How to move to Bangkok and why not to an island: personal experience

I have been living in Bangkok for the last 5 years. In short, I’m an artist, a designer. I am engaged in my art projects, my artistic activity has several directions, at the moment the main one of which is my jewelry brand, within which I and my small creative group create and produce collections of conceptual, stylish jewelry. My Instagram:.

Why Bangkok

Usually, everyone associates Thailand with the sea and the beach, but I live quite far from these places. There is no sea in Bangkok. This is a huge metropolis, by the way, surpassing Moscow in territory. For example, I cannot imagine how you can live for years on the island. An island is, in fact, a village with all the ensuing consequences. I love big cities, space and diversity, and Bangkok has it all. And on the islands I go on vacation with pleasure.

Before I ended up in Bangkok, I lived in Moscow. One fine morning I woke up, drank coffee and decided to leave my creative work, which was still spinning around the office, and decided to go to Bangkok. This idea turned out to be enough for me to finish all the cases, buy tickets and pack my things in a few days. I didn’t plan my trip for months and years, I didn’t prepare for it in any way, I just took it and left, having absolutely no idea how this adventure would end. I chose the city almost by chance, intuitively, and I was not mistaken.

Arriving in Bangkok, I almost immediately fell in love with this city, came for the first time and immediately stayed.

They say that those who come to Moscow from other cities will have to conquer the capital, while I had to conquer Bangkok.

Bangkok is a city to work and this is one of the reasons why I live here. Bangkok is very diverse, there are many very interesting, atmospheric places hidden here, but it is better to know in advance where you are going. In Bangkok, you can walk for an hour and not meet anything along the way.

Many foreigners come here every day, so the city has already become international: here you can see a mixture of different Asian cultures, as well as the influence of America, so Bangkok in some places is similar to Hong Kong, New York and even to Europe.

Arriving in Bangkok, at the same time you can visit China.

I really like to visit Chinatown (Yahuarat area), where the authentic spirit of China is preserved. It is the largest Chinatown in the world. Once you get there, you immediately find yourself in a completely different reality.

In addition, I am very anxious about the Arab quarter (Na-na district). It may seem strange, but I am fascinated by the Arab culture in some of its manifestations, and besides, you can taste very tasty Arabic coffee there.

What language do they speak

Not everyone in Thailand speaks English. Of course, in the tourist areas there will be no big problems with this, but if you are interested not only in standard tourist routes, if you want to discover the "real Bangkok" and deeply feel the culture of the country, in this case, without knowing at least the basic basics of the Thai language get along.

At the moment I speak Thai quite fluently, gradually learning the language while I live here. Knowledge of the Thai language opens many previously closed doors, first of all it concerns the creation of everyday comfort and avoidance of unnecessary expenses.

How much is life in Bangkok

Of course, this question cannot be answered unequivocally - everyone has their own standards, requests and capabilities. I think you can live in Bangkok on $ 300, but the quality of life will match the budget, just like in any other country and city.

If you still need to determine a budget for life, then I can advise everyone to focus on his usual budget. If a person living in Russia had a budget of $ 2,000 a month, then in Bangkok, most likely, they will have to live within the same budget, and the bonus will be a slight increase in living standards and expanding opportunities.

Rental of property

Housing prices - both for rent and for purchase - are significantly lower than in Moscow, they can be compared with prices in small Russian cities. Oddly enough, if we consider the prices in Thailand as a whole, then a lot, including real estate prices, are lower in the capital. Before I found my dream apartment, I had to go through fire, water and copper pipes. The very first apartment in Bangkok, in which I settled, as I now understand, was terrible. It was an old multi-storey building, in which, as it turned out, only a few apartments were inhabited. All in all, this house still reminds me of Japanese horror films and makes me shudder.

Further, each of my apartments became better and cheaper. This happened just as I was able to use Thai when looking for an apartment. The best offers for buying and renting an apartment are posted in Thai and are intended for Thais, which, in general, is very logical and understandable.

But even not speaking Thai, it is quite possible to find a good European-style studio with a swimming pool near the center for 20-30 thousand rubles. per month. If we are talking about Thai-style housing, then you can find options for 5-6 thousand rubles. Most likely, it will be a very small room without a kitchen, which does not differ in European comfort. But this option is for those who are not spoiled at all and are ready to know the standard of living of Thais who came to Bangkok to work from the provinces, with an average and low income.

