Bangkok: The digital nomad’s No.1 destination, says survey

[snoop1130]

 

Bangkok earned the prestigious title of top city for digital nomads worldwide, according to a recent survey conducted by CommercialSearch, a renowned platform specializing in working and co-working spaces. The bustling metropolis outshone all its competitors in this year’s rankings of the Best Cities for Digital Nomads.

 

CommercialSearch’s evaluation process involved assessing cities globally with populations exceeding 400,000 residents and completing data in all their metrics. From this comprehensive list, 57 cities emerged as the top contenders, with only one city selected from each country, ensuring a diverse set of large, well-connected urban centres that present outstanding choices for those embracing the digital nomad lifestyle. Affordability, Internet speed, coworking costs, fun factor, and safety were the key factors considered for the rankings.

 

Bangkok’s claim to fame lies in its all-round affordability, combined with stellar performance in the rest of CommercialSearch’s indicators.

 

In terms of cost, a low-season hotel room in Bangkok averages US$51 (1,750 baht), making it the fifth-most affordable among all the cities on the list. Additionally, the Thai capital boasts the fourth and sixth lowest average meal and coworking membership costs, respectively. Internet speed is not a concern either, with the city ranking fifth among all study locations, boasting an impressive 225 MB/s.

 

Bangkok’s allure lies in its perfect blend of affordability, entertainment, and ease of access. Digital nomads can reside in the city using a renewable travel visa every three months. Areas like Salom and downtown Bangkok are teeming with both businessmen to network with and trendy coworking spaces for those seeking a change of scenery.

 

By Bob Scott

Caption: Picture courtesy of Booking.com

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/bangkok/bangkok-the-digital-nomads-no-1-destination-says-survey

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-08-01

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

[bignok]

10 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

terms of cost, a low-season hotel room in Bangkok averages US$51 (1,750 baht),

I paid 1100 baht for a mid range room last month.

 

Who does this research?

 

CM has 8,000 baht a month hotel rooms in Old City.

[pacovl46]

How can it be the best when you can’t get a work permit as a digital nomad?! 

[NorthernRyland]

The best city to work illegally according to many people who post here.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, pacovl46 said:

How can it be the best when you can’t get a work permit as a digital nomad?! 

Under the radar

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Bangkok earned the prestigious title of top city for digital nomads worldwide,

Nomads meaning they come to Bangkok as a short stay hop before moving on.

Contributing virtually nothing to Thailand.

[oobar]

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Nomads meaning they come to Bangkok as a short stay hop before moving on.

Contributing virtually nothing to Thailand.

Sort of like tourists, who make up 20% of the economy, which is a bit of something.

[NorthernRyland]

32 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Nomads meaning they come to Bangkok as a short stay hop before moving on.

Contributing virtually nothing to Thailand.

What planet are you living on this is literally the exact kind of people they want.

[bignok]

32 minutes ago, oobar said:

Sort of like tourists, who make up 20% of the economy, which is a bit of something.

Be more in Phuket.

[hotchilli]

1 minute ago, NorthernRyland said:

What planet are you living on this is literally the exact kind of people they want.

So why is it  impossible to get a work permit as a "digital nomad" on a short stay holiday visa?

Or is this another "turn the blind eye" as the revenue covers all?

[NorthernRyland]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

So why is it  impossible to get a work permit as a "digital nomad" on a short stay holiday visa?

Or is this another "turn the blind eye" as the revenue covers all?

They don't offer it. If they want to tax tourists who work on laptops they can setup a formal visa and make them apply. Until then they're just another tourist but instead of brining in all their money they earn it while they're in the country. No victims and Thailand gets revenue through their spending.  I fail to see any problem with this.

[Spock]

13 hours ago, bignok said:

I paid 1100 baht for a mid range room last month.

 

Who does this research?

 

CM has 8,000 baht a month hotel rooms in Old City.

I have stayed in 3 Bangkok hotel/apartments at this price in the last month.

[stigar]

allways on the top of something..im amazed 

[hotchilli]

32 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

They don't offer it. If they want to tax tourists who work on laptops they can setup a formal visa and make them apply. Until then they're just another tourist but instead of brining in all their money they earn it while they're in the country. No victims and Thailand gets revenue through their spending.  I fail to see any problem with this.

I'm not saying there is a problem... I'm just saying

[IamNoone88]

This is news?

