To this point, 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 best ways attainable. Town is really “alive.” It’s loud and bustling, however there are additionally tranquil parks and scenic views. It’s large in dimension and depth, however in a approach, it appears like a giant neighborhood.
There are such a lot of execs of dwelling in Bangkok, together with the price of dwelling, scrumptious meals, and an lively way of life. Nonetheless, cons all the time must be thought of – and I’ve listed each beneath.
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’d uncover one thing new or overcome a hurdle. It was all the time an journey – whatever the ups and downs.
I’ve created this checklist of execs and cons of dwelling in Bangkok primarily based alone private expertise, intensive analysis, and talking with different vacationers and digital nomads.
Execs of Dwelling in Bangkok
Bangkok is a metropolis in contrast to another and there are some severely nice perks to dwelling there. Listed below are the highest execs of dwelling in Bangkok.
1. Interesting Value of Dwelling
One of many high benefits of dwelling in Bangkok is unquestionably the value of dwelling. You may snag a snug one-bedroom residence in a good space for as little as $400-$600 a month, and avenue meals like Pad Thai or Som Tam will set you again solely a few {dollars}; consuming out is sort of simply as low-cost as cooking at dwelling.
Native markets provide recent produce and items at low costs, permitting you to dwell 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, because of its vibrant coworking scene. Areas like The Hive Thonglor and Hubba provide 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 yow 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 infinite and all of them provide nice methods to study concerning the robust 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 facet” of the nation. Not solely do these cultural excursions improve your dwelling expertise, however additionally they present infinite content material and inspiration in your weblog!
4. Hub for Journey
A severely main good thing about dwelling in Bangkok is its place as a journey hub in Southeast Asia. Price range airways akin to AirAsia provide low-cost flights to locations together with Bali, Singapore, or Hanoi, making weekend getaways each simple and inexpensive.
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 straightforward on the pockets.
5. Scrumptious Meals Scene
Bangkok’s meals scene is known and affords all the pieces from avenue meals gems to Michelin-starred eating experiences. You may take pleasure in a world-class meal at Gaggan Anand for an unforgettable expertise, or dig right into a scrumptious bowl of boat noodles from a avenue 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, town’s cafes and eateries are excellent for working exterior of your ordinary atmosphere, providing scrumptious espresso and snacks to maintain you fueled.
Bangkok’s expat neighborhood is extraordinarily welcoming, and hundreds of individuals have chosen town as “dwelling“, making it a breeze to search out pals and community throughout your keep. There are numerous expat teams and meetups, akin to Bangkok Digital Nomads or varied language alternate meetups, which may also help you agree in and discover “your individuals” shortly.
This assist community was invaluable to me whereas in Bangkok, particularly at first once I was simply beginning to determine the right way 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. 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 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 provide world-class healthcare at a fraction of Western costs, and lots of medical doctors are fluent in English.
Easy issues like dental visits, enamel cleansing, or common check-ups are easy and straightforward to do. You may even look into worldwide medical insurance choices which cowl you in case of any main emergencies.
9. Total Security
Bangkok is usually a protected metropolis, particularly in neighborhoods which are widespread 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 same old precautions akin 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 sizzling spots have safety in place. Preserve a watch out, nonetheless, for widespread vacationer scams and pickpocketing, which might 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), buying 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, maintaining that treasured steadiness between work and play. To not point out, Bangkok’s artwork galleries, museums, and theaters provide cultural experiences for these trying to discover town’s creative facet.
Cons of Dwelling in Bangkok
After all, no place is ideal. Dwelling in Bangkok can actually 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 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, typically resulting in a continuing state of discomfort and sweatiness until you’re indoors. It’s best to have seen my hair in the course of the summer season… frizzy, large, and fully helpless.
2. A number of Visitors
Bangkok’s site visitors is a few of the worst on the earth and is usually a large 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.
Visitors might be irritating for digital nomads who want to maneuver across the metropolis for conferences or work periods as a result of it may well actually take hours. I as soon as sat in Bangkok site 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 dwelling in Bangkok is the air high quality, which might change into fairly brutal throughout sure instances of the yr. The air pollution ranges, because of site visitors and agricultural burning, can pose well being dangers, particularly when you’ve got respiratory points, and it may well 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 an enormous, cosmopolitan metropolis, the language barrier can nonetheless be a problem. Not everybody speaks English, particularly exterior the principle vacationer areas, which might make easy duties akin to ordering meals or asking for instructions extra sophisticated.
Try to maintain your translation app useful each 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 is usually a problem for some individuals who transfer to Bangkok. Thai tradition is one which deeply emphasizes respect, politeness, and “saving face”, which might be fairly completely different from what chances are you’ll be used to in a Western tradition.
Misunderstanding these cultural nuances can result in awkward conditions or trigger unintentional offense, which might be severely embarrassing – and even unlawful. Do a little analysis and bear in mind to all the time respecfully cowl your self in spiritual temples and grounds.
Is Dwelling in Bangkok Value It?
Whereas dwelling in Bangkok does have its challenges, just like the sweltering warmth and infamous site visitors, town’s vibrant tradition, inexpensive dwelling 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 affords an thrilling, various, and enriching expertise that might be simply the suitable match in 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.
