Types and Locations | Types and Locations |
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Helping You Understand Budget Naturally, as in all places of the world, budget will determine where you live, and the quality of the facilities you rent. For the same price, the size, facilities or quality of a rental apartment inside the CBD (Central Business District) will be lower than what you will get outside. The 4 main types of housing in Bangkok are: Apartments, Condominiums, Townhouses or Shop Houses. As you may know already, the difference in a apartment and a condominium is that an apartment is in a building where all units are owned and managed by the same person or management company. A condominium is a building where the units are owned by individual, separate owners. Townhouses are houses which are connected to 1 or more other townhouses, and are usually multiple stories. Shop Houses are typically in buildings which are used for commercial trade. If you are looking to start a business of this type, you may be able to find a place which meets your needs for both living and working. Naturally, the type of home you choose will usually dictate the facilities you require: garage, yard, privacy and security. Location really is the biggest factor, as it will usually determine everything - price, size, types of facilities available, etc. At Thailand Property Search, we will recommend a property which is close to a BTS Skytrain or MRT Subway stop, especially if you will not own a vehicle (See below under "Public Transport" for more information). The major living areas of Bangkok are: CBD (Central Business District) The CBD extends from the East at Sukhumvit Soi 77 (On Nut Skytrain exit) to Sukhumvit Soi 0, and then from there to the West end of Chitlom Road. From the North, it starts at about Pratunam and then down South to Silom and Sathorn Road. This is where you will find the best, and most expensive, housing in Bangkok. Once you are outside of this area, the prices start dropping fast. Lad Prao/Ramkamhaeng If you have a car, this area can be quite good to live in, with quick access to the expressway and the rest of the city. There are plenty of restaurants, shopping and places to go out, and a large university presence (because of Assumption University). Bangkapi/Minburi Located in the far Northeast of Bangkok, this is a nice residential area, much quieter than many other places. Many upper class Thai houses with few expats. This area is not as accessible to the rest of Bangkok, especially without a car. Good shopping areas located nearby. Bang Na In this section of the Southeast of Bangkok, there are lots of great places to live spread all over this area. And there is decent access to the rest of Bangkok through expressways, and not so far from the On Nut Skytrain station. The housing in this area is far cheaper than the CBD, with more spacious rooms and houses. Rangsit/Patum Thani The far Northern part of Bangkok, this is the new suburbia. The low rental prices with larger facilities make this an attractive `option` if you do not mind the commute, or have a family and want more quiet. Nonthaburi/Muang Thong Thani This area in the Northwest of Bangkok is becoming more and more popular with expats looking for more of a country/suburb feel than the CBD. Quick and easy access to Victory Monument and Mo Chit, this is a good `option` to be just outside the city, even if you do not have a car. There are technology centers being built in the area, and some will say this is the new place to live outside of Bangkok. However, with the new airport having been built on the other side of the city, many business travelers are looking in that direction now. Bangkok has 7 major types of public transport. The easiest and fastest to use are the BTS Skytrain and the MRT Subway systems. The BTS Skytrain has been around the longest, and accesses many of the areas of Bangkok used for business and leisure. The MRT Subway is much newer, and accesses several of the same locations. However, the MRT now gives quick access from residential areas within Bangkok which used to be much more inconvenient to live in. Utilizing these forms of transportation can allow you to live in an area which can maximize your rental budget, and free up a lot of time commuting. The other types of public transportation which are readily available are taxi, motorcycle, tuk tuk, bus and boat. Initially, for most foreigners Thailand Property Search would recommend the BTS, MRT and taxis. As you become more comfortable with the Thai language and prices, the other forms of transportation will become much easier to use. |
