The city that never stops
Bangkok is the entry point for almost everyone, and for many it's also the final destination. It's the only city in Thailand with a proper metro system, the one with the best hospitals in Southeast Asia, and the one with a Spanish consulate — a detail nobody appreciates until they need to renew a passport.
Life here is vertical: condos with a rooftop pool, a gym on the 30th floor and a 7-Eleven downstairs. Flat turnover is huge, so you'll find a place faster here than anywhere else in the country. It's the city we recommend to anyone coming to work, anyone who wants everything within reach, and anyone who can't stand the idea of getting bored.
What it costs to live
Budget for one person to live well in Bangkok, at 2026 prices (38 ฿ per euro). What really changes from one profile to another is rent; everything else stays similar however you live. These are the same numbers the calculator gives you:
| Each month | Tight | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (35 m² studio, modest vs. standard) | 13,680 ฿ | 19,000 ฿ |
| Food and groceries | 9,500 ฿ | 9,500 ฿ |
| Transport (BTS, MRT, Grab) | 7,600 ฿ | 7,600 ฿ |
| Power, water, fibre and phone | 2,400 ฿ | 2,400 ฿ |
| Private health insurance | 1,900 ฿ | 1,900 ฿ |
| Leisure and travel | 18,500 ฿ | 18,500 ฿ |
| Total | ≈ 1.410 € | ≈ 1.550 € |
As a couple, costs don't double: rent is shared and the per-head figure drops. With kids, school fees dominate everything else (numbers below). For your specific case, the calculator breaks it down live: city, who's moving and standard of living.
Neighbourhoods to look at
Bangkok is huge, but expat life concentrates along a few corridors, nearly all next to the BTS. Total monthly spend ranges by area:
| Area | Cost/month | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sukhumvit (Asok-Phrom Phong) | 1,450-2,200 € | The classic expat area: everything, at any hour |
| Silom / Sathorn | 1,400-2,000 € | Professionals; the financial district |
| Ari | 1,350-1,800 € | Nomads and creatives; cafes and calm |
| Thonglor / Ekkamai | 1,700-2,800 € | The premium area; brunch and rooftops |
| On Nut / Phra Khanong | 1,300-1,700 € | Smart pricing with a direct BTS line |
| Ratchada / Lat Phrao | 1,250-1,550 € | Lower budget, local feel |
Finding a flat (and dodging the traps)
The Thai standard is a 12-month contract with two months' deposit and one month upfront: for a 25,000 ฿ flat you need 75,000 ฿ (≈ 1,970 €) on signing day. Contracts come in Thai or in hastily translated English.
- The electricity trap: some buildings charge for power at 7-8 ฿ per unit when the official rate is around 4.5 ฿. In an air-conditioned condo that's 40-60 € extra a month. Ask before signing, not after.
- Deposits go missing more often than they should: photograph the whole flat on move-in day, in writing, or that 2019 scratch will end up being yours.
- Negotiating works: on 12-month contracts it's normal to shave off 5-10 % or get wifi thrown in. In low season, more.
This is exactly step 4 of what we do: we view flats with you, negotiate and translate the contract before you sign anything.
With kids: schools
Bangkok has the largest choice of international schools in Asia — and also the most expensive in the country. The big British and American names — Bangkok Patana, NIST, ISB, Shrewsbury, Harrow — cost 500,000 to 900,000 ฿ a year (13,000-23,000 €) per child. There's an intermediate tier of small bilingual and international schools between 200,000 and 400,000 ฿ that many Spanish families never even look at because nobody shows them. In the guide to moving with kids we compare prices city by city.
First-rate healthcare
Bangkok's private hospitals — Bumrungrad, Samitivej, Bangkok Hospital, Vejthani — rank among the best in Asia: English-speaking doctors, zero waiting lists and hotel-level service. A specialist consultation without insurance costs 1,000-1,500 ฿ (26-39 €). Decent private health insurance for a 35-year-old adult runs about 60-150 € a month depending on coverage and age. More detail in the healthcare and insurance guide.
Getting around: BTS, MRT and the river
You live without a car here, and it's better that way. The BTS (elevated) and MRT (underground) cover the expat areas for 17-62 ฿ a ride; the Chao Phraya ferries cost 15-30 ฿ and are the city's best-kept secret; Grab (the local Uber) handles the last mile. The golden rule: live within a 10-minute walk of a station and Bangkok is easy; live far from the BTS and the city turns into an uphill slog.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The best healthcare in Southeast Asia.
- Metro + BTS: the only city where a scooter isn't mandatory.
- More flats on offer and faster turnover: you find one quickly.
- Spanish consulate and the largest expat community.
- Practically endless dining and nightlife.
Cons
- Legendary traffic: car journeys drag on forever.
- Mediocre air during dry season (Feb-Apr).
- The most expensive city in the country alongside Phuket.
- No beach: the closest one is 2-3 hours away.
- The humid heat never lets up.
Is Bangkok for you?
Yes, if you work (in person or remotely), want everything within reach, or you're moving with a medical schedule to keep. Think twice if your plan is beach and quiet: that's what Hua Hin or Koh Samui are for, and if you're after low cost and local life, Chiang Mai plays in a different price league.
- Chiang MaiThe budget alternative · living well 1.150 €/month
- PhuketThe island that has it all · living well 1.450 €/month
- Compare all 5 citiesThe full table
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need per month?
To live well, around 1.550 € for one person (central condo, food, transport, insurance and leisure). On a tighter budget it drops to ~1.410 €; a luxury flat pushes it up to ~1.825 €. Above that you're into Thonglor, Western restaurants and spending on leisure without checking the price.
Can you live without a car?
Yes, and it's the sensible choice. BTS and MRT cover the expat areas (17-62 ฿ per ride), the river ferries cost 15-30 ฿ and Grab handles the rest. A car here is more trouble than it's worth.
Where do Spaniards live?
Most along the Sukhumvit corridor (Asok-Phrom Phong-Thonglor), in Sathorn/Silom for work, and in Ari or On Nut when price matters more. These are the areas with the most condos, metro access and English-language services.