So you’ve decided to make the leap and move to Bangkok, Thailand.
Congrats!
For all of its faults, Bangkok is one of the most dynamic and accommodating cities in Asia. I love the connectedness, constant entertainment options, diverse social scene, and options for any taste and lifestyle.
Let’s go over the neighborhoods that are the best to live in.
Overview
Bangkok is a hectic and constantly busy city in many areas and that can be exciting at first, but then draining after some time.
For this reason, and also cost versus value reasons, I recommend expats live along the BTS Green line somewhere from Phra Khanong to Bearing station. Preferrably from Bang Chak station and further South as Onnut is getting busy these days and Phra Khanong can still be expensive.
The other general area I recommend is Lad Phrao in the North, but this area is best if you’re already more familiar with Thailand and can speak a bit of Thai. There are less Western amenities available generally.
Both of these areas have much fewer tourists and offer great value for money and allow easy access to the city center.
Anyway!
With that in mind, let’s look at each of these distinctive areas. Each area discussed here has a BTS or MRT station because it’s pretty much a given that you want to live near the metro. Traffic in BKK can be brutal.
I will group some adjacent areas together in one subheading.
Punnawithi and Udom Suk
This is perhaps my favorite area in Bangkok after moving around a few times.
Punnawithi and Udom Suk are two BTS stations a bit south from Bangkok that have great amenities like True Digital Park, great condos to select from like Elio Del Nest, walkable markets, and also has a host of chill and cheap bars like Yellow Roof and Hunter’s Garden.
The areas have plenty of options for restaurants and it isn’t crowded all the time like more central Bangkok. Tourists also typically don’t come down this far from the city center which is a big plus for me.
You can also easily head down to Bang Ka Chao which is the “green lung of Bangkok” which is a great little nature spot. Ride the boat for 6 baht at Wat Bang Na Nok to get there.
Also True Digital Park has a FREE coworking library space along with a lovely food court. [1]
Bang Na and Bearing
This is actually where I currently choose to live. In a great and cheap condo called Ideo O2 off of BTS Bang Na.
Once you get this far south you are basically in Samut Prakan province instead of Bangkok province (actually Bearing BTS is Samut Prakan and Bang Na BTS is still Bangkok province) and this is an advantage because the Samut Prakan immigration is much closer and much nicer than going to Chaengwatthana immigration.
I would also recommend renting a motorbike at this point because riding around Samut Prakan on a bike on the weekends is a joy and there are so many lovely cafes, restaurants, and bars to check out.
Use the Muvmi app if you aren’t comfortable riding a bike.
Otherwise the Bang Na and Bearing area has the great Don Sai Market, chill garden cafes, international school options, and easy access to Mega Bang Na which I think is the largest mall in Bangkok (not sure but don’t really care to be honest).
The prices of condo and houses are also very affordable at this distance from the city center and my family back home are always shocked at the quality of place compared to the cost.
A nice and new condo here will cost 9,000 to 12,000 baht a month whereas a more central equivalent would be 20,000+ baht a month.
If you’re enjoying this, then you will also enjoy my guide on dating in Bangkok and what to expect here.
Lad Prao
Lad Prao is a huge area so understand that I’m referring to areas ranging from BTS Ha Yaek Lat Phrao (which is the priciest spot to rent but for good reason) to BTS Ratchayothin and MRT Lad Prao. [2]
Lad Prao is a great place to live in Bangkok because you have easy access to nature, cheap and trendy bars, casual night markets, new malls, and are also near to international schools if you have a family. Additionally, tourists usually don’t come to this area.
You’re close to Chatuchak and Rot Fai Park which are argueably the best parks in Bangkok. You’re also next to Suan Mokh which is a lovely Buddhist temple with a cafe and free open-air coworking space which means you have access to nature that is severely lacking in most of the city.
There is also one of the best malls in the city in Central Ladprao and night markets like Green Vintage Market within walking distance. Mix in some well-priced and trendy bars like Method to My Madness and you’ve got a winner.
BTS Ha Yaek Lat Phrao can be a pricey place to rent because it has BTS and MRT access but prices quickly become reasonable just a station or two further North or East.
Onnut and Bang Chak
Onnut is a classic hotspot for expats in Bangkok for reasons such as cheaper apartments, access to the city center, and access to large shopping malls. There are also cheap and local bars such as Cheap Charlies (which used to be in Nana years ago), Black Cat, and Chill Bar.
Due to the popularity, the Onnut area has many expats bars and expat focused businesses like hostels, bike rental places, money exchanges, and other shops like this.[3] You will see tons of other expats walking around the area and eating in the food courts.
This can be good for making friends and the ease of access to the expat-focused services. This can also be bad if you want to live a bit more locally or want a quieter area.
