Are you an expat newly-arrived in the great city of Bangkok? Here are some tips and tricks that will hopefully make your adjustment easier!!! You may also be interested in checking out the "Places to go" and things to do and general Thailand info sections of my website. Please note that the info provided in this section mainly pertains to the city of Bangkok.
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
Thailand Culture
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
SOCIETY
Thailand is sometimes referred to as the land of smiles because people are always smiling and friendly. Locals are very charming and tend to be somewhat private and shy, although this varies widely within the city; often the shyness quickly disappears upon a short conversation!
Three Thai words widely encompass the way Thai people interact, work, and play. These words, which can be thought of as representing the Thai way of life, are Sanook, Sabai, and Saduak. Sanook is a lifestyle that emphasizes having fun. Sanook mai (are you having fun)? If the activity is sanook, then it is worthwhile! Sabai - usually spoken in the phrase Sabai Sabai - means a relaxing, easy lifestyle and may be thought of as similar to the Swahili phrase made famous by the Lion King "hakuna matata" (no worries for the rest of your days). Finally, the lesser-known word of Saduak refers to convenience. Is eating a lunch of noodles or fried rice more convenient? We'll go for what's easier. In this way, a lifestyle that is sanook, sabai sabai, and saduak may well be considered a good life. Fairly simple and yet very straightforward.
LANGUAGE
Pasa Thai is the official language used by everyone in Thailand, although about ten regional dialects are also spoken by the respective locals. Pasa Thai uses five phonemic tones: mid, low, falling, high, rising. This causes a considerable amount of difficulty, especially for a Westerner trying to learn the language! Another item of note is that the language takes into account the sex of the speaker. A man will finish speaking a sentence using the word "krap" and woman will finish a sentence using the word "ka". When informally spoken, "krap" sounds like "cop" and "ka" like "call" without the L-sound. It's considered impolite to not complete a sentence using the sex-appropriate ending to the sentence! There are other playful ways of using these endings depending on age difference, "power" difference and closeness (from a relational perspective) between the people speaking. The Thai language is far too complicated to discuss here, but I would highly recommend working with several language partners as part of a language exchange (see "Language Exchange" under Add'l Resources below).
Several phrases
- Sawadee krap/ka = Hi, Hello
- Sabai dee mai krap/ka = How are you?
- Kob Kun krap/ka = Thank you
- Mai pen rie krap/ka = Don't worry about it, No problem
LIFESTYLE
Bangkok may well be considered a developed city, with all the modern conveniences and most Western products available at various department stores. In general, apartments don't usually have a heating system (since it's always hot) or ovens (since most Thai people use woks or pots on gas or electric burners). Gyms are widely available and personal trainers can be easily found around the city. Keep in mind that every modern convenience is available for the right price - trying to live an international lifestyle in Bangkok can be quite expensive.
CUISINE
Thai cuisine tends to be very spicy. The Thai people will typically eat rice porridge, fried rice or Thai salad for breakfast and then traditional Thai soup and rice or noodle dishes for lunch and dinner. The meals are typically served with a large spoon, fork, and a pair of chopsticks. Dishes served with normal (not sticky) rice is often expected to be eaten with the spoon as opposed to the fork, while the hand is the preferred utensil of choice for sticky rice with a grilled or fried meat. A good phrase to learn in Thailand as a Westerner is "pet nid noy", which means a little spicy, or "my pet" which means not spicy; if ordering a spicy dish from a street food vendor, ask for "my pet", since the vendor always defaults to very spicy!!
Common dishes
American Fried Rice = Thai fried rice with egg, tomato, and served with ketchup
Kao Pad = Fried rice; often served with chicken, pork, or shrimp
Kao Pad Kra Pow = Spicy basil chicken fried rice
Guay Teow = noodle dish (chicken, pork), made to order
Som Tam = Papaya salad, can be VERY spicy
Tom Yum Goong = Thai soup with shrimp; slightly spicy and delicious
Boo Pad Pong Garee = Thai Crab curry, absolutely DELICIOUS!
COST OF LIVING
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
While Thailand is still a developing country, Bangkok itself is highly developed with its own skytrain and subway systems, world-class resorts and international hospitals, and massive (modern) shopping complexes practically on every street corner. International restaurants, design-brands and modern apartment buildings fill the city and it's quite easy to live a life that is not too dissimilar to New York City - of course, on a smaller scale. Because Bangkok is still developing, there is a huge dichotomy in the city and you will find that there are people living vastly different lifestyles within walking distance of each others homes. Walk outside of an apartment building on the outskirts of the city, and you find life is vastly different from the busy offices in the downtown. Correspondingly, the lifestyle and associated costs of living can vary for expats living in Bangkok.
