Where Should I Live In Bangkok?

[@Mhel2023]

That's exactly what I'm moving into - a 30sqm studio with a wet bath in a low rise building with a gym and free wifi. No frills, but it's clean, modest, newly renovated with brand new furnishings. 14.9k/mo 2 blocks from the Thong Lo BTS. I don't mind since I came from a small place in the Philippines where I was taking "showers" with a tabo and bucket so this is an upgrade for me haha. I'm really enjoying myself here and the food is consistently great

[@EagerExpat]

Welcome to town. Swing by O Sheas at 3 pm this Thursday if you're free . A small meet-up. Grab a beer or soda. Thonglor is a fun area. I'm a stop away in Phrom Phong. Thonglor is probably one of the highest cost areas. But, as you found out, an older building can be affordable. Thai people take a lot of pride in even a basic building

[@Leeman488]

Love the video! I stayed 3 months about a 6 minute walk to Saphan Taksin BTS it seemed like a great area as well. Affordable, a lot of locals and local eateries but easily accessible to get to the heart of all the expat spots too.

[@EagerExpat]

Living by the river can be really fun. I've spent a few afternoons at Jacks bar on the water.

[@Turnerscasa-Global]

Just a great-big thank you for your videos. Makes total sense. Have helped me out a ton. I haven’t had an issue I wasn’t kind of expecting since I arrived. Living on Soi 39 and loving it! ;0)..

[@EagerExpat]

Cool man. If you see this message swing by Stella's Secret Bar on Soi 41 tonight. Her anniversary party. I'll swing by around 8:30 or 9:00. After loy Kratong

[@Turnerscasa-Global]

@ Had a great time! Thanks for the invite. Cool crowd. ;0)..

[@billg3388]

I have stayed in Thong Lo and will stay a few days in Phrom Phong in a month. But I do love On Nut!. Also I have stayed on the river but that Lotus is my favorite. I do like Cheap Charlies. But Soi 50 I am always so careful to cross!. Likely I will also stay in Soi 81 in K. V. Mansion! Older 9 story building not too far from the BTS. About 25.00 per night! Good video Joe!

[@EagerExpat]

Sounds like a plan. Yes, be careful crossing Soi 50, or any street in Bangkok

[@TheTacticalathlete]

Thank you for your advice. You’ve earned it hitting the pavement every day. Valuable to me. See you in a year.

[@EagerExpat]

I appreciate you watching

[@paulroman3402]

I arrive in 7 weeks; I rented an Airbnb in the W District for 60 days. I'll spend some time looking for a place, long term, near Thong Lor, Phrom Phong or Phra Khanong. From what I understand most condo buildings are 40 to 50 percent filled, and yet they keep building. Long term lease, pay rent 6 months at a time, many options; this may give me some room to negotiate.

[@EagerExpat]

Ya, I'm no expert. From what I understand, many investors buy condos and leave them empty. My girlfriend told me a Chinese outfit owns half the rooms in a certain building. They wanted bothered with tenants. But you should be fine.

[@skinguy23]

I just stayed at a hotel at Ploen chit and the BTS and I really liked the area! Wandering around I saw the US embassy as I made my way to lumphini park. Interesting to hear your thoughts in this video about how attractive that area is (and expensive)

[@EagerExpat]

Yes, I've did a bunch of videos in this area. It's great. But, you are correct. It's not cheap. All the diplomats from a dozen or more embassies like to live close to work. They usually have a large expense account to handle a condo. Still, you can always find a hidden gem. There are some small side Soi's of Soi Rum Rudee. You may find a smaller room, maybe under 30k a month. You can easily pay 90k a month or more in this area. The other side of the BTS also has an older building near the highway that may offer a reasonable price. I would stay off the highway side if possible. Lots of fumes, but in true Thai fashion it's probably 3k cheaper.

[@No_Strings]

Thanks Joe, some great pointers. More food for thought...

[@EagerExpat]

Hey, thanks for watching. If ypr out early, osheas Thursday at 3pm. New person meet up. Come help me with some new folks. You're an old pro

[@No_Strings]

@EagerExpat I'll try my best... Busy day Friday with Loi Krathong and Stella's bash.... 🙂

[@cs_yt]

Great video, specially for me. I am moving next year and my girl works down on 77 and her daughter goes to a school off 77, so On Nut is a no brainer. I've been to the area and starting next week I will spend 3 weeks at the Rhythm(AirBnB) to get a feel. Cheers!

[@EagerExpat]

Sounds great. Check out those apartments on Soi 79. I like that little Soi. Thank you for watching.

