Up to now, in all of my travels, I can say with ease that residing in Bangkok is likely one of the craziest experiences I’ve ever had – and I imply that in one of the best ways potential. The town is actually “alive.” It’s loud and bustling, however there are additionally tranquil parks and scenic views. It’s enormous in dimension and depth, however in a approach, it seems like a giant neighborhood.
There are such a lot of execs of residing in Bangkok, together with the price of residing, scrumptious meals, and an lively way of life. Nevertheless, cons all the time should be thought of – and I’ve listed each under.
15 Execs and Cons of Dwelling in Bangkok
I lived in Bangkok on and off for over two years. Each time I stayed there, I might uncover one thing new or overcome a hurdle. It was all the time an journey – whatever the ups and downs.
I’ve created this record of execs and cons of residing in Bangkok primarily based by myself private expertise, intensive analysis, and talking with different vacationers and digital nomads.
Execs of Dwelling in Bangkok
Bangkok is a metropolis not like another and there are some critically nice perks to residing there. Listed below are the highest execs of residing in Bangkok.
1. Interesting Value of Dwelling
One of many prime benefits of residing in Bangkok is unquestionably the price of residing. You possibly can snag a cushty one-bedroom residence in a good space for as little as $400-$600 a month, and road meals like Pad Thai or Som Tam will set you again solely a few {dollars}; consuming out is nearly simply as low cost as cooking at residence.
Native markets supply recent produce and items at low costs, permitting you to dwell comfortably with out breaking the financial institution. And transportation, just like the prepare or tuk-tuks, can get you throughout city for just some bucks.
2. Digital Nomad-Pleasant
Bangkok is a haven for digital nomads, due to its vibrant coworking scene. Areas like The Hive Thonglor and Hubba supply not only a desk, however a neighborhood, with costs beginning at round $100 a month.
Bangkok coworking areas are nice spots to community and discover your tribe and infrequently host occasions and workshops that can assist you develop your expertise and enterprise. What I cherished most about all of the coworking spots, is that you will discover one primarily based in your temper – completely different venues vary from quiet to energetic.
3. Tons of Tradition
The cultural experiences in Bangkok are countless and all of them supply nice methods to study in regards to the sturdy native traditions. From exploring the unbelievable awe of the Grand Palace to getting misplaced within the sprawling Chatuchak Weekend Market, there are such a lot of issues to do, and limitless methods to immerse your self in Thai tradition.
Conventional festivals like Songkran (Thai New Yr) can present a much-needed break from work and allow you to see the “wild facet” of the nation. Not solely do these cultural excursions improve your residing expertise, however in addition they present countless content material and inspiration on your weblog!
4. Hub for Journey
A critically main good thing about residing in Bangkok is its place as a journey hub in Southeast Asia. Finances airways akin to AirAsia supply low cost flights to locations together with Bali, Singapore, or Hanoi, making weekend getaways each straightforward and reasonably priced.
I completely cherished having the ability to hop on a flight and shortly be in Chiang Mai or Phuket – and even Malaysia or the Philippines. The town has well-connected airport and bus terminals, which make land journey to close by areas tremendous handy and straightforward on the pockets.
5. Scrumptious Meals Scene
Bangkok’s meals scene is known and presents all the pieces from road meals gems to Michelin-starred eating experiences. You possibly can get pleasure from a world-class meal at Gaggan Anand for an unforgettable expertise, or dig right into a scrumptious bowl of boat noodles from a road stall for lower than a greenback.
The variability and high quality of meals out there are unmatched, making it a paradise for food-loving digital nomads. To not point out, the town’s cafes and eateries are good for working exterior of your typical setting, providing scrumptious espresso and snacks to maintain you fueled.
Bangkok’s expat neighborhood is extraordinarily welcoming, and hundreds of individuals have chosen the town as “residence“, making it a breeze to search out mates and community throughout your keep. There are numerous expat teams and meetups, akin to Bangkok Digital Nomads or numerous language change meetups, which might help you compromise in and discover “your folks” shortly.
This help community was invaluable to me whereas in Bangkok, particularly at first once I was simply beginning to determine tips on how to get settled. The connections are additionally nice for locating suggestions and recommendation for meals, lodging, visa questions, and a lot extra.
7. Tropical Local weather
If you happen to’re uninterested in chilly winters, Bangkok’s heat local weather is a spot to kiss snow and freezing temperatures goodbye. The town enjoys figures ranging from 77-95 levels Fahrenheit year-round, permitting you to work from a poolside cafe in the course of winter – it’s fairly nice.
Simply keep in mind to remain hydrated and put together for heavy wet seasons. In the course of the hotter months, you may count on temperatures within the 90s; however fortunately, there are many locations with chilly A/C.
