Jia and I recently completed our first month as digital nomads in Bangkok, Thailand. Honestly, we were blown away by the quality you get when living in Bangkok for $1,000 a month.
This was one of the most affordable, high-quality major cities that we’ve ever been to, and absolutely a location we’d recommend to any new digital nomads about to start their journey abroad.
Rent: $700
This is the best part of living in Bangkok for $1,000 a month BY FAR. This is the one city in the world where you can get an absolutely world-class apartment for the price of a rat-infested studio back in the West.
Our apartment had sweeping views of the river, two rooftop lounges, an infinity pool, an onsen, a sauna, and even a 24/7 private gym. I’ve never lived in such luxury, and certainly never so cheaply.
Food: $400
This is a category that we’re always going to splurge on, especially in a place like Bangkok, Thailand. When there’s good food, cheap delivery, and endless 24/7 options, we’re going to take advantage of it.
One of the best parts about being in Bangkok is the availability and affordability of delivery through Grab Food. We ended up ordering Bonchon Korean fried chicken two or three times a week and regret nothing.
Another major thing we spent on in this category was Tichuca Rooftop bar. Sure, it’s a little expensive (but still not bad, just typical Chicago drink prices) but it was 100% worth it, and probably the most fun thing we did while living in Bangkok for $1,000 a month.
Activities: $100
The biggest thing you’re going to want to spend on activity-wise in Bangkok is the entrance fees to the various temples scattered throughout the city. They’re all so beautiful and one of the highlights of any trip to the country.
Outside of temple-hopping, our favorite thing to do in Bangkok (or any place we’re at, to be honest) was just go outside, pick a direction, and walk until we couldn’t anymore. This is one of thee best ways to explore a city and find new things, and it’s also how we stumbled across this beautiful secret Chinese mansion.
Transportation: $125
Perhaps the only thing I’d consider “overpriced” about Bangkok is its transportation options. Sure, if you book a taxi through Grab it’s cheap (especially if it’s a moto-taxi, but that’s a no-go for two people) but it’s hardly convenient.
It takes well over an hour to cross town in a car, so the two main train lines are usually the best ways to go. On paper, this sounds great, but in actuality, it’s a major pain to deal with on a daily basis.
I’ve never lived in a city that has two public transport systems that aren’t connected at all. You can’t even use the same cards.
Additionally, the cost was much higher than you’d expect for a city with an average income like Bangkok. The cost-per-trip on the Sky Train (BTS) is much higher than Chicago, Tokyo, and CDMX, which is crazy, if you think about it.
Of course, this isn’t an issue for most digital nomads, but it makes me sad for the locals, the people who need good, reliable public transportation most.
Visas: $0
Because we were staying in the country for under 30 days, we didn’t need a visa. We just got off the plane, went through immigration, and were on our way. Very painless, and very cheap.
This makes Thailand a great contender for a short-term trip. If you’ve got under a month in Southeast Asia, I honestly can’t think of a better option.
