I've spent a bit of time mostly in the gulf islands about a decade ago, and haven't been back to Thailand since. I'll be coming for an extended stay (probably 5 months) and want to "dip my toes" back into the country with a month or two in Bangkok.

Having done my own research of the kinds of events (not "events" 😅) and other lifestyle factors, I've narrowed it down to either Phrom Phong or Asok areas, and I'm looking for a place close to the metro line as I'm not sure I trust myself with scootering in BKK streets and not sure if I'll get a car. For that reason I'm leaning a bit more towards Asok (second metro line), though am concerned it's going to be busier/louder not in a good way (don't know).

My main question here is whether there's much of a difference living between these two areas, as they are quite close together. Any insight/opinion/experience would be really appreciated.

Also as a side question, I'm going to be going Airbnb for my first accommodation, but wondering if there's another trustworthy place to find good accommodations while still abroad - like a marketplace just with better value-for-money offerings on the short term scale? Looking for around the 35-45k/mo range.

Edited June 5Jun 5 by Direction

IMO, the biggest difference is that Asok is at the intersection of the MRT and BTS so you won't have to hop on the BTS for one stop if you want to get on the MRT. Not a big deal unless you do it several times a day. Then, it becomes a PITA.

And, of course, Asoke has Soi Cowboy if that's what floats your boat.

Otherwise, you won't notice a difference. Choose the apartment/condo complex that you like.

Edited June 5Jun 5 by impulse

Both areas are busy, but Asoke is even busier.

Asoke feels more like a commercial and business district whereas up and down the sois around Prom Phong always feel a little bit more residential to me than Asoke.

Prom Pong was an area traditionally popular with Japanese expats but I don't know whether that's so much the case these days.

Edited June 5Jun 5 by SBNZ

Depends if you want to be around congested expats & farang tourist area, or Thais, as PP leans more to catering to Thais, and less congested than Asok.

Slight correction, Soi Cowboy is considered in PP area, not Asok, via Gmaps, if that's your thing. Just a stone's throw away from Asok, which I'm really not a fan of.

Have the new Benjakitti Forest Park, right next door to PP area. Along with Benchasiri Park in PP area. Also prefer the EmQuarter and other 'malls' to the overcrowded Centrals/T21 in Asok area.

PP also a bit closer to the Thong Lo area, again catering more to Thais, than non Thais.

Edited June 6Jun 6 by KhunLA

I like On Nut the most in Sukhumvit. More charm. Those other areas are tacky.

Have you considered Ari...?

4 hours ago, Off Piste said:

Have you considered Ari...?

Agree, as also a nice area, as are a few more. If working, not online, then try to get as close to work as possible, for ease of everyday living. You really want to be in a '15 minute city'

BTS & MRT are ridiculously crowded now, and probably more so since the flat price for Thais instituted. I don't even use now, and haven't for long time.

Actually, personal choice, but Silom & Asok would be the 2 areas, I'd try to avoid.

21 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Depends if you want to be around congested expats & farang tourist area, or Thais, as PP leans more to catering to Thais, and less congested than Asok.

Slight correction, Soi Cowboy is considered in PP area, not Asok, via Gmaps, if that's your thing. Just a stone's throw away from Asok, which I'm really not a fan of.

Have the new Benjakitti Forest Park, right next door to PP area. Along with Benchasiri Park in PP area. Also prefer the EmQuarter and other 'malls' to the overcrowded Centrals/T21 in Asok area.

PP also a bit closer to the Thong Lo area, again catering more to Thais, than non Thais.

Soi Cowboy is on Asok-Montri road, it is reached at the Asok BTS stop.

Benjakitti is 2.7 km from PP BTS.

Asok is 1.8 km to Benjakititi. (per Google maps).

AS Joe Friday said, "Just the facts ma'am".

2 hours ago, cdemundo said:

Soi Cowboy is on Asok-Montri road, it is reached at the Asok BTS stop.

Benjakitti is 2.7 km from PP BTS.

Asok is 1.8 km to Benjakititi. (per Google maps).

AS Joe Friday said, "Just the facts ma'am".

I did include a map with that post. Soi Cowboy clearly in PP area ...

... SpecSavers may help

Not on, but does conx to Asok-Montri Rd (Details matter)

Along with stating "Benjakitti Forest Park, right next door to PP area."Guess you missed that.

... That reading comprehension so many lack

Yep ... Just the facts ma'am

Does the BTS offer housing ? Thought OP was asking what area, not what BTS station is best to base himself at. (Reading Comprehension .... yet again) 🙄

Edited June 7Jun 7 by KhunLA

On 6/7/2026 at 11:20 AM, KhunLA said:

I did include a map with that post. Soi Cowboy clearly in PP area ...