HOUSING RELATED
Apartments (per month)
Studio (Flat): 5,000 to 15,000 baht (170 to 500 USD)
One-bedroom: 12,000 to 25,000 baht (400 to 850 USD)
Two-bedroom: 15,000 to 35,000 baht (500 to 1,200 USD)
Utilities (per month, studio or one bedroom)
Electricity: 500 to 2,000 baht (17 to 67 USD)
Water: 100 to 300 baht (4 to 10 USD)
Communication and Entertainment (per month)
Internet Wifi: 300 to 600 baht ( 10 to 20 USD)
Cable TV: 100 to 1000 baht (4 to 35 USD)
Phone plan with internet: 600 to 1200 baht (20 to 40 USD)
*Note that cell phone prices are NOT included in plans, so be prepared to pay full price for a new phone. The cost of an unsubsidized phone will range from 6,000 to 24,000 baht (200 to 600 USD).
FOOD
Note that this varies the most out of a monthly budget. If one were to eat street food roughly every day, the monthly expenses for food would be about 6,000 baht. A mix of street food and occasionally dining out would probably come to closer to 12,000 baht per month. The cost for a single meal based on the choice of where to dine is outlined below.
Street food: 30 to 120 baht (1 to 4 USD)
Fast food: 90 to 180 baht (3 to 6 USD)
Int'l restos: 180 to 360 baht (6 to 12 USD)
Upscale Dining (hotels): 600 to 1500 baht (20 to 50 USD)
Fine Dining: 1500 - 6000 baht (50 - 200 USD)
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation costs also very widely. Buses and vans tend to be the cheapest forms of transportation, followed by the BTS and MRT, and finally the tuk tuk's and taxis. If traveling in a group, the taxis tend to be the optimal combination of cost and quickness. Below are outlined the cost of transportation per trip. A monthly BTS skytrain pass will average about 1,500 baht (50 USD) per month.
Non-air-conditioned bus: 8 baht (about 30 cents)
Air-conditioned bus: 12 baht (about 50 cents)
Tuk-Tuk: Cost negotiated with driver; can be expensive!
Taxi: Meter base cost 35 baht; price increases
MRT (subway): 15 to 60 baht (0.5 to 2 USD)
BTS (above-ground skytrain): 15 to 60 baht (0.5 to 2 USD)
SUMMARY
The end result is that, all-told, the cost of living for the average single expat living in Bangkok can range from roughly 25,000 baht (840 USD) per month to about 90,000 baht (3,000 USD) per month. At least, that is what a number of expats in various forums have indicated. If one wants to live extravagantly with a three-bedroom apartment in a nice location, monthly expenses can of course reach about 150,000 baht (5,000 USD per month). Teaching or a similar job can help with some of the expenses, but don't hope for too much in savings! Unless you're an expert in the field, the salaries in Bangkok tend to be low compared with other international locales- think 40,000 baht (1,300 USD)/month for language schools to about 90,000 baht (3,000 USD)/month teaching at a university (if you ARE that rare breed of English-speaking professional teacher with international experience, salaries can reach up to about 8,000 USD per month). Sure, the average salary may be lower, but the lifestyle tends to more than make up for this! Life in Thailand is sabai sabai (relaxing) and sanook mak (very fun)!!
MEDICAL INFORMATION
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
Medical care outside of major reputable private hospitals may be adequate but below Western international standards. Remember that Bangkok is quite developed, but Thailand as a whole is still a developing country. Bangkok has in recent years become a major destination for medical tourism; the hospitals listed below are considered among the best in Thailand. The doctors are often internationally-trained (or from abroad) and all the staff will speak a good level of English. Asia is all about service, and the level of care and consideration from the hospital staff for the patients is often of infinitely higher quality than that found in the West and yet at a far more affordable cost.
BANGKOK HOSPITALS
BNH Hospital
Contact Info: +66 (0) 2686 2700
Address: 9/1, Convent Road, Silom Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Location: Central Bangkok near BTS Sala Daeng (MRT Silom) [click here for map]
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Contact Info: +66 (0) 2667 1000 Emergency: + 66 (0) 2667 2999
Address: 33 Sukhumvit 3 (Soi Nana Nua), Wattana, Bangkok, 10110 Thailand
Location: Central Bangkok near BTS Nana [click here for map]
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
Many expats often seek for information on living overseas, and several forums commonly used for expats in Thailand are listed below. Additionally, if you are planning on staying in Thailand for any length of time, I would highly recommend you learn a bit of the language! Several language exchanges popular in Thailand - and specifically Bangkok - are also listed below. Chok dee khrap!!
Understanding Thai Society
Thai World View
General Info Forums
Ajarn Forums
Phuket Info Forums
Thai Visa Forums
Language Exchange
Conversation Exchange
My Language Exchange
-----------------------
LAST UPDATED: 2018-August-02
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
 |
| Metropolitan Bangkok |
Thailand Culture
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
SOCIETY
Thailand is sometimes referred to as the land of smiles because people are always smiling and friendly. Locals are very charming and tend to be somewhat private and shy, although this varies widely within the city; often the shyness quickly disappears upon a short conversation!