Meals and average check per month

Surely everyone has heard of Thai street food. Thais do not have a culture of home cooking. It is much more convenient and sometimes cheaper to buy ready-made food on the street. The first year of my life in Thailand, I tasted Thai street food with interest. Besides Thai food, there are many other authentic world cuisines to be found in Bangkok, for example, I love Indian, Lebanese, Himalayan and Korean. In addition, there are many Europeans living in Bangkok who have opened their own restaurants, so you can divinely eat in an Italian, Spanish or French home restaurant. The average bill in a good authentic restaurant from the listed ones will be about 1.5 thousand rubles. for two.

Bangkok has an incredible number of restaurants and I am constantly discovering new culinary delights, even though I have not eaten meat for over 15 years. Therefore, I would like to point out that Bangkok is a gastronomic paradise for vegetarians.

Thais are very fond of cold coffee. Bangkok has a huge number of chain and small coffee houses, at every step you can buy a cup of fresh coffee.

Besides restaurants, you can of course cook at home. Prices for European products (cheese, dairy products, European vegetables, etc.) are approximately equal to those in Moscow. Usually, having thoroughly bought my usual food, I leave the supermarket with an average check of 2.5-3 thousand rubles. You can also order food delivery from any restaurant home. It's very convenient and I use it a lot when I don't have time to think about food.

At the same time, in Bangkok, you can spend very little money on food if you eat what Thais themselves usually eat. The first time I intensively studied Thai cuisine. On the street or in a Thai inexpensive restaurant, you can dine for 100-200 rubles. But now Thai food is included in my daily diet according to mood and not so often.

Transport

Bangkok has one of the cheapest and most comfortable taxis in the world. Taxis make up at least 30% of all cars on the road. So, for example, if you are on the road for 40 minutes, the taxi bill will be 100-120 rubles, all taxis go by the meter. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to rent a car in Bangkok. For me, it is a taxi that is the most convenient and frequently used means of transportation. But besides cheap taxis, Bangkok is also famous for very large traffic jams. In such cases, BTS (surface metro) and MRT (underground metro) come to the rescue. Using these train lines and combining them, you can quickly get to anywhere in the city.

In addition, there are many shuttle buses in Bangkok. There are also alternative ways of transportation - a motorbike-taxi and the so-called here-tuk. Many unafraid tourists like to use the first means of transportation, but I strongly advise against riding motorbikes either as a passenger or even more so as a driver. Many tourists, being in a state of euphoria, do not feel the danger posed by a motorbike. However, it should not be forgotten that Bangkok has one of the highest road traffic fatalities. After I personally witnessed such terrible incidents, I do not get tired of repeating that riding a motorbike is a lethal number. In addition, the cost of a trip by a motorbike taxi is the same as by a taxi.

Here-tuk is a cross between a motorbike and a taxi, a home-made car. I was lucky enough to ride this handcrafted miracle of local craftsmen only once, and it was my very first day in Bangkok. Here-tuk is, rather, not a means of transportation, but an attraction for tourists. Many are surprised to learn that a tuk-tuk ride can often cost more than an official taxi.

Internet, mobile communications

Bangkok is a huge, well-developed city, and therefore there are no problems with the Internet and communication. Almost all cafes, restaurants and shopping centers have free Wi-Fi.

In which area to stay

Bangkok has many districts, but there is no city center as such. Conventionally, the center includes:

Siam area- many large shopping centers are concentrated in this area, there is also the area of the same name.
Asok District- can be called a business center, where you can find expensive hotels or mid-priced guest houses.
Silom Sathorn Districtis an area where there are also many business centers and expensive apartments.
Khao San District - there is a notorious concentration of bars, entertainment and the cheapest guest houses. This area is suitable for lovers of parties and bars.
Nana District - the Arab quarter, where for some reason Russians like to stay.
Tong lo District - a very comfortable Japanese area with a developed infrastructure, also loved by Russian expats.

I have listed the most popular neighborhoods that are guaranteed to find a hotel or guesthouse for any budget. It is to these areas that all the roads of those who decide to live in Bangkok for some time will most likely lead. But also inexpensive guest houses can be found in almost any area.