[rumeaug]

Oh really. Well i guess they all have their own whimsical ways to conduct surveys. last week,s resullts were Portugal (A Survey Reveals Portugal as the Best Country For Digital Nomads (timeout.com))

 Portugal actually opened the world’s first digital nomad village on February 1, 2021, on the Maderia Islands. 

For anyone who has visited portugal a few times, i am not surprised. Gorgeous place, very nice people and a great way of life at a very moderate cost.

[rumeaug]

....Living and working in Bangkok for 10 years now (yes, with a work permit ????....) . As much as i enjoy the city, Bangkok is certainly not the place i would go to or recommend if i were a digital nomad.

Plenty of waaaaay cheaper and gazillion times more stunning places to go. 

[bkk_mike]

5 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

How can it be the best when you can’t get a work permit as a digital nomad?! 

You can get a visa as a digital nomad. For which you don't need a work permit. As (by definition), you're not working for a Thai firm.

[outsider]

53 minutes ago, bkk_mike said:

You can get a visa as a digital nomad. For which you don't need a work permit. As (by definition), you're not working for a Thai firm.

Hi, a friend is interested in this but not sure where she can get more info. Can you please point me in the direction where we can get this 'digital nomad' visa, or does the usual visa-on-arrival also double as a 'digital nomad' visa? Thanks.

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, stigar said:

allways on the top of something..im amazed 

T's the hub, hub, boost, boost that does it????

[bkk_mike]

2 hours ago, outsider said:

Hi, a friend is interested in this but not sure where she can get more info. Can you please point me in the direction where we can get this 'digital nomad' visa, or does the usual visa-on-arrival also double as a 'digital nomad' visa? Thanks.

https://nomadsembassy.com/thailand-digital-nomad-visa/

It's not a visa on arrival as you need to prove income for the last two years, etc.

[off road pat]

22 hours ago, bignok said:

I paid 1100 baht for a mid range room last month.

 

Who does this research?

 

CM has 8,000 baht a month hotel rooms in Old City.

Hm,...I know of 6000, 7000 thb,...good rooms, good central location as well,...monthly rent

[mrfill]

A 'renowned platform' - so renowned, nobody has heard of it....

[pacovl46]

18 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Under the radar

Doesn't count in my book! 

[pacovl46]

14 hours ago, bkk_mike said:

You can get a visa as a digital nomad. For which you don't need a work permit. As (by definition), you're not working for a Thai firm.

You mean like a tourist visa? 

 

I'd like to stay permanently and do my digital thing. I'd even be willing to pay taxes, but that's unfortunately not possible and therefore Thailand can't be the best for digital nomads in my book. 

[save the frogs]

16 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

 

I'd like to stay permanently and do my digital thing. I'd even be willing to pay taxes, but that's unfortunately not possible and therefore Thailand can't be the best for digital nomads in my book.

No, it's not.

Most folks on this fourm only want to stay in thailand, but a lot of other countries have much better options for digital nomads.

Bermuda has one of the best - a one year digital nomad visa with no minimum income requirements. 

 

 

[pacovl46]

3 hours ago, save the frogs said:

No, it's not.

Most folks on this fourm only want to stay in thailand, but a lot of other countries have much better options for digital nomads.

Bermuda has one of the best - a one year digital nomad visa with no minimum income requirements. 

 

 

Sounds tempting, but the triangle might become an issue! ????

 

Can the visa in Bermuda be renewed annually indefinitely? 

Edited August 2, 2023 by pacovl46

[ChaiyaTH]

I'm not a digital nomad but of the generation and also happen to be in the Internet world but as far I know most digital nomads have chosen Bali since years already by now, aside of Vietnam as well. Most co-working spaces around the country seem empty too.

[save the frogs]

18 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

Sounds tempting, but the triangle might become an issue! ????

 

Can the visa in Bermuda be renewed annually indefinitely? 

Not sure.

you can have a look at the official website. 

https://forms.gov.bm/WFB

 

 

[save the frogs]

25 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

Sounds tempting, but the triangle might become an issue! ????

 

Can the visa in Bermuda be renewed annually indefinitely? 

FYI: here is a list of some of the nomad visas with the lowest requirements.

https://www.travelinglifestyle.net/these-7-countries-offer-digital-nomad-visas-with-less-than-1500-salary-requirement/

 

Colombia offers a 2 year visa and the minimum income requirement is $684/month.

Ecuador is also 2 years.

 

Oh, the article also states that Bermuda cost of living is very high.