Reference picture courtesy of Adobe Stock

 

Bangkok has been labelled the least affordable city in the world for renters, according to the Housing Affordability Review 2025 by German asset manager DWS. The report highlights that a typical median household in Bangkok spends approximately 79% of their disposable income on renting a two-bedroom flat, marking the Thai capital as the priciest city in terms of rent-to-income ratio.

 

This year's findings are consistent with DWS' inaugural study from last year, which also ranked Bangkok as the least affordable. The sharp increase in rental costs is attributed to a drop in condo supply, reaching a 16-year low due to high interest rates and rising construction expenses, as reported by Colliers Thailand. Following Bangkok are Mumbai and Mexico, with renters spending 66% of their income, while Hong Kong and Johannesburg take the fourth and fifth spots, with ratios above 60% and 58% respectively.

 

The report's analysis of 80 cities worldwide indicates that a lower ratio signifies more affordable rents, with the global average standing at 38%. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Salt Lake City ranks as the most affordable city, with a rent-to-income ratio of just 20%, followed closely by Leipzig and Austin at 23%. The study notes that cities in the lower half of affordability have experienced a sharper decline in their ratios and slower growth in residual spending power compared to more economically robust cities.

 

DWS also examined the residual income households retain after rent. Singapore leads globally, with residents having an average leftover income of around 292,960 Thai baht, significantly higher than the global average. This ranking is followed by San Francisco and Abu Dhabi, with household residuals of 280,080 Thai baht and 256,000 Thai baht, respectively, showcasing these cities' ability to maintain strong purchasing power post-rent.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Bangkok ranks as the least affordable city for renters globally, with 79% income spent on rent.
• Salt Lake City is the most affordable, with a rent-to-income ratio of 20%.
• Singapore offers the highest residual income post-rent, doubling the global average.

Related Story:

What are people paying for rent in Bangkok?

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-10-28

 

 

anyone who spends 79% of income in Bangkok on rent is an idiot or only earns 9k a month. 

Bangkok rents are high but the least affordable in the world? Sorry, that dog don't hunt.

Congratulations Bangkok.  Number one in the world.

 

Says a lot about recent governments.

27 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

Congratulations Bangkok.  Number one in the world.

 

Says a lot about recent governments.

Governments don't actually set rental prices. the owners do.

 

If the [rice is too high then look elsewhere.

I rode the MRT Yellow Line to Samrong yesterday, just to enjoy the view. (BTW, they use Rabbit cards.)

 

The capital in undersupplied with condos?!? The view was endless fields of condos shrouded in pollution! More, more, more. It was a good plan to decentralize govt to Chachoengsao.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The report highlights that a typical median household in Bangkok spends approximately 79% of their disposable income on renting a two-bedroom flat,

Note that it's based on a Thai median household income, not a foreign income or pension...

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok has been labelled the least affordable city in the world for renters, according to the Housing Affordability Review 2025 by German asset manager DWS. The report highlights that a typical median household in Bangkok spends approximately 79% of their disposable income on renting a two-bedroom flat, marking the Thai capital as the priciest city in terms of rent-to-income ratio.

I know of friends who just moved out of BKK to the suburbs because of the rental prices in the central area.

23 hours ago, webfact said:

a typical median household in Bangkok spends approximately 79% of their disposable income on renting a two-bedroom flat

 

A 'two-bedroom flat' is probably the least rented type of property in Bangkok: the 'median would be single room units; townhouses; cheap build single houses in densely packed developments.

 

23 hours ago, Emdog said:

anyone who spends 79% of income in Bangkok on rent is an idiot or only earns 9k a month. 

You'd be surprised how many earn a low income in Bangkok

18 hours ago, billd766 said:

Governments don't actually set rental prices. the owners do.

 

If the [rice is too high then look elsewhere.

 

   They need to stop eating rice  and have Pad Thai noodles instead 

The comparative statistic is more about low average wages in Thailand, rather than high rents.

On 10/28/2025 at 8:17 AM, webfact said:

marking the Thai capital as the priciest city in terms of rent-to-income ratio.

 

So , what this says is that wages are low rather than rents being high. Totally misleading annalysis.

Bangkok is a big city with relatively good rail and road connections, bangkok in certain area will definitely break the bank but there are cheap rentals if willing to get off sukhumvhit and go more native, good wage for white collar worker is 25,000 a month and they survive renting and have money for groceries and other necessities. That wouldn't even cover rent in the roughest council estate in London 

     Misleading article, I think.  They based their study on 2 bedroom/2 bath condos, which, indeed, can be more expensive to rent in Bangkok as they are scarce in relation to the number of small studio and 1 bedroom condos available for rent, which are affordable. 

