If you are planning to move to Bangkok in Thailand, one of your major concerns should be the place where you will live during your stay in the country. Although you can live in a hotel room for as long as you want, the best and most affordable option is renting an apartment in the capital city of Thailand. But how much do you need to budget for an apartment in Bangkok?
Basically, it is not possible to specify the particular cost of apartments in Bangkok. This is because the rental costs of an apartment in Bangkok vary significantly depending on the locations, sizes, facilities, types, and furnishings of the buildings. Based on the findings on Quora and other credible platforms, the costs of apartments in the capital city of Thailand can vary from about 4,000 Thai Baht (121 USD) to 198,000 Thai Baht (6,000 USD) per month.
So, when it comes to renting an apartment in Bangkok, you need to first define the kind of apartment you are looking for. This will assist you to decide how much you will need to budget for an apartment in the city. Below, we will shed more light on various things you need to consider when getting an apartment in Bangkok.
Factors that affect the cost of apartments in Bangkok
Foremost, you need to understand that the cost of apartments in Bangkok depends on some essential factors. These are the factors you should take note of:
- Location
Without a doubt, location is one of the most vital factors that will determine how much you will spend on an apartment in Bangkok. Like other places around the world, the city center has the most expensive homes in Bangkok. So, if you are going for an apartment in the center of Bangkok, you should be ready to pay a premium price for it. Also, the most expensive apartments in Bangkok are usually found in the choicest parts of Sukhumvit, Lumpini, Silom, and Phrom Phong.
Otherwise, you should consider going to the outskirt of the city to get an affordable apartment. Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi are some of the nice places to stay in the outskirt of the city.
- Type of buildings
Another critical factor that will influence the cost of an apartment in Bangkok is the type of building. Generally, some buildings are designed to be spacious and offer luxury whereas others are only meant for comfortable living. Therefore, the kind of building you want to rent will have a substantial effect on your budget.
Basically, the most common types of residential buildings in Bangkok are basic studio rooms, fancy studio apartments, basic 1 or 2-bedroom apartments, fancy 2 or 3-bedroom apartments, duplexes, and penthouses. Of course, the basic studio rooms are usually the cheapest options whereas penthouses and duplexes are the most luxurious and expensive choices for any renter.
- The square meters of the house
Various buildings come in different sizes. As expected, the size of a building will have an impact on its eventual cost. A large apartment in Bangkok will likely cost more than a smaller apartment in the same neighborhood. So, before deciding your budget for an apartment rental in Thailand’s capital city, you need to think about the square meters of the house you want.
Notably, the preferred size of a house will depend on your needs and preferences. For instance, if you have a family with two or three kids, you need to rent an apartment with multiple rooms. Such an apartment will likely have lots of square meters. But if you are living alone, a fancy one-bedroom apartment or studio may be suitable for your needs.
- Proximity to public transport
Bangkok is a very busy city with loads of industrial and commercial activities. As a result of the busyness and large population of this metropolitan city, there are usually traffic congestions in many areas. But the effect of the congestions is often less harmful in places close to public transport such as BTS and MRT stations. Such areas also make it easier for residents to move from one place to another
Therefore, places that are close to public transport tend to be the most preferable for most renters. As a consequence of this, the apartments in such an area are often more expensive than those in other areas.
- Additional facilities in the apartment
Are you looking for an apartment with only basic facilities such as a fridge? Would you prefer to rent an apartment with a swimming pool, vast outdoor greenery, a shared gym center, and so on? An apartment with several additional facilities will cost lots of money. However, if you go for an apartment with basic facilities, you will probably save lots of money on your rent.
- Furnished or not
Furnishing is an extra factor that affects the cost of an apartment in the capital city of Thailand. A furnished apartment will be more expensive than an unfurnished unit within the same neighborhood. This is because furnishing will save you the stress of shopping for most of the needed appliances yourself. All you have to do is to move your personal belongings into the apartment and start residing there. But when renting an unfurnished apartment, you will have to buy everything yourself.
- Age and condition of the apartment
The age and condition of an apartment can also have an impact on its cost. Expectedly, an old building will have a cheap rent when compared to a new apartment with similar facilities, size, and location.
So, whenever you are interested in renting or buying an apartment in Bangkok, you should look at the aforementioned factors. These factors will give you an idea of how much you will need to spend on your preferred apartment.
Average monthly rental costs of apartments in Bangkok
When living in Bangkok, there are numerous accommodation options you can explore. So, we will take a closer look at the varying types of apartments available in Bangkok and their average monthly rental costs.