Personally, I now live far from the listed places, in a remote area where no tourist has ever set foot, in an apartment of my dreams, the windows of which overlook the garden. But everyone's dreams are different, so I will not dare to advise my area for the reason that it will be difficult here without Thai - in my area almost no one speaks English. If someone comes to Bangkok and lives here for a couple of years, then he himself can easily decide on the best place, based on personal preferences.

Where and how to look for housing

When choosing a home, first of all, you need to pay attention to the infrastructure. Living in a remote area with no transportation can become problematic. In order to determine and make the right choice, it is best to explore several areas in person or at least through Google Street View.

A group about Bangkok in Russian, where you can find basic information, as well as sometimes find offers to rent an apartment:.

Two similar popular groups, but in English:

Visa

For Russian citizens, when entering Thailand, a free stamp for 30 days is put, that is, in Thailand you can spend a month without a visa and problems. If you want to stay longer, then you will have to resolve the visa issue. Alternatively, you can combine business with pleasure: go to language courses and get the opportunity to live in Thailand for up to 3 years without leaving the country (an annual course of English or Thai costs about 25-30 thousand rubles a year.) You can also enroll go to college or start a business.

What time of year to go

Bangkok has several seasons and is almost always equally hot. The coldest season is December-February. Perhaps this is the best time to visit Bangkok, as you can walk around the city during the day without getting heatstroke. Only at this time can you feel something similar to coolness, but this pleasure quickly ends, and the usual heat begins again. However, the heat is not a big problem, since everywhere, even in the smallest store, in a taxi or subway, there are always very powerful air conditioners. Bangkok has many picturesque parks and small bodies of water where you can walk in the shade.

There is also the rainy season, which does not bring any particular inconvenience. Tropical rains start suddenly, end quickly and dry up even faster.

There are a total of 3 seasons in Thailand. On this score, the Thais have a joke: hot season, very hot and very, very hot.

You can look in the guidebooks when the peak season starts, and vice versa - come to Bangkok during the off-season. Everything will be the same, except that you can enjoy the absence of a large number of tourists. Unlike islands and tourist spots, prices in Bangkok do not depend on the seasons.

Driver's license

If you want to, you can buy or rent a car in Bangkok, for this you need to have international license. This makes sense if you have lived in Bangkok for many years and want complete freedom of movement. In all other cases, it makes no sense to think about this question, since Asia is far from the best situation on the roads, and this can be dangerous for an unprepared person.

Circle of friends

The bulk of Russian expats live on the islands or in Pattaya, that is, in tourist places near the sea. Much fewer Russians live in Bangkok, mostly those who came here for work. Bangkok is not the best place to relax and unwind. Although here you can create any reality for yourself and live as you like. I practically have no Russian friends, mostly my friends are Thais.

Advantages and disadvantages

What is a plus for someone may turn out to be a minus for another, so in conclusion I will talk about my personal advantages, and everyone will be able to draw a conclusion for themselves.

pros

For me, a huge advantage is that Bangkok is a city for people. Inspiration soars here, there are all opportunities for the implementation of any creative ideas. You can work in the art library and sip coffee in the atmospheric Arab Quarter, and experience and experience many different cultures

Bangkok is a very interesting, dynamic, stylish city, but not everyone sees it. Someone, for example, here only feels the stench of the sewage system. Regarding smells, by the way, I can say that this is only out of habit. Over time, what is called the stench separates into many distinct and beautiful scents, such as flowers, fried rice, and exotic fruits

When it comes to everyday moments, Bangkok has everything for every request. Here you can live very cheaply and very expensively, in completely different conditions. The main thing is that Bangkok has everything to create your own comfortable world, the way you need it

Minuses

Strict visa regime when it comes to long stays. To obtain Thai citizenship, at a minimum, you will need to master the language perfectly and sing the national and royal anthems in front of the commission. Naturally, in Thai into the microphone.
If you decide to officially open a business in Thailand, then you need to be prepared for the fact that at least 5 Thais should work for one foreigner in the company. In addition, there is a large list of professions that are prohibited for foreigners.
The temperature never drops below +30 ° C.