I personally like Bang Chak more as it is walkable to Onnut but is notably less crowded than Onnut. Also Onnut used to be the neighborhood where prices for condos started becoming notably cheaper, but this is changing as the area is becoming more and more popular. Bang Chak also has a great michelin star Northern Thai restaurant that is shockingly cheap called “Khao Soy Lam Duan Fa Ham Chiang Mai – Bang Chak”
Nowadays a nice condo in Onnut will be 12,000 to 18,000 baht a month although there are cheaper prices in older buildings and low rise condos.
Ari and Saphan Kwai
These areas are adjacent to each other but pretty distinct to be honest.
Ari is an area known for hipster bars and cafes and has a stronger sense of identity and community compared to other areas of Bangkok. There is lots of old money parked here and many wealthy Thais live in this area. However rents are mostly reasonable as you are still a bit North of the city center. Ari is also close to Chatuchak Park which is probably the best park in Bangkok.
Just a 10 or 15 minute walk North is Saphan Kwai.
Saphan Kwai has a much more local Thai feel and is a bit cheaper than Ari. You are very close to Chatuchak park here and there is a great outdoor drinking and eaing area called Camping Ground that you should check out if in the area. Also there is a Big C nearby for any of your shopping needs.
Sathorn
Sathorn is a very central and nicer area of Bangkok that touches on multiple metro stations including Sala Daeng BTS and Lumpini MRT. The condos will be nice and more expensive in this area, but you are very central and close to just about everything. For example, Lumpini Park is nearby which is a large park with sports facilities and free concerts every Sunday.
If you want to be in the city proper and close to downtown bars and areas like Silom and Asok, then I think Sathorn is a good choice. You can still find relatively quiet streets in this area. [4]
Expect to pay somewhere around 12,000 to 30,000 baht a month for a condo depending on the quality of the location and building.
Thonglor and Ekkamai
Thonglor and Ekkamai are areas famous for bars trendy with wealthier (hi-so) Thais. [5]
Thonglor and Ekkamai are good for nightlife as well as day to day living and are generally a bit nicer than other nightlife areas in Bangkok which can be a bit seedy and grungy. There are lots of trendy clubs and bars, hip cafes and restaurants, nice malls, as well as the Ekkamai bus terminal which offers vans and buses to many places in Thailand.
Though the prices for accomodation are higher as the area is desirable. You would be looking at prices similar to Sathorn though maybe slightly cheaper. Expect to pay somewhere around 10,000 to 25,000 baht a month depending on the quality of the building and location.
Also, it should be noted that the bars in these areas are pretty overpriced in my opinion with cocktails often being around 300 to 500 baht. I typically don’t drink around here.
If you are moving to Bangkok soon, then get started with learning the basic words you need to get around here.
Old Town
Old Town is the tourist and backpacker hotspot in Bangkok.
Old Town isn’t somewhere that longterm residents should live as it is not well-connected to the rest of the city, is full of tourists, and has few high-rise condos. There also are significant homeless populations in Old Town that can make walking there uncomfortable.
You also don’t want to be seen as a tourist constantly and solicited by Tuktuk drivers all the time.
I would recommend visiting as it is very pretty, has great history and cool bars along little canals, but I would not recommend anyone live there.
The infamous Khao San road is also in Old Town which is a popular party area for Thai and backpackers.
Phra Khanong
Phra Khanong is a great spot provided that you can get a nice and affordable condo in the area.
Phra Khanong is close enough to Ekkamai to walk there and is much quieter and less crowded than Onnut. There are great bars like Arcadia and Money Bar, a German Bakery, W District which is an outdoor eating and drinking area, as well as coworking spaces and a popular climbing gym called Stone Goat.
I personally enjoyed living here alot, but after covid prices went back up, I couldn’t renew my lease without paying an extra 7,000 baht a month so decided to try new areas.
East of the Chao Phraya River
I can’t really write much about this area as it is an area that I’m not so familiar with in general. I would rather not spread misinformation and will only speak on things I know confidently are true.
Most of my expat friends DO NOT live on the western side of the Chao Phraya river and most expat events, meetups, and groups will meet more central or along lower Sukhumvit (which is the area I described from Phra Khanong to Bearing BTS).
I do have one friend who lives near Bang Phlat for work currently and she doesn’t like it as it takes about an hour to get to Asok.
That’s all I really know other than some nice spots to visit like the Art River Market. I wouldn’t recommend living on that side of Bangkok as an expat unless you want to fully immerse in Thai culture and you speak Thai quite well.
Conclusion
Whew that was a longish post.
It’s worth noting that there are other areas that are popular to live that I skipped entirely in this post like Asok, Phrom Phong, Nana, Saphan Taksim and Victory Monument.
Asok, Phrom Phong and Nana are expensive, filled with tourists and are largely well-known so no need to discuss them.
I will say Victory Monument is very convenient but too constantly crowded for my taste. It also doesn’t have many high rise condos. I lived there for a year, but wouldn’t choose it again. Lots of 24 hour study cafes though due to the local medical universities.
Saphan Taksim is nice and right by the river and near an Indian and Pakistani neighborhood. It is in Sathorn so I didn’t write about it specifically.
Anyway, hope that is insightful and useful for someone and thanks for reading!