[@mrjvc]

Super helpful, thanks!

[@EagerExpat]

I appreciate you watching

[@mickmckpng3153]

Bang Na; The Mall Group is about to open the 2nd biggest mall in SE Asia opposite BITEC Bang Na so demand for cheaper 8-12k one bed condos will increase to accommodate the 10k workers to be employed in the banks and shops and hotels opening up. Also the city divide is Soi 107 Bearing so if you live on the southern side of the road means all your Immi can be done at Samut Prakarn 20mins away. All the taxis are based out of there so a 200bht taxi ride on the motorway gets you to the bottom of Soi22 in 15mins, coming home you will be there last fare before knocking off so you don't get ripped ...

[@EagerExpat]

I've been watching the mall being built. It should be very nice. Thanks for the tips

[@dwalker6868]

Thank you for sharing your video

[@EagerExpat]

Thank you so much for watching

[@richardcyphers9529]

Great video injoy watching it! Planning to come out to Thailand next year for vacation..

[@EagerExpat]

That's great. I hope a few of my videos will help in the planning

[@sturner80]

I stayed at Regent Homes 22 at the end of Soi 85 . Big apartment , probably too big for me , but a nice location , pool , gym , on site shop , laundry etc . Finding the balance between shoe box and reasonable floor space requires a bit of patience to go view apartments . I liked the location as it was equal distance between On Nut and Bang Chak BTS stations . I was paying 14,000 per month just prior to Covid . Now I’m in Rama 4 at intersection of Soi 42 ; 10 minute walk to Ekkamai BTS or 15 mins to Phra Khanong . Same facilities but paying 13,500 👍

[@EagerExpat]

Two good locations. That's a fair price for a short walk or 20b bike/tuk tuk ride up Soi 42

[@sturner80]

@@EagerExpat Motorcycle taxi rank outside the front door but prefer to walk to prevent the journey to pum puy land 😀😀😀 lol

[@stevethemook]

Bud..just found out you can top up the rabbit card on a machine in any station . Find the one with a clear plastic card holder on the right .Put your card into the holder and It'll show you how much you have on the card then put cash into the machine.. Handy at a busy station..

[@EagerExpat]

Ya, I'm not a fan of the machines. I filmed a station today that had a line of thirty people at each machine. If the window is busy, the machines will be worse. I load my Rabbit a 1000b at a time at 9 or 10pm when there isn't a line. That will last me a few months. Oh hey Steve. A few new guys are stopping by O Shea's at 3pm this Thursday. Come join us for a beer if you are free.

[@natk426]

how about along the MRT Blue line which is

[@EagerExpat]

Sure that's an option. Lat phrao is the new On Nut. Affordable, etc.. Don't expect anyone to speak English, but it's fine. My girlfriend lives there. Still, she comes to Sukhumvit to hang out

[@mariovandenhovel1341]

Nice vlog good to know

[@EagerExpat]

Thanks for watching

[@christianpatton9364]

I’ve seen some nice almost new apartments around bts samrong and bearing for 10k baht per month. There is a mall at samrong with just about everything.

[@EagerExpat]

Yes, they will keep building. That's in Samut Prakan, so you are getting farther from Central Bangkok. It just depends on where you want to live. If your girlfriend lives in Thonburi, that's an hour from Samrong

[@JJthelonelybullinasia]

I'm at Samrong. I love it there. 3 year old building. I pay 12,500 and free high speed wifi. Amenities are great. It's small but I'm happy with everything. I looked at a couple condos on Thong Lor but I decided on Samrong. If I lived around Phrom Phong I would be too tempted to go out every night. I'm 3 minutes walk to the yellow line MRT and one stop to the green line Sukhumvit BTS. Super easy.

[@jefftaylor8584]

That mall is good and the market nearby but there's not much else there.

[@EagerExpat]

@@jefftaylor8584 It's a little quite out that way. But, many people are looking for that. Myself, I'm all about the New York City vibe of Phrom Phong and Asoke. On Nut is too slow for me. I just walked home in Phrom Phong at midnight. The streets are packed with people. I love that. When I lived in On Nut, it was a ghost town at 10 pm.

[@EagerExpat]

@@JJthelonelybullinasia I'm glad the new place is working out. It's lucky the Green line extended. It stopped at On Nut for years. The Yellow is also about a year old.

[@PsychicLord]

Just be aware that some of the motorcycle taxi guys are uninsured. My Thai partner was riding pillion on a motorcycle taxi a couple of weeks ago, the taxi driver had no insurance and thus our expenses {where/are} not covered. Unfortunately the rider had to have a blood transfusion and is still in hospital.

