.

Kata is one of Phuket's favourite beach towns: two sandy bays (Kata Yai and the smaller Kata Noi), a walkable village of restaurants and cafés, and Karon just to the north. In the rainy season it is also the island's best-known surf spot. It is a lively, holiday-flavoured place — and that shapes what renting there is like.

Renting in Kata: the honest picture

Long-term homes right in Kata are limited and in demand. Much of the housing near the beach is holiday condos and short-stay rentals, and prices rise in high season (roughly November to April). If you want to live within walking distance of the sand, start looking early and be ready to decide quickly.

Right now Matt has one home within 1 km of Kata Yai beach: a fully furnished 1-bedroom house with a garden for ฿18,000 a month on a one-year contract. We are adding more homes around Kata and Karon — but if you are flexible, the areas next door give you far more choice.

Live nearby, beach in minutes

Many long-stayers who love Kata choose to live a few minutes inland or south, where there are more houses and rents are lower:

Chalong — around 10–15 minutes from Kata over the hill. The biggest choice on Matt: 47 homes, most around ฿35,000 a month, including 10 with a pool.
Rawai — around 15 minutes south, close to Nai Harn beach. 17 homes, most around ฿30,000 a month, with several pet-friendly houses.

Who Kata suits

Beach people who want to walk to the sea and to restaurants.
Surfers — the waves arrive with the monsoon, about May to October.
Shorter stays of a few months, where a furnished condo makes sense.

If you need a bigger family house, a garden, or a quieter street, Chalong and Rawai usually fit better.

Good to know

Hills: Kata is surrounded by steep roads — fine by car, tiring on foot with shopping.
Getting around: Chalong is 10–15 minutes away, Phuket Town around 30 minutes, and the airport roughly an hour.
Sea safety: in monsoon season the red flags on Kata beach are there for a reason — rip currents are strong.
High-season prices: a rent quoted in October may change by December; ask for the price for your whole contract.

Before you sign

Compare contract lengths — short stays near the beach cost noticeably more.
Ask what is included: internet, water, cleaning and common fees.
Check the electricity rate — government rate or a set price per unit.
Confirm the deposit (usually 1–2 months) and the notice period.

Homes near Kata

Every home on Matt is listed by a verified agency, and you can book a viewing or chat with them directly. Start with the homes below.