8. Healthcare and Medical Tourism
Bangkok is famend for its high quality healthcare providers, which is a large plus for digital nomads. Hospitals like Bumrungrad Worldwide supply world-class healthcare at a fraction of Western costs, and lots of docs are fluent in English.
Easy issues like dental visits, tooth cleansing, or common check-ups are easy and straightforward to do. You possibly can even look into worldwide medical health insurance choices which cowl you in case of any main emergencies.
9. Total Security
Bangkok is usually a protected metropolis, particularly in neighborhoods which can be standard amongst expats and digital nomads. Simply by utilizing your widespread sense, you may keep protected throughout your time in Bangkok. I by no means as soon as felt uncomfortable throughout any of my visits; simply take the standard precautions akin to avoiding flashing valuables and strolling alone in dimly lit and unfamiliar areas.
The presence of native Thai vacationer police in standard locations is all the time reassuring, and lots of sizzling spots have safety in place. Maintain a watch out, nonetheless, for widespread vacationer scams and pickpocketing, which could be widespread in high-traffic areas.
SEE ALSO: 7 Finest Digital Nomad Cities in Asia
10. Tons of Stuff to Do
The sheer number of leisure and stress-free actions in Bangkok will assure you’ll by no means be bored. Whether or not you’re into the membership scene at RCA (Royal Metropolis Avenue), purchasing in mega-malls like Siam Paragon, or having fun with the tranquility of Lumphini Park, there’s one thing for each temper.
Having this selection is so good as a result of it makes your downtime simply as fulfilling as your work time, protecting that treasured steadiness between work and play. To not point out, Bangkok’s artwork galleries, museums, and theaters supply cultural experiences for these seeking to discover the town’s inventive facet.
Cons of Dwelling in Bangkok
After all, no place is ideal. Dwelling in Bangkok can actually include its frustrations and struggles. These are probably the most generally talked-about cons of residing in Bangkok.
1. Intense Humidity and Warmth
One of many main disadvantages of residing in Bangkok is the relentless warmth and humidity in the course of the sizzling summer season months. Stepping out of your air-conditioned room can really feel like strolling straight right into a sauna, particularly in the course of the peak of summer season when temperatures can soar above 95°F.
The humidity throughout this time solely intensifies issues, usually resulting in a relentless state of discomfort and sweatiness except you’re indoors. You must have seen my hair in the course of the summer season… frizzy, enormous, and utterly helpless.
2. Numerous Site visitors
Bangkok’s visitors is among the worst on the planet and generally is a massive draw back to residing within the metropolis. Even a brief journey can flip right into a prolonged ordeal, particularly throughout rush hour when the streets are completely jam-packed with automobiles and motorbikes.
Site visitors could be irritating for digital nomads who want to maneuver across the metropolis for conferences or work periods as a result of it could possibly actually take hours. I as soon as sat in Bangkok visitors for 3 hours to go lower than 10 miles. Persist with the trains or tuk-tuks!
3. Air High quality and Air pollution
One other draw back of residing in Bangkok is the air high quality, which may turn into fairly brutal throughout sure occasions of the 12 months. The air pollution ranges, attributable to visitors and agricultural burning, can pose well being dangers, particularly when you’ve got respiratory points, and it could possibly additionally solid a thick haze across the metropolis. When the air is unhealthy, you actually don’t need to be exterior in any respect.
4. Language and Communication Barrier
Though Bangkok is a large, cosmopolitan metropolis, the language barrier can nonetheless be a problem. Not everybody speaks English, particularly exterior the primary vacationer areas, which may make easy duties akin to ordering meals or asking for instructions extra difficult.
Try to hold your translation app useful every time you may, and I all the time discovered {that a} sport of charades with a smile was all the time tremendous useful.
5. Cultural Consciousness
Adapting to the native tradition and social norms generally is a problem for some individuals who transfer to Bangkok. Thai tradition is one which deeply emphasizes respect, politeness, and “saving face”, which could be fairly completely different from what you might be used to in a Western tradition.
Misunderstanding these cultural nuances can result in awkward conditions or trigger unintentional offense, which could be critically embarrassing – and even unlawful. Do a little analysis and keep in mind to all the time respecfully cowl your self in non secular temples and grounds.
Is Dwelling in Bangkok Price It?
Whereas residing in Bangkok does have its challenges, just like the sweltering warmth and infamous visitors, the town’s vibrant tradition, reasonably priced residing prices, and dynamic expat neighborhood outweigh these downsides for a lot of digital nomads – together with myself. It’s all about what you make of it and the way effectively you adapt to and embrace the native way of life.
If you happen to can deal with the warmth and navigate the cultural variations, Bangkok presents an thrilling, various, and enriching expertise that might be simply the proper match on your nomadic life. So, weigh the professionals and cons, however don’t let the small stuff deter you from the journey that awaits within the coronary heart of Southeast Asia on this superb metropolis.