[@EagerExpat]

Yes, this is true. If you get hurt, you're on your own. I was talking about the Tesla the bike scratched. If I'm riding, that might be a 10k us scratch. I hope your partner is OK.

[@jefftaylor8584]

PP to bearing is 17 mins. The bts route planner website is pretty accurate. I thought on nut was a bit too busy for me.

[@EagerExpat]

Yes, it gets quite down the line. Try to get 50 feet from a train. That 17 min can also be 10 minutes to walk to the station and up the stairs. Plus, waiting 5 or 6 minutes for a train. They turn half the trains toward Asoke at Samrong and Mo Chit on the other side. Out past Samrong, there are fewer trains.

[@williamm1258]

I looked at the Rooms near On Nut BTS. It was very dated, old appliances, etc. My realtor does not seem anxious to show me a lot of properties and you told be about his commissions. But should I try other realtors, the ones listed on the listings I am interested in? But I dont like the idea of contacting a dozen realtors and would like to work with this person. Suggestions? Thanks

[@EagerExpat]

It's a tricky situation. Most realtors do not split commission on a rental. They usually get one months rent from the landlord. So they will show you what they have listed. Maybe a few more listing a friend may have. If you want to see 10 apartments, you will need to probably use 8 agents. That's just how it is. It's getting harder to find an agent that will return your call/email for anything under 30,000b. It's the same paperwork to rent an 80,000b unit sight unseen to a Japanese business person. As far as things being dated. Most 20 year old buildings will have the original curtains, etc.. Stick to a newish building. But, that will come at a higher price. As far as listings you are interested in. Most of those are old. When I moved over I called 20 listings. One of the 20 was available. If it was a 15,000b unit, that was gone, but I can show you this 27k unit. I would suggest contacting a half dozen agents. See what they have in your price range. Assuming you are in town. If you are not here, most decent units are gone fast. True, there are many empty units. Many investors buy a place and would rather it just sat empty. Then they move the money back to China in 10 years. It's getting more rare, but you can also walk into a building and ask the front desk. Many agents give the desk person a small commission if they show the unit for them. Again, that's getting rare. To many KZbinrs pretending to be buyers to make videos. Best of luck. You'll get a nice place. But, unless you are buying, you need to contact multiple agents.

[@williamm1258]

@@EagerExpat Thanks, really helpful as always

[@goldiemojica7799]

Thank you. Do you have a good agent in mind that you can refer me too? thank you again.

[@EagerExpat]

I did, but she moved. My friend Stella at Stella's Secret Bar has a visa/real estate team. Stop in, have a drink, and explain your needs

[@goldiemojica7799]

@@EagerExpat Thank you I sure will.

[@Mickman007]

I've had great times in BKK but living there a big no, one YT channel guy I watch has a great 2 bedroom abode in a suburb of Hua hin which is lovely it has a front area to rest outside a kitchen inside and a fair sized living area all for 6k baht a month.

[@EagerExpat]

Ya, I watch those videos, too. But this is where I want to live. Hua Hin is too slow for me. Maybe one day, I'll get a nice little place. Maybe a pool. Hua Hin, or who knows where. But living in a capital city, paying what I paid for an apartment in California in 1989, is OK too. Rent isn't my spending issue. It's travel. Having two major airports a train ride away is gold. A five hour drive with traffic once a month would stink.

[@Wee-Rex]

I have stayed Sukhumvit Soi4, 8, 11, 13, 15, 23, 31 and 26. Personally I wouldn’t go any further than those Soi’s. I’m on Soi23 rn, 5-minutes to Asoke BTS/MRT. 35m2 1-bedroom which is plenty. 25K pm because I’m on a 6-month contract, 1-year I’d get it for less. On Nut Soi50 is an absolute no-no for me. I took a condo there to cover a gap period, lasted 4-nights and demanded my money back and left! The only attraction in On Nut is Tesco Lotus’s, otherwise hard no.

[@EagerExpat]

Ya, it's much easier to just walk or take a 5 minute moto-taxi everywhere. Granted it cost more to live on Soi 23 than Soi 101. But, for me it's worth the extra $200. Other folks want a quite area. That's ok too. Soi 4 is not quite.

[@chas284]

Hi Joe, you mentioned Amazon, have you used Lazada at all ?

[@EagerExpat]

I love Lazada. My girlfriend prefers Shopee. She can often times get same day delivery. I tried to use Shopee but it kept crashing. Lazada is normally a day or two. Maybe there is a same day I'm unaware of. You need to try and pick Thai locations. China might take 5 or 6 days.

