How’s life living in Bangkok?
Bangkok serves as Thailand’s administrative center. About 14 million people call this massive coastal metropolis home. It covers an area of 600 square miles.
There is a wide variety of people from different backgrounds residing in the city, as well as at its many restaurants, shopping centers, museums, businesses, etc.
If you’re a foreigner, Bangkok is a safe and inexpensive place to call home.
Since you need a work permit or to be married to a Thai citizen in order to remain in the country permanently, most visitors to Thailand come to the teaching profession.
From Bangkok, it’s a breeze to reach neighboring Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
How do I go about starting a new life in Bangkok? Best Visa option?
- You can volunteer to work for a charity, it basically requires 2 hours a day of work.
- You can learn Thai, Muay Thai, Self Defence, or other courses that are eligible under an Education Visa and live for up to 1 year.
- You can work part-time or full-time in a Thai company
- OR the classic, teach English haha.
Is Bangkok Safe?
Bangkok is probably safer than America as a whole. In the last 3 years, I personally have never faced any threat from locals and have never even seen a gun with a normal citizen roaming around. It’s extremely safe.
What should you carry/pack when you’re moving to Bangkok?
Bangkok is a huge city and you’ll get almost everything you need there. From western clothes to traditional clothes of countries like India, Bangkok has it all.
In general, make sure you pick all your essentials and that’s it. You’d probably get the majority of stuff cheaper in Thailand compared to your own country – it would be a different case if you’re not from the west though.
Don’t bother about packing any food items too – you’ll be sorted in Thailand, it’s a food haven.
Cost of living in Bangkok
You could live a very decent life for about $1,500/mo
This includes
- A condo for 15k baht/mo with pool, gym, and security in a little outer part of the town
- Transport
- Food
- Co-working space costs
It’s definitely insanely affordable if you’re moving from the US or central UK.
Food in Bangkok, Thailand
The food is awesome. You’ll love it. Not only Thai but you have insanely good Korean, Vietnamese, and Indian restaurants. I’m skipping western as it’s obvious to have western restaurants in any country haha. You have dishes that sell for as low as $1/0.7 quid
Transport in Thailand
Taxis, motorbike taxis, the sky train, and the metro are all relatively inexpensive options. Tuk-tuk drivers typically demand a higher fare.
Shopping Groceries
Thailand’s capital is a great place to do your weekly grocery shopping.
Fresh fruits and veggies can be purchased for pennies at local markets, whereas you’ll pay US rates at the supermarkets in the Central shopping mall.
Shopping for Clothing
You can go back to the local markets to buy apparel and accessories, where shirts cost as little as $2.
You can also visit the high-end shopping centers where you can find stores like Sephora, Gucci, Michael Kors, and Coach, among many others.
Bangkok, Thailand’s Tax System
You might have to pay taxes if you have a certain employment, but you might not if you don’t. In public institutions, the government usually foots the bill for your taxes.
Taxes, which might range from 10% to 20% of your annual compensation, are typically withheld from salaries in international schools.
This may sound like a lot, but if you pay taxes in Thailand, you can avoid paying them again in the your country UNLESS you’re from USA.