Three Thai words widely encompass the way Thai people interact, work, and play. These words, which can be thought of as representing the Thai way of life, are Sanook, Sabai, and Saduak. Sanook is a lifestyle that emphasizes having fun. Sanook mai (are you having fun)? If the activity is sanook, then it is worthwhile! Sabai - usually spoken in the phrase Sabai Sabai - means a relaxing, easy lifestyle and may be thought of as similar to the Swahili phrase made famous by the Lion King "hakuna matata" (no worries for the rest of your days). Finally, the lesser-known word of Saduak refers to convenience. Is eating a lunch of noodles or fried rice more convenient? We'll go for what's easier. In this way, a lifestyle that is sanook, sabai sabai, and saduak may well be considered a good life. Fairly simple and yet very straightforward.
-
The Thai Lifestyle in Three Words
Sanook = fun
Sabai = relaxing
Saduak = convenient
LANGUAGE
Pasa Thai is the official language used by everyone in Thailand, although about ten regional dialects are also spoken by the respective locals. Pasa Thai uses five phonemic tones: mid, low, falling, high, rising. This causes a considerable amount of difficulty, especially for a Westerner trying to learn the language! Another item of note is that the language takes into account the sex of the speaker. A man will finish speaking a sentence using the word "krap" and woman will finish a sentence using the word "ka". When informally spoken, "krap" sounds like "cop" and "ka" like "call" without the L-sound. It's considered impolite to not complete a sentence using the sex-appropriate ending to the sentence! There are other playful ways of using these endings depending on age difference, "power" difference and closeness (from a relational perspective) between the people speaking. The Thai language is far too complicated to discuss here, but I would highly recommend working with several language partners as part of a language exchange (see "Language Exchange" under Add'l Resources below).
Several phrases
- Sawadee krap/ka = Hi, Hello
- Sabai dee mai krap/ka = How are you?
- Kob Kun krap/ka = Thank you
- Mai pen rie krap/ka = Don't worry about it, No problem
LIFESTYLE
Bangkok may well be considered a developed city, with all the modern conveniences and most Western products available at various department stores. In general, apartments don't usually have a heating system (since it's always hot) or ovens (since most Thai people use woks or pots on gas or electric burners). Gyms are widely available and personal trainers can be easily found around the city. Keep in mind that every modern convenience is available for the right price - trying to live an international lifestyle in Bangkok can be quite expensive.
CUISINE
Thai cuisine tends to be very spicy. The Thai people will typically eat rice porridge, fried rice or Thai salad for breakfast and then traditional Thai soup and rice or noodle dishes for lunch and dinner. The meals are typically served with a large spoon, fork, and a pair of chopsticks. Dishes served with normal (not sticky) rice is often expected to be eaten with the spoon as opposed to the fork, while the hand is the preferred utensil of choice for sticky rice with a grilled or fried meat. A good phrase to learn in Thailand as a Westerner is "pet nid noy", which means a little spicy, or "my pet" which means not spicy; if ordering a spicy dish from a street food vendor, ask for "my pet", since the vendor always defaults to very spicy!!
Common dishes
American Fried Rice = Thai fried rice with egg, tomato, and served with ketchup
Kao Pad = Fried rice; often served with chicken, pork, or shrimp
Kao Pad Kra Pow = Spicy basil chicken fried rice
Guay Teow = noodle dish (chicken, pork), made to order
Som Tam = Papaya salad, can be VERY spicy
Tom Yum Goong = Thai soup with shrimp; slightly spicy and delicious
Boo Pad Pong Garee = Thai Crab curry, absolutely DELICIOUS!
COST OF LIVING
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
While Thailand is still a developing country, Bangkok itself is highly developed with its own skytrain and subway systems, world-class resorts and international hospitals, and massive (modern) shopping complexes practically on every street corner. International restaurants, design-brands and modern apartment buildings fill the city and it's quite easy to live a life that is not too dissimilar to New York City - of course, on a smaller scale. Because Bangkok is still developing, there is a huge dichotomy in the city and you will find that there are people living vastly different lifestyles within walking distance of each others homes. Walk outside of an apartment building on the outskirts of the city, and you find life is vastly different from the busy offices in the downtown. Correspondingly, the lifestyle and associated costs of living can vary for expats living in Bangkok.