     Spouse and I have been looking for a different condo to buy in Bangkok and some of the new condo buildings I have searched only have 1 bedroom units in the 25 to 35 sqm range.  With many other condo projects the number of 1 bedroom units far outnumbers larger 2 bedrooms. 

     I think once Bangkokians reach the point of needing a 2 bedroom/2 bath space many move to the suburbs and purchase a house.  My married Bangkok relatives are all in houses in the suburbs, not in Bangkok city condos.

  

Who rents a "two-bedroom flat" anyway? Most Thais live in a single room, often sharing it with one or more others

Relative to which renters; foreign or local? Bangkok still has an over-supply of small condos. 🤔 This is a questionable report IMHO.

How many people earning an average Thai income are going to rent a 2br condo in Bangkok? 

 

Inanity cloaked as sensationalism.

18 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I rode the MRT Yellow Line to Samrong yesterday, just to enjoy the view. (BTW, they use Rabbit cards.)

So does Pink line, which I just found out when MRT card didn't work at the gate... 

This is one of those stories where it's totally BS and you know they're lying so now you need to play detective and find the lie.

On 10/28/2025 at 1:17 AM, webfact said:

Salt Lake City is the most affordable, with a rent-to-income ratio of 20%.

Do you have to become a Mormon to live there ? 

It looks like old data was used for Austin....before all the California companies moved there and property prices were bid up quickly

21 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Congratulations Bangkok.  Number one in the world.

 

Says a lot about recent governments.

Says a lot about the quality of the research from DWS

54 minutes ago, terryofcrete said:

Do you have to become a Mormon to live there ? 

I am from Salt Lake City.  I am not a Mormon.  In fact, the city is predominately non-Mormon, unlike the rest of the State, and usually has a Democratic Mayor. 

21 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I rode the MRT Yellow Line to Samrong yesterday, just to enjoy the view. (BTW, they use Rabbit cards.)

 

The capital in undersupplied with condos?!? The view was endless fields of condos shrouded in pollution! More, more, more. It was a good plan to decentralize govt to Chachoengsao.

The problelm is not lack of condos.  It is 2 fold

 

lack of condos with 2 bedrooms

and 

the cost of these condos to buy let alone rent.

 

We talk about the BTS being too expensive for thais but yet the rental market is also a drain.  Consider that not everyone is making 25k a month. 

 

lOOK AT MOST CITIES AND YES IT IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MOVING OUTSIDE THE CITY 

 

You can move out to to Pathum Thani and buy a 3 bdrm house for 5mil  or a single person can get a 1 bedroom for 1.5-2 all close to the BTS.

 

As to whether it is the most expensive I don't know but consier that people here are not paid the wages that others are in West. 

 

It is a fact that living in big cities has always been expensive and kills a lot of families. 

 

IF BMA wants to do something then there is a soution it is called buying land and buliding geared t income housing for families.   

 

Imagine a condo building that has no single apartments and is geared to Thai families (ONLY) based on income and job.  

 

Maybe it would be a good idea for cowboy or PP.  LOL

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

You'd be surprised how many earn a low income in Bangkok

 

I think that's the real message of the OP.  Not that Bangkok rent is high.  It's that median income is so low.

I think I found the problem it is all the new housing that is being built and teh high prices that are being charged to buy not taking into account the actual occupancy.

 

 

The average 2 bdrm in bkk sells for 11million baht

 

Here’s a breakdown by location:

• In high-end districts like Sukhumvit (Asoke–Thonglor): ~ THB 50,000-90,000 per month for a 2-bedroom condo. Luxury Condo Bangkok+1

• In the central CBD around Sathorn & Silom: ~ THB 45,000-85,000 per month for 2 bedrooms. Luxury Condo Bangkok

• In more suburban/emerging areas: 2-bedroom units may go for ~ THB 26,000-45,000 per month. Bamboo Routes+1

This may also explain why there are few births in Bangkok

 

7 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

I think that's the real message of the OP.  Not that Bangkok rent is high.  It's that median income is so low.

 

 

No it is that rents are high but are they higher than other western cities.  Consider very few families live in Toronto and that most big cities are now listed not as the city but as the greater area including suburbs.

Most eople can not live in the actual city anymore unless they have a house tht has been inherited or they are doing the chinese family thing fo 40 people livingint heplace and paying the bills.

1 hour ago, Showtime said:

It looks like old data was used for Austin....before all the California companies moved there and property prices were bid up quickly

Naw, Austin was already a city grown by sprawl.  Because most of TX is flat, open land, they just keep growing outwards when new housing is needed.  There's never a shortage of land & housing compared to Silicon Valley, which has mountains and water confining it.

Eventually, Austin will just combine with Dallas and Houston.

But back to highest rent to income, has anyone tried to live in Zurich?

Look at least Bangkok is number 1 that's all that counts 

Keep the Tourist board happy

Always looking to be number 1 in the world polls 🙄