Lifestyle
The Best Places to Live in Bangkok
There is a saying that goes like: Better be rich in a poor country than being poor in a rich country. Although Thailand is definitely not a poor country, you can draw parallels between living here and these words. You don't need to be really rich. If you belong to the middle class of a developed country, you can have the life of an upper-class citizen in Thailand. This article will help you to find the best places to live in Bangkok
For the same rent people pay for a small, gloomy room in the outskirts of cities like Munich, London, New York or Sydney, you can have a great furnished condominium in Bangkok. A security guard, swimming pool, gym, an own convenience store and other facilities are included, of course.
As a tourist you won't notice it, because on your holiday you look at your environment from another perspective. But People who just moved to Bangkok and settled, realize in their daily life how much luxury they get for affordable prices.
Condominium, Apartment or Town House?
There are three types of accomodation in Bangkok: A Condominium, Apartment or Town House. The advantage of a town house is that you can keep pets in the house, have parties. Furthermore, you are free to do individual changes inside and outside the house.
On the other hand, there is no security guard and no management that takes care of the maintainance.
Apartments and condominiums do have both. A condominum is more expensive and therefore more luxurious than an apartment. Also there are extra facilities such as a gym and a swimming pool, which apartments don't have.
Photo: Luxurious life at Sukhumvit area. Many Expats and young Thai professionals choose to live in a condominiumExpats usually choose to live in a condominium, since it offers a high quality of life combined with convenience (management takes care of maintanance and security).
This guide aims to give our readers an overview to the best places to live in Bangkok regarding room rates, facilities, environment and quality of living.
Where are the best places to live in Bangkok?
- Asoke
- Ratchathewi/Pratunam Area
- Onnut Area
- Sukhumvit Soi 24
- Phra Khanong
- Thonglor
- Ari
- Rama 9/Ratchada
- Thonburi/Wong Wian Yai
Asoke
This area is the heart of Bangkok. MRT and BTS Skytrain lines cross each other here. It is very busy but also very central and easy to reach. A large variety of restaurants, Terminal 21 shopping mall and Soi Cowboy are in close proximity.
For recreation, there is a large park 500m south of the intersection. The nearest condominums are on Sukhumvit Soi 16 and Soi 23. Many expats live in this area. Thus, everybody speaks more or less English. Expensive area, monthly rates for Condominiums start at 25,000 THB. for a studio.
Ratchathewi/Pratunam Area
Located between BTS stations Ratchathewi and Phayathai, not far from Pratunam and Siam, this area has a lot to offer in terms of shopping opportunities. A good access to BTS Skytrain and the Airport Rail Link (Phayathai station) and its central location make this area lucrative for many expats. Between the numerous skyscrapers here, people have a real metropolis feeling. This area is one of the big central places of Bangkok.
Despite mainly being a business and shopping district, there are many large and luxurious condominiums in this area. Unfortunately, there are no larger green areas for recreation. Numerous food shops and food courts give residents many options to find a meal without walking far.
As for enternment, there are plenty pubs and bars at CocoWalk, which is right next to the BTS station Ratchathewi. Since it is close to everywhere, it’s easy to reach the main entertainment locations on Sukhumvit road.
Onnut Area
Onnut is a huge residential area popular among locals and expats, not far from central Bangkok (5 stations from Asok by BTS). It’s a great trade-off between price, distance to downtown and living quality.
A large number of condominiums are located around the BTS Onnut station. Also, there is a Tesco Lotus, a BigC and also a local fruit & vegetable market in walking distance for grocesery shopping.
300m from the BTS station there are 2 barbeque restaurants and a small alley on the opposite side with lots of small food shops.
There are no parks nearby for recreation. However, many condominiums here have their own green yards. So, residents have at least a small piece of nature in front of their doors.
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- BigC & Tesco Lotus in walking distance
- small food market nearby
- BTS Skytrain
- lots of cheap dining opportunities
- good trade-off between price and luxury
- outside of downtown
- no parks
Recommended Condos
The Base 77
- 31sq., 1 bedroom, 13,000THB/month; 26sq.,1 bedroom, 11,500THB/month
- Great facilities, green areas, common areas to socialize
- large pool, soccer & basketball court, own 7-11, restaurants, gym
- skyline view from upper floors
- 500m from BTS Onnut
Photo: The Base Sukhumvit 77 condominium poolside areaThe Link Sukhumvit Condominium
- 31sq., 1 bedroom, 11,000 THB /month
- small swimming pool, gym,
- close to BTS Onnut(300m)
U-Delight Condominium
- 31sq., 1 bedroom, 13,000 THB /month
- Great facilities, common areas to socialize
- 800m to BTS Onnut
- large pool, gym, skyline view from upper floors
Sukhumvit Soi 24
With a length of 1.2 Km, Soi 24 is covering the area between Phrom Phong (Emporium Mall) and Rama 4 Road. Known as a residential neighborhood, this street harbours a large number of upper class condominiums.
Since it offers luxurious and spacious condos combined with a central location in Bangkok, it is popular among Japanese and Western expats .
Its central location, multiple restaurants, Hotels, a shopping mall and a BTS station at the beginning of this street make it an attractive, upscale place to live. However, this comes at a cost of expensive rent.
There is a park nearby (Benjasiri Park), Also, most condominiums have their own green recreation areas. For grocery shopping, you can either go to Tesco Express (Rama4 Rd. end), or to Gourmet market in Emporium Mall (Phrom Phong end).
