Being a Digital Nomad in Bangkok: Your Guide To Living And Working in Thailand’s Capital
Every digital nomad in Bangkok knows what a roller coaster living in Thailand’s capital can be. Nonetheless, Bangkok’s digital nomad scene has exploded in the recent years.
The city, with its modern infrastructure, high-quality internet service, hundreds of cafes and hangout places to gather with friends and business partners, seems to offer everything a freelancer, remote worker or online entrepreneur could possibly need. But let’s take a closer look at it!
Thailand is certainly a country of incredible beauty with a fascinating culture and friendly people. All of this does not only make it a great vacation destination, but also puts in on the list of top digital nomad hotspots. The affordable living cost can help beginners and nomads on a budget make the transition to working independently or getting through rough patches.
While you’re doing your research, why not also check out some of our other Digital Nomad Guides?
- 15 Work-From-Anywhere Jobs For Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Guide Sydney: Live And Work Remotely Down Under
- 10 Travel Tips for The Tight Digital Nomad Budget
- The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide To Canggu, Bali
Digital Nomad in Bangkok – The Basics
💵 Cost of living: $1,385 / m
☕ Coffee: $143 / m
📡 Internet: 29mbps
⛅ Weather average: 33°C / 92°F
Source: Nomad List Bangkok
Ready to bone up on the life of a digital nomad in Bangkok?
Being a Digital Nomad in Bangkok: A Guide to Living And Working in Thailand’s Capital
Getting There and Getting Around
With two large airports at the heart of the city, one domestic and one international, getting to Thailand and going on quick weekend getaways is a breeze. For some relaxing beach time, head to Phuket or Ko Samui in the Gulf of Thailand or take a plane to Chiang Mai if you want to explore another digital nomad hub or go mountain trekking.
Getting around in Bangkok is also easy as pie. Excellent, modern public transport makes navigating around town surprisingly easy.
Visa Arrangements for Thailand
Thailand is a dream for digital nomads, especially when it comes to visa regulations. Whether you are staying long- or short-term, there are several visa options to choose from.
The easy route is going with the month-to-month visa, making use of the border and visa run options – no problem with so many other popular destinations such as Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia within reach. The visa on arrival is good for 30 days, and it’s handy to have evidence of departing transportation to present if asked.
Our tip: Consider applying for an educational visa and study the Thai language while pursuing your online business.
Affordable Living and Comfort in Bangkok
Many digital nomads in Bangkok are drawn to the city for its low cost of living, which is helpful when you’re just starting out.
When choosing a place to stay, we highly recommend picking a place close to the BTS Skytrain stations or the MRT metro stations. The stations north of the Sanam Pao BTS Station to Mo Chit BTS are the most popular among digital nomads and expats.
Should you plan to stay long-term, it’s smart to hire a real estate agent. They will help you pick a neighborhood and find something in your price range.
Bangkok’s Best Coworking Spaces for Digital Nomads
As a digital nomad in Bangkok, you will be happy with the number of quality coworking spaces. Monthly membership are affordable, ensure stable internet and all the amenities a digital nomad could possibly need such as private meeting rooms and a never-ending flow of free coffee.
Popular options include Hubba, The Hive, One Day Forward and Draftboard.
Our tip: The Work Loft offers a free 14-day trial!
Being a Digital Nomad in Bangkok: A Guide to Living And Working in Thailand’s Capital
Internet Access in Bangkok
Finding a place to settle with fast, reliable internet can be one of the biggest challenges for a digital nomad, especially in developing countries.
Southeast Asia is coveted by travelers and expats alike, but Thailand is one of the few countries in the region that satisfies with average internet speeds above 10 MBps.
Making Friends as a Digital Nomad in Bangkok
It can be quite scary to move to a new country all by yourself. But rest assured, if you’re working from one of the many co-working spaces around town, it won’t take long to make your first friends among the fellowonline entrepreneurs or freelancers.
There are also plenty of meetup groups around the city you can join through meetup.com or couchsurfing.org or on Facebook. The city is also full of expats and foreigners, so if you prefer to hangout with your own kind, it wouldn’t be difficult at all! Western restaurants and bars are to be found all over town, making it easy to connect with other foreigners and English speakers.
Still insecure? Learn more on how to date and make friends as a digital nomad.
What To Do in Bangkok
Many travelers rave about Bangkok, as there are so many things to do in this vibrant town, you’ll never get bored!
As a digital nomad in Bangkok, you get to enjoy a buzzing nightlife, an incredibly beautiful culture, great street food, funky architecture, stunning temples and so much more!
One of our favorite things to do in Bangkok: Exploring the city’s canals by boat.
A boat tour of the Bangkok Canals lasts about one hour and should cost no more than 100 Baht per person. The boats depart from one of the official docks around town and pass by Wat Arun temple and then enter a narrow canal. You’ll see ladies on boats selling all sorts of items, and witness amazing views of the city.
If you enjoy having a drink or two and like to dance the night away, you’ll find bars and nightclubs everywhere in Bangkok. But it isn’t always easy to find a place that matches one’s tastes and interests, as there are just too many options!
Before taking off on your journey, you might want to think about what items make up the best mobile office. Learn more about which digital nomad tools and gadgets you will need! Read 10 Digital Nomad Tools Every Remote Worker Needs for what tools to use for working remotely.