... SpecSavers may help

Not on, but does conx to Asok-Montri Rd (Details matter)

Along with stating "Benjakitti Forest Park, right next door to PP area."Guess you missed that.

... That reading comprehension so many lack

Yep ... Just the facts ma'am

Does the BTS offer housing ? Thought OP was asking what area, not what BTS station is best to base himself at. (Reading Comprehension .... yet again) 🙄

If IIRC from your many posts you don't live in Bangkok, otherwise you would not have posted as you did.

Cute that you used a map for an area you don't know, but Soi Cowboy is most definitely correctly described as being "on Asok-Montri" road, that or Soi 23 are the roads you would use to get there.

Benjakiti is closest to lower Sukhumvit area, in fact there is a large entrance to the park at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4 (Soi Nana), not closer to PP than Asok.

Doubling down when you are wrong may seem like a sign of manliness or character to you,

it isn't.

30 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

If IIRC from your many posts you don't live in Bangkok, otherwise you would not have posted as you did.

Cute that you used a map for an area you don't know, but Soi Cowboy is most definitely correctly described as being "on Asok-Montri" road, that or Soi 23 are the roads you would use to get there.

Benjakiti is closest to lower Sukhumvit area, in fact there is a large entrance to the park at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4 (Soi Nana), not closer to PP than Asok.

Doubling down when you are wrong may seem like a sign of manliness or character to you,

it isn't.

Correct that Benjakitti is not closer to PP than Asoke, there is an entrance just 3 minutes from Asoke BTS. Phomprong is one station further and has its own park Benjasiri near Emporium. Anyway Asoke and Phomprong are in walking distance from each other.

Edited June 10Jun 10 by msbkk

1 minute ago, msbkk said:

Benjakitti is not closest to lower Sukhumvit, there is an entrance 3 minutes walk from Asoke BTS station. But yes, PP is further 1 station from there.

Agreed, Benjakiti is a large park. I don't know about 3 minutes from Asoke, but definitely extends to that direction. Without a doubt there is a large entrance to Benjakiti at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4.

I know folks on here like to argue. Everyone is very smart and knowledgeable.

The entrance close to Asoke is the extreme eastern end of the park, the park extends westward past the Sukhumvit Soi 4 entrance, it's a big park.

The point is, the park is closer to Asoke than PP.

On 6/10/2026 at 1:57 PM, cdemundo said:

Agreed, Benjakiti is a large park. I don't know about 3 minutes from Asoke, but definitely extends to that direction. Without a doubt there is a large entrance to Benjakiti at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 4.

I know folks on here like to argue. Everyone is very smart and knowledgeable.

The entrance close to Asoke is the extreme eastern end of the park, the park extends westward past the Sukhumvit Soi 4 entrance, it's a big park.

The point is, the park is closer to Asoke than PP.

All busy spots and tacky really.

On 6/6/2026 at 9:43 AM, Rockyroad said:

I like On Nut the most in Sukhumvit. More charm. Those other areas are tacky.

i lived in phra kanong before covid and that was a fab area

I think there's actually quite a big difference, at least near the BTS! Asok is a huge BTS x MRT interchange and the main roads there also intersect and make traffic impossible sometimes.

Phrom Phong on the other hand has nicer malls (in my humble opinion) and it's a little less busy. I also think the food is nicer in PP

On 6/6/2026 at 8:43 PM, Rockyroad said:

I like On Nut the most in Sukhumvit. More charm. Those other areas are tacky.

On Nut is the end of the world. It used to be literally the end of the BTS.

When I think of On Nut probably the last thing I think of is charm. Having said that it is cleaner but it is an absolutely unmemorable tourist ghetto

I would much rather live in Prom Pong. Asoke probably more convenient, but it's busy, noisy. Given how noisy it is I don't really think there's much of a trade-off because the area really isn't all that exciting. Cowboy has gone to hell years ago. There are very few places to get Thai food around Asoke.

Thermae = Asoke. Many joints in Prom Pong. Pretty girlies japanese standard.

Lower Sukhumvit for cheap happy hour. Cowboy doesn't really get ramped up until happy hour has kind of been and gone. Cowboys really turned into a quite a disappointment following on the lines of pat pong.

PP is really only steps away from Asoke. I always walk the stretch between the two you don't even need the BTS.

Blue line best but there's no farang or farang food up here other than pizza and McDonald's which is a plus in my book

I don't know why foreigners are so stuck on living on sukumvhit. It must be they are too lazy to cook and walk so there are loads of expensive restaurants with greasy pub grub and a BTS to cater

Edited August 4Aug 4 by KornPop

33 minutes ago, KornPop said:

I don't know why foreigners are so stuck on living on sukumvhit. It must be they are too lazy to cook and walk so there are loads of expensive restaurants with greasy pub grub and a BTS to cater

"...too lazy to cook and walk..." That's the one and only explanation you can come up with? Sounds a bit biased and narrow minded.