- Basic studio rooms – 150 to 300 USD per month
In Bangkok, there are lots of studio rooms that people can rent. In most cases, studio rooms are the most affordable options for anyone that wants to rent a unit in Bangkok. A typical studio room will have a bathroom, bed, and closet without a balcony. Such an apartment will probably cost you about 150 to 300 USD per month (around 4950 to 9,900 THB). The specific cost will depend on the age, condition, and location of the building.
- Fancy studio apartment with modern facilities – around 300 to 400 USD per month
Depending on its location, a fancy studio apartment in Bangkok will cost around 300 to 400 USD (9,900 to 13,200 THB) per month. Such a studio apartment may have a wide range of facilities such as a shared swimming pool, fitness center, and lots more. The addition of some other amenities may increase the monthly rent. This type of apartment is recommended for a single person, but two individuals can manage it.
- Older 2 or 3-bedroom apartment – at least 450 USD per month
If you don’t mind renting one of the older apartments in Bangkok, you should budget a minimum of 450 USD (around 15,000 THB) per month for it. This means that you will likely pay more than this amount, but you may be able to find an apartment that is slightly cheaper than the aforementioned amount.
Notably, these older apartments are usually bigger than modern ones. Therefore, they are great for people looking for spacious apartments to stay. Unfortunately, they usually lack some of the modern facilities that you may find in modern apartments in Bangkok.
- Modern 2 or 3-bedroom apartments – at least 600 USD per month
When compared to older apartments in Bangkok, the modern ones are often smaller. However, they make up for the small size by boasting of great furnishing and nice location. In terms of convenience and comfort, they are generally better than the older units. So, you must have a monthly budget of at least 600 USD (about 20,000 THB) for a modern 2 or 3-bedroom apartment in Bangkok.
If the apartment is located close to the MRT or BTS station and has facilities such as swimming pools, gyms, etc., you should be ready to pay more for it. If the apartment is furnished and serviced, you should expect the monthly rent to be about 900 to 2,200 USD (30,000 to 75,000 THB). Such an apartment may also feature an in-house restaurant and other amazing facilities.
- Luxury penthouses and duplexes – at least 2,000 USD per month
Like other places around the globe, the costs of luxury apartments in Bangkok vary greatly. In general, the location, quality of furnishings, aesthetics, outdoor space, and other amenities are the most important factors that will determine the prices of these luxury buildings.
If you want to rent a luxury apartment in the outskirt of Bangkok, you will have to spend at least 2,000 USD (about 66,000 THB). But if the apartment is in the buzzing areas in the city, the price will increase sharply. In Sukhumvit, Phrom Phong, Lumpini, and Silom, the average monthly rent for penthouses and duplexes is usually over 3,500 USD (115,500 THB). But if you are interested in renting a serviced penthouse in the same areas with amazing views, a private swimming pool, gym, spacious parking lots, and so on, you must be ready to pay about $6,000 (198,000 THB) or more per month.
Do you want to know more about the average monthly cost of an apartment in Bangkok? Take the time to check out Airbnb.
How to find an apartment in Bangkok
Provided you understand the kind of apartment you want and have the budget for it, you need to start looking for an apartment. In Bangkok, these are the four major ways to find an apartment:
- Search online
Nowadays, you can find anything online. Therefore, if you need an apartment in Bangkok, you can search online for it. Generally, Booking.com and other websites are majorly focused on helping people to find apartments and other things. As a result of this, you can never have any issue with finding an apartment online.
It is worthwhile to note that this is one of the easiest and most comfortable options. From the comfort of your room, you can find a suitable apartment in Bangkok without much hassle. However, before paying for an apartment or signing a lease, you must make sure that that you inspect the unit in person.
- Hire an agent
If you don’t want to go through much stress when looking for an apartment in Bangkok, you should just hire the services of a real estate agent. However, you must select an agent that has a great knowledge of your preferred area. Such an agent will be able to find the best apartment for you quickly without much stress.
Notably, you need to describe your needs, preferences, and budget to the agent before they start looking for an apartment in Bangkok. However, most agents in Bangkok prefer renters that will stay for a long period in the rented apartment. So, consider this before hiring a real estate agent in the city.
- Walk around
Another option is to take a walk around the city of Bangkok and search for vacant apartments that suit your taste. However, this may not end well as you will likely waste your time and effort without finding any suitable apartment. Although this can help you to avoid agent fees and other additional charges, it may not work. Besides, if you are a foreigner, a language barrier may make it difficult for you to communicate with house owners or property managers.
- Get a recommendation from your acquaintances
The last option is to ask your acquaintances if they know of any vacant apartment you can rent in Bangkok. This is also another hit-or-miss option as your acquaintances may not be able to help you.
In conclusion, the average monthly rent of an apartment in Bangkok can range from 4,000 Thai Baht (121 USD) to 198,000 Thai Baht (6,000 USD). The major factors that will determine the actual cost have been described above in this article.
