The Bangkok (Thailand) Digital Nomad & Remote Working Guide

When it comes to finding places to enjoy the digital nomad life, one of the top places on your list to consider should be Bangkok, Thailand.

This vibrant city is visited by millions of people every year and offers a great living experience, cheap prices, and an exciting new way to enjoy living. It’s so good that NomadList, the crowdsourced database of cities around the world, ranks it at #3 for nomads. So if you’re considering spending some time in Krung Thep, read on for our exclusive guide for being a digital nomad in The Big Mango.

What’s so great about Bangkok for Digital Nomads & Remote Work?
Where to live in Bangkok as a Digital Nomad?
Where to work in Bangkok as a Remote Based Professional?
Where to network with other remote based professionals in Bangkok?
What type of Digital Nomad is Bangkok for?

1. What’s so great about Bangkok for digital nomads & remote professionals?

Let’s get into the nitty gritty here. Before you take the time and expense to move somewhere, you need to know that it has the things you’re looking for. Luckily, Bangkok has a lot going for it in terms of the nomad lifestyle, as well as being widely acknowledged as a life-changing tourist destination.

Internet availability

Obviously, the first thing that you need in order to keep your hustle going is access to quality internet. In general, Bangkok offers an average internet speed of 27 Mbps, so while it’s not the fastest in the world, you’ll find it more than sufficient for accessing your daily needs. You’ll also find around the city that it’s easy to access decent Wi-Fi for free.

The Weather

Bangkok is famous for having the kind of stable subtropical weather that makes it comfortable enough to relax in, without too many crazy extremes of weather. April is the hottest month in Bangkok with an average temperature of 87°F, and the coldest is December at 79°F. September is the rainiest month by far, although the season runs from May to September. Which doesn’t mean it rains all the time, instead it has a tendency to come in patches of rain.

Language

Language lovers amongst us should know that the official language of Bangkok is Thai, which is unsurprisingly the national language of Thailand too. However, for those who find it tricky to learn new tongues, most people in Bangkok will also understand and speak English to some degree.

Safety

The city is relatively safe but is also a huge and bustling city with a wide number of tourists. Because of this, pickpockets and bag snatchers are aplenty, so always be careful with your possessions. When it comes to staying safe, most of all you want to watch out for the drivers – the roads here are more chaotic than a lot of Westerners are used to, and it’s important to be on the alert for vehicles.

Cost of Living

The official currency in Thailand is the Baht (THB), and $1 = ฿33. Importantly you will need to make sure you have cash, as many places will not take cards.

Bangkok has a reputation for being a cheap and easy place to live. Delicious food is easy to access, with famous Thai street food costing around ฿200 for a full meal. Even in the center, you’ll find it easy to eat cheaply and well.

The city has an abundance of supermarkets scattered around. Check out Tesco Lotus, or Big C. To give you a rundown of average monthly costs:

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre: ฿12,000 – ฿35,000
Coworking space (daily): ฿300
Water (1l): ฿20
Train Pass (monthly): ฿1100
Coffee: ฿80 -฿120
Beer (500ml): ฿50
Gym membership (monthly): ฿1,200 – ฿3,2000
Cinema: ฿180 -฿250
Cigarettes: ฿120

Transportation

The traffic in Bangkok has a reputation for being terrible, but there are ways around this. The Skytrain (BTS) and underground (MRT) rail systems are helpful for getting around the major areas of the city.

There are taxis as well as water taxis, which is particularly helpful if you want to visit any tourist spots. In general, taxis are cheap and appear around the clock. They are also safer and more comfortable than taking Tuk-tuks.

2. Where to live in Bangkok as a digital nomad?

When it comes to renting a place, a landlord will typically be looking for a three-month minimum stay, with a deposit of two months rent for insurance. Like everywhere, AirBnBs are relatively numerous, and there are always the options to stay in a hotel.

Facebook groups exist to find short-term lettings so you can find places where landlords are looking for tenants. There has been a bit of a crackdown on renting apartments, so make sure that where you’re staying is legit. For digital nomads, there are also Facebook groups where you can ask fellow nomads for advice and tips and tricks on where to stay, take a look at Bangkok Apartments & Condos For Rent or Agoda.

Additionally, some of the best areas to live are:

The Victory Monument area in the north is known to be the home to hipsters and ex-pats. Head south-east or south-west to the popular areas of On Nut and Bang Chak.
The Ratchatewi area is nice for those looking for convenience since it has many shopping malls and fast food restaurants.
Areas around the BTS Skytrain (Green Line), the MRT (Blue Line) stations are known to be good, as well as the area around the Chatuchak Park, as it has the biggest weekend markets in Thailand, and is also well connected.
Bang Sue is highly affordable with 1 bedroom condos costing $450 a month.

3. Where to work in Bangkok as a remote based professional?

When it comes to getting your work done, the good news is that most coffee shops and restaurants offer free wifi. Be careful when it comes to taking your laptop and gear out with you, and watch out for pickpockets though. If you prefer a coworking to also network with other digital nomads and remote based as well as local professionals, there are also many options such as:

Hubba, One of the best known coworking spaces. Open 24 hours a day, five days a week, you can rent a desk space for around ฿300 a day, or ฿3000 a month. Discovery Hubba is located on the 4th floor of Siam Discovery, near the National Stadium BTS stop.
The Hive is located in the Thonglor area, about 5 minutes away from the Thonglor BTS station. With 5 floors including a rooftop cafe, a daily pass to The Hive is ฿350 or ฿3,000 Baht per month, although they also offer up discounts for startups, entrepreneurs, and charities.
Kliquedesk is based in the T. Shinawatra Thai Silk Building, close to the Nana BTS station. It offers high-speed Wi-Fi, free parking and ergonomic chairs and it costs around ฿300 a day, or ฿3600 a month.

4. Where to network with other digital nomads in Bangkok?

There are a few digital nomads meet ups and groups included in both Facebook as well as Meetup, where you can find the most important local based events, as well as opportunities to chat with other digital nomads in Bangkok. Take a look at:

Additionally, visiting a co-working space such as Hubba, The Hive and Kliquedesk will allow you to meet and mingle with other nomads based in Bangkok too.

TL;DR: What type of Digital Nomad is Bangkok for?

Bangkok is right for you and your nomad needs if:

You want to live in a big city

You’re a foodie and want to make sure that you can afford to enjoy delicious treats

You want to live in an easy climate

You want to tap into a high-tech and affordable nomad accessible world

Flying to Bangkok soon?

If you haven’t yet bought your flight to Bangkok you can do it with Kiwi to Bangkok or with Cheap Airline Deals! Take up to $50 off with Promo Code AIR50 at a really good price! Also you should check Momondo.

If you need help with the visa to travel here, we recommend you check out the iVisa services to process it.

Check out these other Digital Nomads & Remote work Guides

If you’re only just starting out on your digital nomad journey, you’ll find lots more handy tips and advice in our How To’s as well as places to live (aka, city) guides.

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The Bangkok (Thailand) Digital Nomad & Remote Working Guide