GATTs,
There is this little piece of paradise called Lamma Island, that's just 20-30mins boat ride away from central pier (2IFC) at the water front. Why would you choose to live so far away when you can have everything so close? There are no cars on the island (except for moving trucks for building materials) and the population is very low. You can get all your food & household shopping on the island and the rent is cheep! you can rent a house for around $9000 in Pak Kok village (many people working from home live there) and for about $7000-$8000 can rent a thrid floor apartment that comes with your own stairwell + rooftop. Check out
http://member.ctinets.com/~masunlui/, and
http://www.compunicate.com/Lamma-zine/ratecard.htm web-page created by local expats.
you'd be pleasently suprised