To date, in all of my travels, I can say with ease that dwelling in Bangkok is among the craziest experiences I’ve ever had – and I imply that in one of the simplest ways potential. Town is actually “alive.” It’s loud and bustling, however there are additionally tranquil parks and scenic views. It’s enormous in measurement and depth, however in a method, it seems like an enormous group.
There are such a lot of professionals of dwelling in Bangkok, together with the price of dwelling, scrumptious meals, and an energetic life-style. Nevertheless, cons all the time must be thought-about – and I’ve listed each under.
15 Execs and Cons of Residing 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 professionals and cons of dwelling in Bangkok based mostly alone private expertise, in depth analysis, and talking with different vacationers and digital nomads.
Execs of Residing in Bangkok
Bangkok is a metropolis in contrast to some other and there are some significantly nice perks to dwelling there. Listed here are the highest professionals of dwelling in Bangkok.
1. Interesting Price of Residing
One of many high benefits of dwelling in Bangkok is unquestionably the value of dwelling. You may snag a cushty one-bedroom condo in an honest 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 house.
Native markets supply recent produce and items at low costs, permitting you to reside comfortably with out breaking the financial institution. And transportation, just like the practice 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 group, with costs beginning at round $100 a month.
Bangkok coworking areas are nice spots to community and discover your tribe and sometimes host occasions and workshops that will help you broaden your abilities and enterprise. What I cherished most about all of the coworking spots, is that yow will discover one based mostly in your temper – completely different venues vary from quiet to energetic.
3. Tons of Tradition
The cultural experiences in Bangkok are infinite and all of them supply nice methods to be taught in regards to the sturdy native traditions. From exploring the unimaginable 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 aspect” of the nation. Not solely do these cultural excursions improve your dwelling expertise, however additionally they present infinite content material and inspiration to your weblog!
4. Hub for Journey
A significantly main advantage of dwelling in Bangkok is its place as a journey hub in Southeast Asia. Finances airways equivalent to AirAsia supply low cost flights to locations together with Bali, Singapore, or Hanoi, making weekend getaways each simple 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. Town has well-connected airport and bus terminals, which make land journey to close by areas tremendous handy and simple on the pockets.
5. Scrumptious Meals Scene
Bangkok’s meals scene is known and gives every little thing from road meals gems to Michelin-starred eating experiences. You may 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 range and high quality of meals accessible are unmatched, making it a paradise for food-loving digital nomads. To not point out, the town’s cafes and eateries are excellent for working exterior of your common setting, providing scrumptious espresso and snacks to maintain you fueled.
Bangkok’s expat group is extraordinarily welcoming, and 1000’s of individuals have chosen the town as “house“, making it a breeze to seek out buddies and community throughout your keep. There are numerous expat teams and meetups, equivalent to Bangkok Digital Nomads or numerous language change meetups, which might help you compromise in and discover “your folks” shortly.
This assist community was invaluable to me whereas in Bangkok, particularly at first once I was simply beginning to determine easy methods to get settled. The connections are additionally nice for locating ideas 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. Town enjoys figures ranging from 77-95 levels Fahrenheit year-round, permitting you to work from a poolside cafe in the midst of winter – it’s fairly nice.
Simply bear in mind to remain hydrated and put together for heavy wet seasons. Through the hotter months, you possibly can anticipate 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 big 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 simple to do. You may even look into worldwide medical insurance choices which cowl you in case of any main emergencies.
9. General Security
Bangkok is usually a secure metropolis, particularly in neighborhoods which can be widespread amongst expats and digital nomads. Simply through the use of your widespread sense, you possibly can keep secure throughout your time in Bangkok. I by no means as soon as felt uncomfortable throughout any of my visits; simply take the same old precautions equivalent to avoiding flashing valuables and strolling alone in dimly lit and unfamiliar areas.
The presence of native Thai vacationer police in widespread locations is all the time reassuring, and lots of scorching spots have safety in place. Hold a watch out, nevertheless, for widespread vacationer scams and pickpocketing, which may 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 enjoyable 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), procuring 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 valuable stability 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 aspect.
Cons of Residing in Bangkok
After all, no place is ideal. Residing in Bangkok can definitely include its frustrations and struggles. These are essentially the most generally talked-about cons of dwelling in Bangkok.
1. Intense Humidity and Warmth
One of many main disadvantages of dwelling in Bangkok is the relentless warmth and humidity through the scorching summer season months. Stepping out of your air-conditioned room can really feel like strolling straight right into a sauna, particularly through the peak of summer season when temperatures can soar above 95°F.
The humidity throughout this time solely intensifies issues, typically resulting in a continuing state of discomfort and sweatiness until you’re indoors. You must have seen my hair through the summer season… frizzy, enormous, and fully helpless.
2. Plenty of Site visitors
Bangkok’s visitors is a number of the worst on the planet and is usually a huge draw back to dwelling 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 vehicles and motorbikes.
Site visitors may be irritating for digital nomads who want to maneuver across the metropolis for conferences or work classes 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. Keep on with the trains or tuk-tuks!
3. Air High quality and Air pollution
One other draw back of dwelling in Bangkok is the air high quality, which may change into fairly brutal throughout sure occasions of the yr. The air pollution ranges, attributable to visitors and agricultural burning, can pose well being dangers, particularly in case you have respiratory points, and it could possibly additionally forged 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 an enormous, cosmopolitan metropolis, the language barrier can nonetheless be a problem. Not everybody speaks English, particularly exterior the principle vacationer areas, which may make easy duties equivalent to ordering meals or asking for instructions extra sophisticated.
Try to hold your translation app useful at any time when you possibly can, and I all the time discovered {that a} recreation of charades with a smile was all the time tremendous useful.
5. Cultural Consciousness
Adapting to the native tradition and social norms is usually a problem for some individuals who transfer to Bangkok. Thai tradition is one which deeply emphasizes respect, politeness, and “saving face”, which may be fairly completely different from what it’s possible you’ll be used to in a Western tradition.
Misunderstanding these cultural nuances can result in awkward conditions or trigger unintentional offense, which may be significantly embarrassing – and even unlawful. Perform some research and bear in mind to all the time respecfully cowl your self in spiritual temples and grounds.
Is Residing in Bangkok Price It?
Whereas dwelling in Bangkok does have its challenges, just like the sweltering warmth and infamous visitors, the town’s vibrant tradition, reasonably priced dwelling prices, and dynamic expat group 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 life-style.
If you happen to can deal with the warmth and navigate the cultural variations, Bangkok gives an thrilling, various, and enriching expertise that could possibly be simply the precise match to 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.