Photo: Sukhumvit Soi 24Compared to Sukhumvit Road it is not as noisy and busy here. Also, in an alley on the same street, there are plenty massage shops that offer a soapy body to body massage.
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- central location
- shopping mall nearby
- BTS Skytrain
- not too busy & noisy
- close to a park
- clean, high class area
- expensive
Recommended Condos
Bright Sukhumvit 24
- 69sq., 1 bedroom, 45,000 THB/month; 92sq., 2 bedrooms, 60,000THB/month
- Great facilities, common areas to socialize
- fancy & new
- 850m to BTS
- swimming pool, gym, skyline and river view from upper floors
Photo: Bright Sukhumvit 24 CondominiumThe Emporio Place Suhumvit 24
- 73sq., 1 bedroom, 56,000 THB /month;
- Great facilities, common areas
- 850m to BTS
- pool, gym, skyline & river view from upper floors
Siri Residence
- 60sq., 1 bedroom, 40,000 THB /month
- Great facilities, common areas to socialize
- 450m to BTS
- pool, gym, skyline view from upper floors
Phra Khanong
Years ago, Phra Khanong area used to be an uninviting, run down, labor class district. However, in the last few years this place has transitioned to a hip, gentrified neighborhood. Around BTS Phra Khanong station, there are a bunch of condominiums along Sukhumvit road.
Moreover, this neighborhood is home to a very popular, night market in modern graffity-art theme, for dining, drinking and hanging out.
Also, there is a fruit and vegetable market and a rooftop bar neabry.
Due to its relatively central location, and close proximity to BTS, rents are slightly high. However, if you move further inside Soi Phra Khanong, it becomes less shiny, less inviting and therefore less expensive.
Thonglor
Thonglor is an upper class residential and entertainment district. Due to its central location, luxurious condominiums and eas access to BTS Skytrain, many Western and Japanese expats, aswell as middle and upper class Thais choose to live in this neighborhood.
Various restaurants and smaller food shops are located in Thonglor which covers the area between Sukhumvit Soi 38 and Petchaburi Road. Also, there is a small food market next to the BTS sttion at Soi 38.
Most condos are expensive here, however there are also cheaper alternatives.
There are no parks for recreation and the next larger grocery store is in Ekkamai.
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- close to downtown
- food market nearby
- close to BTS Skytrain
- entertainment & dining nearby
- clean, upper class area
- no parks
- expensive
- BigC or Tesco not close
Recommended Condos
Ashton Morph 38
- 53sq., 1 bedroom, 55,000 THB /month;
- new, high luxury building
- 300m to BTS
- pool on upper floor, gym, skyline view
Photo: Ashton Morph 38 poolside
Condo One
- 31sq., 1 bedroom, 13,000 THB /month;
- small pool & gym
- 450m to BTS
- 7 floors
Quattro by Sansiri
- 53sq., 1 bedroom, 53,000 THB /month;
- new, high luxury building
- large green yard
- common areas
- 300m to BTS
- pool, gym, skyline view from upper floors
Photo: Quattro by Sansiri Condominium at ThonglorAri
With numerous new opened bars, pubs and restaurants, Ari has become one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Bangkok. Located halfway between Siam and Mo Chit, Ari is a popular business and residential area for young Thai professionals. Also, more and more expats seem to have dicovered this district as an attractive spot to live. While main road (Phahon Yothin Alley 7) is busy with its restaurants, cafes, businesses and bars, the sidestreets are calm.
Thus, you live in a less noisy environment but have a vivid street with entertainment in walking distance.
Lots of new built condominiums can be seen in Ari Area. BTS station Ari is in walking distance and plenty food shops are nearby.
Rama 9/Ratchada
Located just 2-3 MRT stations from Sukhumvit Road, Rama 9 and Ratchada districts are lively business and residential areas of the Thai middle class. Apart from numerous beautiful, luxurious condominiums that can be found here, there is also huge selection of food shops, restaurants, cafes, music venues.
As for shopping, there is Central Plaza Grand Rama IX (fashion & more), Fortune Town (IT mall) and Esplanade Department store in this area.
What makes this area so popular is also the legendary Ratchada Night market (aka Train Market). It's a huge market where people eat, drink, do shopping and socialize after work or on weekends.
Moreover, Ratchada Soi 4 is well known as an entertainment street with its numerous clubs and bars among Thai locals. However, more and more foreigners can be seen here.
Home to the Thailand Stock Exchange, both Rama9 and Ratchada are densely populated and busy area. there are no parks for recreation.
Living in a condomonium here is a good trade-off between price, quality of life and promximity to downtown Bangkok. It's a much less expensive alternative to living at Sukhumvit area.
Thonburi/Wong Wian Yai
Just a few stations apart from Silom, on the west bank of the Chao Praya River, there are two residential districts that are popular for several reasons.
Thonburi and Wong Wian Yai distrocts are relatively close to central places like Silom and Sathorn, while at the same time, dining and drinking is cheap and rents are on a relatively moderate range (compared to Sukhumvit Area).
Between BTS station Khrung Thonburi and Wong Wian Yai, there are many high quality condominiums located along the main road.
The Western bank of the river is generally not well known among foreigners, because it's mostly businesses and residential areas far from the main entertainment districts.
Popular places in this are several pubs and barbeque restaurants near the Chao Praya River.
As for shopping, there are 2 department stores and a BigC in Thonburi/Wong Wian Yai area.
