Living in Bangkok: neighbourhoods, cost of living and expatriation

Bangkok is a vast metropolis where the choice of neighbourhood comes down first to a question of transport: living close to an elevated train or subway station radically changes daily life, so congested is the road traffic.

Sukhumvit, along the avenue of the same name, is the main expat corridor. The Phrom Phong, Thong Lo and Ekkamai areas are home to most of the residential buildings, shops and international restaurants; Asok is the junction between the two transport networks.

Silom and Sathorn form the business district, with embassies, office towers and a population of professionals. Residential towers are plentiful and commutes to work are short.

Ari and Phaya Thai, to the north, offer a more local scale and lower prices, with genuine neighbourhood life. They are the choice of a growing number of foreign residents settled for the long term rather than passing through.

The west bank of the river, Thonburi, and the areas close to the international schools in Bang Na or the northern suburbs complete the picture. They require a car, which in Bangkok means accepting long and unpredictable journeys.

We do not publish a median rent for Bangkok: we have not found an official Thai data series publishing rents by neighbourhood, and we do not use estimates from private agencies, which are not official sources.

The rental market is plentiful and fluid, which sets Bangkok apart from most of the cities covered on this site. The supply of condominium housing is very large, and negotiation is customary, particularly on one-year leases.

A two-month security deposit is the norm, with one month's rent paid in advance. Return of the deposit is the main source of disputes, and the move-in inventory must be carefully documented.

When it comes to buying, one rule shapes everything: a foreigner cannot own land. They can, however, acquire a condominium unit outright (freehold), within the limit of a quota set for each building.

Arrangements designed to circumvent the ban on owning land, through an intermediary Thai company or a nominee, are unlawful and expose the buyer to losing the property. This is the point on which intermediaries are least clear.

Bangkok offers a considerable cost gap with Europe for local food, services, labour and transport. Imported goods, alcohol and cars, on the other hand, are heavily taxed.

We do not publish a typical monthly budget: we have not found an official Thai data series measuring a basket of expenses comparable to that of an expatriate.

International schooling is the item that determines a family's budget, and it is comparable to European levels. It is this, rather than housing, that tips the balance.

Thai private healthcare is of a good standard and attracts medical tourism, but its cost is rising rapidly and insurance becomes expensive with age. This item should be costed over the duration of the project, not just the first year.

The Thai income tax scale starts at 0%⁵ and reaches 35%⁶ at its top marginal rate, which does not make it a low-tax jurisdiction for high earners.

The French community in Bangkok is long-established and well organised, with a complete network of schools, consular services and associations. English is more than enough for daily life in the central neighbourhoods.

The so-called long-stay destination visa, created for remote workers and long-term visitors, is valid for 5 years⁷ and allows stays of up to 180 days⁸ per entry, subject to minimum funds of from THB 500,000⁹.

This scheme calls for specific tax vigilance: Thai tax residency is acquired after more than 180 days¹⁰ of presence in a year, a lower threshold than in most countries.

The Thai authorities have also changed their position on the taxation of remitted foreign income. This is a shifting issue that should be checked as of the date of the project rather than taken for granted.

The elevated train and the subway serve the main corridors, with regular extensions. Outside their reach, journeys become long: location relative to the network is the decisive practical criterion.

Two airports serve the city, with direct flights to Europe. Bangkok is also a convenient starting point for the whole of Southeast Asia.

Air quality is a real public health issue, with marked pollution episodes during the dry season. It is a quality-of-life factor rarely included in comparisons.

• The type of visa determines what you are allowed to do: working for a local employer requires a separate work permit.
• A foreigner cannot own land: only condominium units can be held outright.
• The tax residency threshold is 180 days¹⁰: it is crossed more quickly than elsewhere.
• Immigration reporting rules require periodic address notifications: forgetting them is a frequent cause of problems.