Bangkok, Thailand: A digital Nomad guide

Bangkok is a friendly, buzzing city checked out by millions of people each year. The low prices and abundance of terrific food also make it a popular base for digital Nomads to live and work remotely from.

We spent 2 months living in Bangkok as digital Nomads in the north part of the city and found it to be a wonderful place to base ourselves.

There are so lots of things to do in Bangkok, not to mention, wonderful restaurants! We’ve written this guide to help you if you’re planning to travel and work remotely in Thailand’s capital.

Speedy wifi?

Living the laptop lifestyle undoubtedly indicates you need a fast and reputable Internet connection wherever you decide to pitch up. So, it’s wonderful to know that the Nomad list web site scores Bangkok as ‘good’ when it pertains to Internet speed and ‘great’ for the availability of complimentary wifi across the city.

This rings true with our experience of working from the condo we rented where the speeds averaged between 10 and 15 Mbps. There was only 1 time in 2 months that the Internet was cut off, but this was due to an upgrade for the entire building and lasted less than 24 hours. It was a welcome excuse to trot off and explore the local area.

Pretty much all of the coffee shops and restaurants we checked out in our local area and downtown used complimentary wifi. Obviously, you’ll need to be careful when using these open public connections as with anywhere, so read up on staying safe while using your laptop or smartphone when out and about.

Living in Bangkok: Which District?

Coming back to Bangkok with the intent of staying there for a few months, we started to research areas of the city we might like to live in. We wanted somewhere away from the expensive touristy or service areas but with good carry links into the centre and respectable food options.

We would recommend getting a day ticket for the BTS Skytrain (Green Lines) or the MRT (Blue Line) and jump off at stations as you head out from the downtown area. This way you swiftly get a feel for the different areas of the city and can see what local amenities are close by.

☞ planning to travel to other areas in Thailand? check out our things to do in Pai and things to do in Koh Phangan posts.

The area north of the victory Monument is popular with local hipsters and expats alike, getting more affordable the additionally north you go. Heading southeast or southwest (across the Chao Phraya River) from the centre you’ll also find plenty of terrific areas including the popular On Nut and Bang Chak areas.

Accommodation options and costs

Once you’ve sourced out the area you’d like to live in, it’s time to find yourself a room, apartment or condo or house. In recent years there has been an explosion of condo (large serviced apartment or condo buildings), being built across Bangkok alongside the older ‘low rise’ apartments.

These both make a terrific option for renting and we found the best line of inquiry was to simply chat to the receptionist or safety guard and ask if there were any apartments for rent in the building.

At some buildings, they will show you around then and there, whilst others will give you the contact details of the local agents. Either way, it won’t take long to build up a list of places to ponder over.

Most landlords will be trying to find a minimum stay of 3 months plus a deposit or 2 months rent upfront as insurance. If you are looking, as we were, for a shorter stay consider AirBnB or a similar letting site to avoid the hassle of deposits and contracts.

We paid around $430 per month for a 1 bedroom condo in the Bang sue area in northern Bangkok with all bills included plus access to the onsite pool. Be aware that lots of condos are clamping down on short-term lettings so check with the owner that the providing is legitimate!

If renting directly, expect to pay from around $300 per month including bills for a basic apartment or condo and a little a lot more for somewhere newer with an onsite pool, gym, cafe and shop. 

Remember to check exactly what’s included before agreeing to rent anywhere. electrical energy is low-cost but the bills can soon mount up if you stay in all day working away with the aircon on full blast!

☞ SEE ALSO:

Best things To do in Bangkok – Our top 13!

Things To do in Chiang Mai – Don’t miss These 17 Things

Backpacking Thailand – The utmost travel Guide

Places To check out in Thailand – Our top 15 Picks

Things To do in Thailand – These Are The top 25!

Food and Drink

One of the main reasons we chose Bangkok as our digital nomad base was the abundance of tasty yet low-cost food. even in the centre of the city it’s easy to find a delicious meal for less than $2 and the prices normally drop as you head away from downtown area.

Renting an apartment or condo normally gives you a small kitchen area to prepare some basic dishes to keep costs down further. We lived on packet noodles mixed with a few veggies and treated ourselves to a meal out every few days.

This kept our living expenses to below $300 a month which could be even less if we had shopped at the local fresh food market more.

There are various supermarkets scattered around Bangkok including Tesco Lotus and our favorite, big C, beneficial for grabbing the essentials. also you never seem to be a lot more than 100 meters away from a 7-Eleven comfort store, helpful for a quick snack or emergency toiletries.

Coffee, the fuel of lots of laptop folk, is also easy to come by anywhere in Bangkok. A cup of joe costs under $1 from a lot of street vendors and from $1.50 in coffee shops. The popular Thai iced tea is a few cents more affordable and makes a great alternative refreshment, available on nearly ever street in the city.

Visas restrictions

At the time of writing the ruling party of Thailand seems keen to cut down on the so-called ‘visa runs’ where visitors take a day trip over the nearest border and back to extend their stay. So our recommendations would be to get a 2 month Thai Visa in development from an embassy which must cost around $55.

This can then be extended in Bangkok for 1 a lot more month for an additional fee, giving you a 90 day stay in total. contact your local embassy for longer stays and be aware that the policies and requirements are changing all the time.

For a lot more on being a digital Nomad, check out these articles:

A digital Nomad guide to Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand

A digital Nomad guide to Living in Malta

Mexico: The utmost digital Nomad spot for North Americans

Essential Time-Saving Upgrades Every digital Nomad must Consider

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