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 the easiest way doable. The town is really “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 approach, it seems like an enormous neighborhood.
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 have to be thought of – 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 primarily based alone private expertise, intensive analysis, and talking with different vacationers and digital nomads.
Execs of Residing in Bangkok
Bangkok is a metropolis not like some other and there are some critically nice perks to dwelling there. Listed below are the highest professionals of dwelling in Bangkok.
1. Interesting Value of Residing
One of many high benefits of dwelling in Bangkok is unquestionably the price of dwelling. You possibly can snag a cushty one-bedroom condo 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 house.
Native markets supply contemporary produce and items at low costs, permitting you to stay 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 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 increase your expertise and enterprise. What I liked most about all of the coworking spots, is that yow will discover one primarily based in your temper – totally different venues vary from quiet to vigorous.
3. Tons of Tradition
The cultural experiences in Bangkok are countless and all of them supply nice methods to be taught concerning 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 countless content material and inspiration in your weblog!
4. Hub for Journey
A critically main good thing about dwelling in Bangkok is its place as a journey hub in Southeast Asia. Funds airways resembling AirAsia supply low-cost flights to locations together with Bali, Singapore, or Hanoi, making weekend getaways each simple and inexpensive.
I completely liked with the ability to hop on a flight and rapidly 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 affords all the pieces from avenue meals gems to Michelin-starred eating experiences. You possibly can 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 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 standard atmosphere, 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 “house“, making it a breeze to search out pals and community throughout your keep. There are numerous expat teams and meetups, resembling Bangkok Digital Nomads or varied language alternate meetups, which may also help you compromise in and discover “your folks” rapidly.
This help community was invaluable to me whereas in Bangkok, particularly at first once I was simply beginning to determine find out how 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
For those who’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. Throughout the hotter months, you may 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 straightforward to do. You possibly can even look into worldwide medical insurance choices which cowl you in case of any main emergencies.
9. General Security
Bangkok is mostly a secure metropolis, particularly in neighborhoods which might be in style amongst expats and digital nomads. Simply by utilizing your widespread sense, you may 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 resembling avoiding flashing valuables and strolling alone in dimly lit and unfamiliar areas.
The presence of native Thai vacationer police in in style locations is all the time reassuring, and lots of scorching spots have safety in place. Preserve an eye fixed out, nonetheless, for widespread vacationer scams and pickpocketing, which may be widespread in high-traffic areas.
SEE ALSO: 7 Greatest 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, holding that valuable stability between work and play. To not point out, Bangkok’s artwork galleries, museums, and theaters supply cultural experiences for these trying to discover the town’s creative aspect.
Cons of Residing in Bangkok
In fact, no place is ideal. Residing in Bangkok can actually include its frustrations and struggles. These are probably 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 throughout the scorching summer time months. Stepping out of your air-conditioned room can really feel like strolling straight right into a sauna, particularly throughout the peak of summer time 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 is best to have seen my hair throughout the summer time… frizzy, enormous, and utterly helpless.
2. A lot of Site visitors
Bangkok’s visitors is a few of the worst on this planet and generally is a massive 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 periods as a result of it may actually take hours. I as soon as sat in Bangkok visitors for 3 hours to go lower than 10 miles. Follow 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 grow to be fairly brutal throughout sure instances of the 12 months. The air pollution ranges, because of visitors and agricultural burning, can pose well being dangers, particularly when you’ve got respiratory points, and it may additionally forged a thick haze across the metropolis. When the air is unhealthy, you actually don’t wish 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 resembling ordering meals or asking for instructions extra sophisticated.
Attempt to maintain your translation app useful each time you may, 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 generally is 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 totally 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 may be critically embarrassing – and even unlawful. Perform some research and keep in mind to all the time respecfully cowl your self in non secular temples and grounds.
Is Residing in Bangkok Value It?
Whereas dwelling in Bangkok does have its challenges, just like the sweltering warmth and infamous visitors, the 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 properly you adapt to and embrace the native life-style.
For those who can deal with the warmth and navigate the cultural variations, Bangkok affords an thrilling, various, and enriching expertise that could possibly be simply the precise 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 wonderful metropolis.
