Guide

Housing in Bangkok

Finding a place to live, from your first week in a serviced apartment to signing a long-term lease.

Where to Start

→ Read our apartment hunting guide for a step-by-step breakdown of the process, lease terms, red flags, and typical move-in costs.
→ Book one to two weeks in a serviced apartment or Airbnb first. Do not sign a long-term lease before you have spent time in a neighborhood.
→ Serviced apartments are the best short-term option. Fully furnished, utilities included, no deposit. Expect 30,000 to 60,000 THB per month.
→ Facebook groups like Bangkok Expats and Bangkok Condo and Apartment Rentals are where most real deals are posted by landlords directly.
→ Do not rush. Bangkok has a huge supply of apartments and landlords are rarely in a hurry. Take two weeks to look around properly.

→ Standard leases are 12 months. Some landlords offer 6-month leases at a slightly higher monthly rate.
→ Deposits are almost always two months rent, paid upfront alongside the first month.
→ Utilities (electricity, water) are usually billed separately and can be higher than you expect. Ask for recent bills before signing.
→ Most Thai landlords do not include a break clause. If you leave early, you typically lose your deposit.
→ Get everything in writing, including the inventory of furniture and any agreed repairs. Photos on move-in day protect you.

→ DDproperty and Hipflat are the main listing sites. Hipflat has better filters and shows price history.
→ Facebook Marketplace and Bangkok expat groups often have private landlord listings without agency fees.
→ PropertyScout is a newer platform with vetted listings and English-speaking agents.
→ Agencies charge one month commission, usually paid by the landlord. If an agent asks you to pay, negotiate.
→ Walking the streets in your target neighborhood and looking for For Rent signs still works and finds unlisted units.

→ Test every tap, shower, and toilet. Water pressure issues are common in older buildings.
→ Check the air conditioning units. Servicing costs fall on the tenant in most leases.
→ Look at the elevator wait times during peak hours. A slow elevator in a 30-floor building is miserable.
→ Check mobile signal and ask about the internet provider. Not all buildings have fiber options.
→ Ask about the soi's flooding history. Bangkok is flat and some side streets flood badly during rainy season. Drain fast or drain slow is a real quality-of-life difference.
→ Visit at night as well as daytime. Noise levels, lighting, and the feel of the area change significantly.

→ Sukhumvit (Asok, Phrom Phong, Thong Lo): 20,000 to 50,000 THB per month for a 1-bedroom.
→ Ari and Saphan Khwai: 15,000 to 35,000 THB per month. Better value with a similar quality of life.
→ Silom and Sathorn: 18,000 to 40,000 THB per month. Slightly cheaper than upper Sukhumvit.
→ Lad Phrao and Chatuchak: 10,000 to 25,000 THB per month. Significantly cheaper, more local.
→ Riverside and Charoenkrung: 20,000 to 45,000 THB per month. Trendy but less convenient for BTS access.

→ Most Bangkok condos aimed at expats come fully furnished. Unfurnished units are rarer and usually cheaper.
→ If you take an unfurnished unit, IKEA Thailand is in Bangna (end of the BTS line). Index Living Mall and HomePro are alternatives.
→ Negotiate furniture into furnished units if anything looks worn. Landlords will often replace a mattress or sofa before you sign.
→ Do not buy large furniture if you are not sure how long you will stay. Selling it when you leave is painful.

→ Airbnb works in Bangkok but monthly rates are often higher than direct lease prices.
→ Oakwood, Ascott, and Fraser Suites offer serviced apartments on flexible terms. More expensive but zero hassle.
→ Some condo owners rent month-to-month through agents. Expect a 10 to 20% premium over the annual rate.
→ Co-living spaces have appeared in Bangkok and are good for the first month while you find your neighborhood.