 |
| Locals and expats enjoying live music in Lumphini Park |
HOUSING RELATED
Apartments (per month)
Studio (Flat): 5,000 to 15,000 baht (170 to 500 USD)
One-bedroom: 12,000 to 25,000 baht (400 to 850 USD)
Two-bedroom: 15,000 to 35,000 baht (500 to 1,200 USD)
Utilities (per month, studio or one bedroom)
Electricity: 500 to 2,000 baht (17 to 67 USD)
Water: 100 to 300 baht (4 to 10 USD)
Communication and Entertainment (per month)
Internet Wifi: 300 to 600 baht ( 10 to 20 USD)
Cable TV: 100 to 1000 baht (4 to 35 USD)
Phone plan with internet: 600 to 1200 baht (20 to 40 USD)
*Note that cell phone prices are NOT included in plans, so be prepared to pay full price for a new phone. The cost of an unsubsidized phone will range from 6,000 to 24,000 baht (200 to 600 USD).
FOOD
Note that this varies the most out of a monthly budget. If one were to eat street food roughly every day, the monthly expenses for food would be about 6,000 baht. A mix of street food and occasionally dining out would probably come to closer to 12,000 baht per month. The cost for a single meal based on the choice of where to dine is outlined below.
Street food: 30 to 120 baht (1 to 4 USD)
Fast food: 90 to 180 baht (3 to 6 USD)
Int'l restos: 180 to 360 baht (6 to 12 USD)
Upscale Dining (hotels): 600 to 1500 baht (20 to 50 USD)
Fine Dining: 1500 - 6000 baht (50 - 200 USD)
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation costs also very widely. Buses and vans tend to be the cheapest forms of transportation, followed by the BTS and MRT, and finally the tuk tuk's and taxis. If traveling in a group, the taxis tend to be the optimal combination of cost and quickness. Below are outlined the cost of transportation per trip. A monthly BTS skytrain pass will average about 1,500 baht (50 USD) per month.
Non-air-conditioned bus: 8 baht (about 30 cents)
Air-conditioned bus: 12 baht (about 50 cents)
Tuk-Tuk: Cost negotiated with driver; can be expensive!
Taxi: Meter base cost 35 baht; price increases
MRT (subway): 15 to 60 baht (0.5 to 2 USD)
BTS (above-ground skytrain): 15 to 60 baht (0.5 to 2 USD)
SUMMARY
The end result is that, all-told, the cost of living for the average single expat living in Bangkok can range from roughly 25,000 baht (840 USD) per month to about 90,000 baht (3,000 USD) per month. At least, that is what a number of expats in various forums have indicated. If one wants to live extravagantly with a three-bedroom apartment in a nice location, monthly expenses can of course reach about 150,000 baht (5,000 USD per month). Teaching or a similar job can help with some of the expenses, but don't hope for too much in savings! Unless you're an expert in the field, the salaries in Bangkok tend to be low compared with other international locales- think 40,000 baht (1,300 USD)/month for language schools to about 90,000 baht (3,000 USD)/month teaching at a university (if you ARE that rare breed of English-speaking professional teacher with international experience, salaries can reach up to about 8,000 USD per month). Sure, the average salary may be lower, but the lifestyle tends to more than make up for this! Life in Thailand is sabai sabai (relaxing) and sanook mak (very fun)!!
MEDICAL INFORMATION
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
Medical care outside of major reputable private hospitals may be adequate but below Western international standards. Remember that Bangkok is quite developed, but Thailand as a whole is still a developing country. Bangkok has in recent years become a major destination for medical tourism; the hospitals listed below are considered among the best in Thailand. The doctors are often internationally-trained (or from abroad) and all the staff will speak a good level of English. Asia is all about service, and the level of care and consideration from the hospital staff for the patients is often of infinitely higher quality than that found in the West and yet at a far more affordable cost.
BANGKOK HOSPITALS
BNH Hospital
Contact Info: +66 (0) 2686 2700
Address: 9/1, Convent Road, Silom Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Location: Central Bangkok near BTS Sala Daeng (MRT Silom) [click here for map]
Bumrungrad International Hospital
Contact Info: +66 (0) 2667 1000 Emergency: + 66 (0) 2667 2999
Address: 33 Sukhumvit 3 (Soi Nana Nua), Wattana, Bangkok, 10110 Thailand
Location: Central Bangkok near BTS Nana [click here for map]
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
[Thai Culture] [Cost of Living] [Medical Information] [Add'l Resources]
Many expats often seek for information on living overseas, and several forums commonly used for expats in Thailand are listed below. Additionally, if you are planning on staying in Thailand for any length of time, I would highly recommend you learn a bit of the language! Several language exchanges popular in Thailand - and specifically Bangkok - are also listed below. Chok dee khrap!!
Understanding Thai Society
Thai World View
General Info Forums
Ajarn Forums
Phuket Info Forums
Thai Visa Forums
Language Exchange
Conversation Exchange
My Language Exchange
-----------------------
LAST UPDATED: 2018-August-02