[@RingoSG]

Best area: Phrom Phong Benjasiri Park (love walking at night), 3 shopping malls, not as touristy as Asoke, central.

[@EagerExpat]

It's 1115pm, and I'm out walking from Phrom Phong to Nana. Incredible people watching. Walking around Bangkok after dark is the only way to go. Today at 2 pm I was filming. It was 95 degrees. Tonight at 11 pm, it feels like 70. It's great

[@chirpthird]

It looks like flights just filled up reel quik any new creative tips to get there? Asking for a friend

[@EagerExpat]

Yup. Getting into high season. Prices near Christmas can more than double. Search my cheap flight video on my search bar. All those hacks still apply

[@louis20122]

100,000 Baht a month??? That is crazy. How big is it? $500 usd a month and less than 500 square feet is good enough for a single person. It is all about the layout inside. I prefer open space concept and modern.

[@EagerExpat]

35m or 375 square feet is the norm. If you want 800-1000 square feet in Thonglor, it will be way closer to 100k a month. I'm lucky paying $650 (changes each month depending on the baht) for 560 square feet. Older building and got a deal. It should be closer to $700 a month

[@jnsa9454]

What do you think of Ekammai?

[@EagerExpat]

I really like it. The main area off Soi 63 has great little side Soi's. They seem like country roads. Yet it's 15 minutes from the BTS.

[@jnsa9454]

@EagerExpat thanks for that added recommendation. Wondering if you know what's the mid-level price range for a nice 1 bedroom condo/studio in Ekammai?

[@EagerExpat]

@@jnsa9454 Ekammai can be very expensive. But you can find a 35m in the 30k to 40k range in an upscale building. Maybe 25k in a low rise. You can also pay 85k really easy in that area. It's very popular with Japanese and Korean expats and business people. I have many friends that live on Soi 63. They love it.

[@paulroman3402]

Living close to a park, like Benchakitti, would appear to be very pleasant, are condos in that area expensive.

[@EagerExpat]

Yes, that can be as expensive or cheap as you want. An average 30m place is probably 30 to 40k. You can spend 100k easily. You can also get a simple room with no AC for 7k. You can't get more expat central than Asoke

[@RingoSG]

Living close to a park is a must for walk lovers.

[@paulroman3402]

@@EagerExpat Most likely, too expensive for my budget. My max is 30k and even then, I hope to negotiate down 10 to 15 percent. I also would like the condo to be somewhere between 38 to 45 sq m. Anything larger than 45 sq would be too much overhead. But a separate bedroom is a must.

[@paulroman3402]

@@RingoSG you're absolutely right,

[@EagerExpat]

@@RingoSG The park is nice

[@สุทธิศักดิ์มธุรพงศากุล]

Sukhumvit is best area 😊

[@EagerExpat]

Yes, it's a popular area. There's so much to do in a few square miles.

[@mdubb4855]

The matrix seems to be walking distance to nightlife (expensive) vs in the boonies but close to a BTS station (cheaper) vs in the boonies and a motorcycle hop to your building (cheapest, or bigger and nicer). The really important question is where does one find a legitimate sweetheart like yours!!! And that is another overlay on the matrix: needs to be close enough to your better half.

[@EagerExpat]

We all need to find that correct balance

[@Y3xl9v]

Stay in nana

[@EagerExpat]

Everyone has a favorite spot. Glad you enjoy Nana

[@sctt2525]

You weren't looking at a Porsche.....

[@EagerExpat]

I don't remember the Porsche, but there are nice views, everywhere in Bangkok

[@sctt2525]

@EagerExpat We think alike

[@TravelBloggerBuzz]

One of your best vlogs recently imho. I think you may see more Americans become interested in moving to Thailand after the US election. Arriving in BKK Thursday, attending a conference at the Ambassador, will be free the week after to meet. You are not easy to contact, I understand. Post here again any meetup details like you did in the comments in this video. Will add a comment again in a later video when my schedule becomes clearer.

[@EagerExpat]

I appreciate you watching. We are going to have a get together this Thursday at 3:00pm at O Shea"s. It looks like you will be at the conference. I'm leaving town this weekend for most of the next week. It depends on the diving conditions when I come back. I might be gone most of next week.

[@jellybeanparis584]

But the majority of Americans voted for Trump, so why would they want to leave the US? Horrible economy the past 3-4 years, groceries aren’t affordable. So yes Americans want lower prices on everything, lower interest rates, & a strong economy. Did you not see the landslide election? Democrats voted for Trump, otherwise he couldn’t have won both the Popular Vote & the Electoral College…