By Phuket News Property Editorial Team · January 12, 2026
For many years, Phuket’s property market was closely associated with retirees and later-life second-home buyers. While those groups remain important, the demographic profile of people choosing to live and buy property on the island has shifted noticeably, particularly over the past five years.
Since Covid, Phuket has seen a growing number of younger professionals, entrepreneurs, and remote workers choosing the island as a long-term base. This change reflects broader shifts in how people work, live, and prioritise lifestyle earlier in their careers.
A younger buyer profile is emerging
The average age of property buyers and long-stay residents in Phuket has been trending downward. Where buyers were once predominantly in their late 50s and 60s, many new residents now fall into their mid-30s to late-40s.
These buyers are often still actively working, running businesses, managing international careers, or operating flexible hybrid roles. Rather than planning for retirement, they are making lifestyle decisions that allow them to balance work, health, and family while remaining professionally engaged.
This marks a clear departure from the buyer profile seen twenty years ago, and even from the years immediately before Covid.
The rise of digital nomads and remote professionals
Remote work has played a central role in reshaping who chooses to live in Phuket. The ability to work from anywhere has encouraged professionals to reassess where they live, particularly those no longer tied to daily office attendance.
Phuket has benefited from this shift. Reliable internet, international connectivity, and a growing network of coworking spaces have made it easier for digital nomads and remote professionals to base themselves on the island for extended periods.
Many arrive initially as renters, staying for several months before deciding to commit longer term. This gradual transition from visitor to resident has become increasingly common in recent years.
Technology has made location flexibility possible
Two decades ago, living in Phuket while maintaining an international career would have been unrealistic for most people. Limited internet speeds, physical office requirements, and traditional working structures meant that location dictated opportunity.
That constraint has largely disappeared.
High-speed internet, cloud-based systems, video conferencing, and collaborative platforms now allow professionals to work effectively from almost anywhere. Meetings, client relationships, financial operations, and creative work can all be managed remotely with minimal disruption.
This technological shift has fundamentally changed how younger professionals think about where they live. Instead of choosing a location based on proximity to an office, they can prioritise quality of life, climate, and personal wellbeing without stepping away from their careers.
Phuket has become a direct beneficiary of this change.
Lifestyle priorities are shaping relocation decisions
Younger buyers are often motivated by lifestyle considerations rather than prestige or formality. Access to nature, outdoor activity, fitness, healthy food, and a more balanced pace of life feature heavily in relocation decisions.
For those arriving from major cities, the contrast is immediate. The ability to combine work with beach access, outdoor exercise, and community life is a powerful draw.
Unlike previous generations who delayed lifestyle choices until retirement, many younger residents are choosing to optimise quality of life while still in their most productive working years.
Infrastructure now supports long-term living
Phuket today offers far more than it did twenty years ago. International schools, modern healthcare facilities, improved infrastructure, and a wide range of dining and lifestyle options make year-round living practical for individuals and families alike.
Younger residents are not simply passing through. Many are enrolling children in schools, establishing businesses, and integrating into local communities. This reflects a shift from short-term stays toward genuine relocation.
Changing property preferences
Property preferences among younger buyers differ from traditional retiree demand. Smaller condominiums, modern townhomes, and compact villas close to amenities often take priority over large standalone homes.
Flexibility and functionality matter. Proximity to cafes, gyms, coworking spaces, and social hubs often outweigh land size or formal layouts. Value and usability tend to be more important than luxury branding.
These preferences are influencing how parts of the residential market evolve, particularly in areas popular with long-stay international residents.
A generational shift accelerated by recent years
The past five years have accelerated changes that were already underway. Covid prompted many people to rethink how and where they live, placing greater emphasis on health, freedom, and personal time.
Phuket has increasingly been viewed not just as a holiday destination, but as a viable base for people in the middle of their working lives. This shift does not replace traditional buyer groups, but it does broaden Phuket’s identity as a place to live, work, and grow across different life stages.
