Average long-term rents by area, the high-season vs low-season swing, lease terms, deposits, furnished norms and how foreigners rent — the practical guide before you sign. Figures are 2026 guide ranges in Thai baht (≈ THB 35 = USD 1).
Koh Chang runs two rental markets at once, and mixing them up is the most common — and most expensive — mistake newcomers make. The first is the long-term residential market: 6- to 12-month leases on bungalows, houses and villas, priced per month, where expats, retirees and long-stay digital nomads actually live. The second is the seasonal holiday market: nightly and short-monthly stays that spike from November to April and peak over Christmas and New Year. The same beachfront bungalow can advertise one price for a one-week December stay and a fraction of that, per month, on an annual lease. This page is about the first market — what it costs to rent on Koh Chang — and how to avoid paying holiday rates for a home. For everyday running costs once you're in, see the Koh Chang cost-of-living guide.
Monthly rent on a 6–12 month lease for furnished homes, in THB. White Sand Beach and Klong Prao sit highest for choice and amenities; Klong Son and Lonely Beach offer the island's best value; Bang Bao, a working stilted fishing village, has essentially no long-term rental stock.
| Area | Studio / basic bungalow | 1BR bungalow / house | Villa (2-bed+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Sand Beach (Hat Sai Khao) | 8,000–12,000 | 15,000–25,000 | 45,000–75,000+ |
| Klong Prao | 7,000–10,000 | 14,000–22,000 | 35,000–70,000+ |
| Kai Bae | 7,500–11,000 | 14,000–23,000 | 40,000–65,000+ |
| Lonely Beach (Hat Tha Nam) | 5,000–8,000 | 10,000–18,000 | Rare above 30,000 |
| Klong Son (ferry-pier valley) | Under 8,000 | 10,000–16,000 | 25,000–40,000 |
| Bang Bao (fishing village) | — | — | Essentially no long-term stock |
See how each area compares beyond price in the BAANLYY Koh Chang neighborhood & areas guide.
Koh Chang's southwest-monsoon low season (roughly May–October) is real — some restaurants, bars and dive operators close or cut hours, and rental pricing follows the same swing.
| Rental type | Relative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term (6–12 month) lease | Best monthly rate | Baseline — the only way to avoid holiday-season pricing entirely |
| Low / green season monthly (roughly May–Oct) | Low | Southwest monsoon; some restaurants, bars and dive operators close or cut hours, and landlords discount to keep a home occupied |
| High season monthly (Nov–Apr) | High | Asking rates rise on White Sand Beach, Klong Prao and Kai Bae as short-stay demand returns |
| Peak weeks (mid-Dec to mid-Jan) | Highest | Beachfront bungalows and villas spike hardest around Christmas and New Year |
| Short holiday let (nightly) | Premium | Resort/nightly pricing, not a real rental comparison to a monthly lease |
| Item | Typical term |
|---|---|
| Typical long-term lease length | 6 or 12 months (12 unlocks the best monthly rate) |
| Security deposit | 2 months' rent (refundable, less damages) |
| Advance rent on signing | 1 month upfront (so move-in ≈ 3 months' rent) |
| Seasonal / 3–6 month lease deposit | 1–2 months, sometimes higher heading into high season |
| Low-season short lets | Some owners will do a 1–3 month low-season lease at a discount rather than leave a property vacant May–October |
Koh Chang has very little condominium stock — long-stay homes are almost entirely furnished bungalows, houses and villas let directly by the owner, typically on a registered land lease or Thai company structure rather than a corporate building. Fully furnished is the norm; ask for a written inventory before you sign.
| Item | Who pays / norm |
|---|---|
| Electricity | Tenant pays — metered separately from rent, typically THB 5–10/kWh; AC-heavy villas run noticeably higher |
| Water | Tenant pays — modest, typically THB 10–15/unit, billed separately |
| Internet / fibre | Mainly available around White Sand Beach, Klong Prao and Kai Bae; confirm before signing if you work remotely |
| Scooter | Not part of rent, but budget ~4,500–7,500 THB/mo — the only public transport is shared songthaews on the single main road |
| Notice to vacate | Commonly 30 days; check the contract, especially around the low-to-high season changeover |
| Item | Typical cost / practice |
|---|---|
| Tenant agent fee (long-term) | Usually FREE — the landlord/owner pays the agent, where an agent is involved at all |
| Direct owner rentals | Very common on Koh Chang — most bungalows, houses and villas are let directly by the owner, no agent |
| Landlord agent commission | Typically ~1 month for a 12-month lease (paid by owner), when an agent is used |
| Documents you'll need | Passport; for long stays, visa/immigration details — the island has its own Immigration Office for 90-day reporting |
| Reservation / holding deposit | 1 booking deposit to take a unit off-market, rolled into the security deposit |
| Lease registration | Leases over 3 years should be registered at the Land Office in Trat |
For a long-term (6–12 month) lease, a small studio or basic bungalow runs roughly THB 5,000–12,000 depending on area — cheapest around Klong Son and Lonely Beach, priciest on White Sand Beach. A one-bedroom bungalow or small house runs THB 10,000–25,000, and a larger house or villa (2-bed-plus) runs from around THB 25,000 up to THB 75,000 or more on the main beach strips. Bang Bao, a working fishing village, has essentially no long-term rental stock at all.
Generally yes on everyday rent, though the comparison isn't quite apples-to-apples: Koh Chang's long-stay housing is almost entirely bungalows, houses and villas rather than condominiums, so there's no cheap-studio-condo equivalent to compare against Phuket or Samui. The trade-off for the lower cost is a much thinner rental market, a smaller on-island hospital, no international school, and a genuine May–October low season when some businesses close.
Koh Chang follows the same Gulf-coast seasonality as Thailand's other resort islands. From November to April, owners on White Sand Beach, Klong Prao and Kai Bae can earn more from short holiday stays than from a monthly tenant, which pushes asking rates up and tightens supply, with the sharpest spike around Christmas and New Year. A 6–12 month lease that spans the full year locks in the lower, off-peak-equivalent rate instead of paying holiday pricing.
A standard long-term lease asks for two months' rent as a refundable security deposit plus one month's rent in advance, so budget around three months' rent to move in. Shorter 3–6 month or seasonal leases often ask one to two months' deposit, sometimes more heading into high season, and some owners will offer a discounted short low-season lease rather than leave a property empty May–October.
Yes. There's no restriction on foreigners renting anywhere in Thailand, including Koh Chang — any visa type can rent a bungalow, house or villa long-term or seasonally, and you don't need to own anything to live there. Renting is how the large majority of the island's long-stay foreigners live. Ownership rules — no foreign freehold land, the 49% condo quota — apply only to buying, and Koh Chang has very little condo stock in any case.
Almost all bungalows, houses and villas marketed to long-stay foreigners come furnished — bed, basic kitchen, fan or AC, and often a fridge — so you can move in with a suitcase. Koh Chang has very little condominium stock; long-stay homes are almost entirely standalone bungalows, houses and villas let directly by the owner on land held via a registered lease or Thai company structure, not corporate condo buildings.
Pair this with the full Koh Chang cost of living guide and the Koh Chang immigration office guide.
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
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General information and indicative pricing, not legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. Confirm current details with official sources, individual listings or licensed professionals.
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