1 minute ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

"...too lazy to cook and walk..." That's the one and only explanation you can come up with? Sounds a bit biased and narrow minded.

I see you've included a dozen others in your response

As someone that lives nowhere near Sukhumvit but still well plugged into Central Bangkok I have absolutely no idea why anyone would live down there. It's dirty, expensive, noisy, traffic ridden/air pollution, foot paths are crowded, massage double the price.

With exception of Central Chidlom - where farang can't afford. There are far better malls elsewhere than on that tourist /farang ghetto

Benjakti is nice, but as farang don't walk they don't use Parks either.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by KornPop

1 minute ago, KornPop said:

As someone that lives nowhere near circumvent

I don't live near 'circumvent' either, I do live on Sukhumvit. I use Benjakitti Park at least five days per week, and see many other Farangs there as well. You're not as well plugged in as you think you are.

33 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

I don't live near 'circumvent' either, I do live on Sukhumvit. I use Benjakitti Park at least five days per week, and see many other Farangs there as well. You're not as well plugged in as you think you are.

Circumvent was speech to text issue and I corrected that but you felt a need to point out the issue despite the correction how petty

Yes, you and a handful of other foreigners make use of the park and I applaud you for it. If I lived down there I would do the same. I'm not saying that no foreigners really do I'm saying that the absolute vast majority of foreigners that live in that area have nothing to do with parks or outdoors.

There are a few other green spaces about Bangkok. One doesn't need to be tied down too what has now become ground zero CBD.

You didn't mention any other reasons just that you use the park. What are some additional fabulous reasons that you pay the absorbitant rent and you live in that crowded and touristy place?

Edited August 4Aug 4 by KornPop

1 hour ago, KornPop said:

You didn't mention any other reasons just that you use the park. What are some additional fabulous reasons that you pay the absorbitant rent and you live in that crowded and touristy place?

People live there to be close to the bar scene and other expats, don't they?

2 hours ago, KornPop said:

Circumvent was speech to text issue and I corrected that but you felt a need to point out the issue despite the correction how petty

The issue was that you didn't bother to proofread your reply BEFORE posting it. How lazy.

2 hours ago, KornPop said:

You didn't mention any other reasons just that you use the park. What are some additional fabulous reasons that you pay the absorbitant rent and you live in that crowded and touristy place?

Like many posters here, you go to the extreme negative to get your points across. If I gave 100 good reasons for why I like to live here, you would argue against every one of them. No thanks.

20 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

People live there to be close to the bar scene and other expats, don't they?

You're painting with a broad brush. I would imagine everyone has their own specific reasons. Personally, I haven't been to a bar in over 15 years, and I avoid expats like the plague.

1 hour ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Personally, I haven't been to a bar in over 15 years, and I avoid expats like the plague.

What's the neurosis behind that?

a) you've met one too many murderers?

b) you've met one too many former green berets?

c) you think you're superior to other expats?

d) you want thailand all to yourself?

e) all of the above

f) none of the above

i have lived in ekkemai, phra kanong, asoke, bang sue and talat phlu.

i prefer living in thonburi

On 6/5/2026 at 4:50 AM, Direction said:

Also as a side question, I'm going to be going Airbnb for my first accommodation, but wondering if there's another trustworthy place to find good accommodations while still abroad - like a marketplace just with better value-for-money offerings on the short term scale? Looking for around the 35-45k/mo range.

renthub.th

On 6/7/2026 at 11:20 AM, KhunLA said:

I did include a map with that post. Soi Cowboy clearly in PP area ...

... SpecSavers may help

Not on, but does conx to Asok-Montri Rd (Details matter)

Along with stating "Benjakitti Forest Park, right next door to PP area."Guess you missed that.

... That reading comprehension so many lack

Yep ... Just the facts ma'am

Does the BTS offer housing ? Thought OP was asking what area, not what BTS station is best to base himself at. (Reading Comprehension .... yet again) 🙄

It doesn't matter what Google maps says nor how the police precincts divide the area. Cowboy is Asoke. The Sukhumvit MRT tunnel is 25m from entrance of cowboy. Continue on thru the tunnel and up escalator you'll be on the BTS.

Fk Google

59 minutes ago, KornPop said:

It doesn't matter what Google maps says nor how the police precincts divide the area. Cowboy is Asoke. The Sukhumvit MRT tunnel is 25m from entrance of cowboy. Continue on thru the tunnel and up escalator you'll be on the BTS.

Fk Google

Fk Google ... OK, if you want to get techincal, there is no Asok or Phrom Phong district, so any other area, is simple an opinion. Apparently mine differs from yours.

Some folks might call it Sukhomvit area, as the other end of the soi, dead ends at Suk 23.

Is that the nice new food court located in Phrom Phong?