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As with most things in Thailand, the Thai rental property sector is hugely diverse, depending on where one elects to live. If you are living: (a) on the island of Phuket; (b) in the Commercial Business District of Bangkok; or (c) in the Easter Seaboard town of Phataya, then it is very possible for you to be spending upwards of $2,000 a month for a condominium. At the same time, provided you are willing to live on the minimum basics, it is also possible to rent studio (one room) condominiums in these areas for $100 or less a month.

The rental sector in rural Thailand consists predominately of houses, as few condominiums exist outside the main towns. Here, the housing market is very affordable and it is possible to find a quiet three bedroom house for less than $250 a month.

Keep in mind that all rental properties in Thailand include additional charges for electricity, water and telephone that are not included as part of your main rent (but are surcharges). Also, due to the tax structure, all property in Thailand is rented as "furnished" - even where you may not want to make use of the furniture.

Finally, due to the severe restrictions in place on foreigners owning property in Thailand, the Thai rental market is both large and healthy - so you can certainly look around for property (both houses and condominiums) that meets your needs. That said, in most cases landlords in Thailand will not negotiate on the advertised rental price, preferring that the place remain empty rather than rent at a price lower than that advertised!

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