Accomodation In Bangkok

[theCatat]

just started the first phase of negotiations for working in bangkok. problem is, i do not have a clue where the best areas are, nor do i know what the price ranges are [what is considered 'good' 'bad' 'cheap' 'expensive'].

would prefer to live around central mall, or the closest decent housing area within 20 min via sky train or underground.

i know housing varies greatly in pricing, etc, but could someone please give me a couple of areas to head for?

reason is, i'd like to be able to tell [when the proposal comes back] whether or not the housing allowance is decent or not. [or will i have to go back to the haggle].

[Up2U]

Where will you be working (area)?

Many companies provide accommodation for expats. If yours does not, see what other benefits you may be missing (health insuance, for instance).

No granny-state here - you pay the hospitals, you pay the schools.

[astral]

Don't live in Bangkok if you can avoid it!!!

If you must then live close to your place of work.

Travel in the city is awful.

Then get out on a Friday night to the beach, and come back Sunday evening!

Edited August 12, 2004 by astral

[theCatat]

Where will you be working (area)?

Many companies provide accommodation for expats. If yours does not, see what other benefits you may be missing (health insuance, for instance).

No granny-state here - you pay the hospitals, you pay the schools.

working in the jj area. [central mall]

they do not have accommodation as in flats or a house, but a set amount to cover it [food, housing, car, etc] out of that chunk, i was thinking 35 - 40 thou a month. is that decent? or will i have to budjet for more? i know this is a bit open, but i'd like to live comfortably. if a flat, no noise from neighbors with loud tele or music. that sort of thing.

btw - they also cover health insurance, a trip to the uk once a year, etc. sounds like a good package.

just go the email of acceptance. if all goes well, i'm on my way december/january :-)

thanks for the reply.

[theCatat]

Don't live in Bangkok if you can avoid it!!!

If you must then live close to your place of work.

Travel in the city is awful.

well, i'm determined to live in the city, close to work. am willing to spend more on accomodation to make sure it's bearable.

i've been to bangkok several times a year [but only in hotels], so i do know the traffic problem. and i know it's one thing to visit, another to live in a large city so i'm hoping to get good advice here before shipping the goods out. i'd sure hate to move twice.

i'm looking for a house/flat with at least 3 bedrooms. one large enough for an office. one for guestroom. one to lay my head.

i'll dream high, settle lower :-)

[thaihome]

The housing allowance for my company in Bangkok is 80K for single status, a bit more for married and bit more for married with children. Tops out at 100K. You also get 15K for utilities

I think this is pretty much the range for most Multi Nationals.

TH

[theCatat]

80K for single status, a bit more for married and bit more for married with children.  Tops out at 100K.  You also get 15K for utilities

I think this is pretty much the range for most Multi Nationals.

TH

thank-you, this is exactly the information i was looking for. i'll go back to the table with 100k for accomodation, 15k utilities, plus travel, etc.

[grahamb]

100k is good if you can get it. An allowance of 60-ish k was good enough for 3 bedroom places around Sukhumvit (e.g. Soi 30-ish) when we were looking a couple of months ago.

(note that the housing allowances are taxable so the amount you actually have to spend depends on your tax rate...)

Make sure you ask for travel home, car allowance, health insurance, etc. You may also want to consider asking for currency fluctuations to be taken into account (e.g. if the Baht moves compared to your home currency, will they make up the difference). They may not offer these things but it doesn't hurt to ask!

[samran]

If you are working near the JJ areas, the area around Ari station is actually lovely. Some nice apartments and houses in the area, as the area is very Bangkok "old money" - hence very nice. A lot of long term expats live in the area as they have discovered it after doing the whole Sukhumvit/Silom thing. Very handy to get to your work as well with the whole skytrain/underground connection now.

Soi Ari (Paholyothin Soi 7 from memory) has some excellent restuarants, there is a Villa supermarket there too. Handy for the skytrain and expressways. Sois are alot quiter and greener than Sukhumvit sois, and there is an army staduim with huge expanses of green where you can go for a run in the morning or afternoon.

Oh yeah, and I used to live there, and liked it very much!!

[theCatat]

(housing allowances are taxable so the amount you actually have to spend depends on your tax rate...)

Make sure you ask for travel home, car allowance, health insurance, etc. You may also want to consider asking for currency fluctuations to be taken into account (e.g. if the Baht moves compared to your home currency, will they make up the difference). They may not offer these things but it doesn't hurt to ask!

<<housing allowances are taxable so the amount you actually have to spend depends on your tax rate...

that's included in the deal. they pick up all taxes that are tied to the package.

<<ask for travel home, car allowance, health insurance, etc.

that's been included and agreed on so far

<<asking for currency fluctuations to be taken into account (e.g. if the Baht moves compared to your home currency, will they make up the difference). They may not offer these things but it doesn't hurt to ask!

EXCellent suggestion!

[theCatat]

... area around Ari station is actually lovely. Some nice apartments and houses in the area, as the area is very Bangkok "old money" - hence very nice....

Soi Ari (Paholyothin Soi 7 from memory) has some excellent restuarants, there is a Villa supermarket there too. Handy for the skytrain and expressways. Sois are alot quiter and greener than Sukhumvit sois, and there is an army staduim with huge expanses of green where you can go for a run in the morning or afternoon.

Oh yeah, and I used to live there, and liked it very much!!

thank-you very much for sharing a prime location. your description sounds just like what i'm looking for. at the moment i'm surrounded on two sides by jungle, so would prefer a bit of green and quiet around if i can manage it.

<<Oh yeah, and I used to live there, and liked it very much!!

the best recommendation there is :-)

cat

[samran]

you're very welcome.

Just be aware though that it is probably not going to be on the radar of too many realestate agents. But if you get the time to hit the streets to look for yourself, I would. Also, rent in that area is going to be cheaper, very good if you are able to pocket your housing allowance.

Cheers

Samran

[grahamb]

Samran, thanks for the recommendation about restaurants on Soi Ari!

We've just moved into a place of Pradiphat Road (bit further up the Paholyothin Road from Ari BTS) and I'd also recommend the area. We've not explored too much yet (too much travelling on my part...) but it seems like a nice area so far. It's also relatively easy to get into Sukhumvit/Silom if you want. I wouldn't do it daily but it is easy for dinner, weekends, etc.

This area is also pretty good for getting to the current airport.

The rent is a lot cheaper - we got about 1/3 more space for our money than we were looking at in Sukhumvit. (as mentioned above, we were looking at 3 bedroom in Sukhumvit and got a large 4 bedroom on Pradiphat) We also had a good real estate agent helping us and it was her that suggested we look out that way.

[theCatat]

<<We also had a good real estate agent helping us and it was her that suggested we look out that way.

care to share the estate agent? :-)

[theCatat]

graham, very much appreciated