Accommodation in Thailand

Accommodation in Thailand

Living in Thailand is an exciting experience and the first thing many people think about is where they will live. There are plenty of types of accommodation in Thailand. If employed from overseas it is likely your employer will provide accommodation as part of the package offered to you. However for some jobs, and if you come here for retirement, you may have to source your own accommodation.

Firstly it is worth noting that foreigners cannot own land in Thailand therefore the purchasing of a house is impossible. There is the option of putting the house in the name of a Thai national or starting a company to purchase a house but both come with obvious issues. The exception is to this rule is condominiums which can be purchased by foreigners on the condition that the full value of the property is funded from outside of Thailand, mortgages are generally unavailable to non Thai citizens from Thai banks.

This means most people rent and luckily there are many options for renting across the whole of Thailand. Based on location prices do vary dramatically. prime locations such as central Bangkok and Phuket have prices up to 10 times the price of similar properties in rural areas. I recommend using DD Property where you can search for houses and condos all over Thailand.

Apartments

Apartments are usually simple studio rooms in the 26-35 sq meter range with a bedroom/living area and bathroom. They are quite basic and often lack a kitchen and separate living area. However prices are very cheap with a studio apartment starting at around 6,000 Baht a month in Bangkok and 2,000 Baht in rural areas. These prices are for a basic furnished room with a bed, desk, table, chair and wardrobe. For apartments with a fitness room prices will rise. It is also worth noting that utility bills will have to be added which can be quite expensive depending on your use of the AC. Also you will have to use communal WIFI which means connection speeds can be slow and unreliable. Most apartments don’t advertise online so your best option is to find an area you want to live in and walk around asking for prices. Normally you will have to pay a deposit of 1 or 2 months rent with contract ranging from 6 months to a year.

Condos

Condominiums offer larger spaces at around 30-80 sq meters with between 1 and 3 bedrooms. Most will have separate living areas and kitchens which means a more comfortable standard of living. Prices vary widely with a 1 bedroom condo in central Bangkok about 13,000 through to a 3 bedroom condo starting at around 30,000 Baht. The further away from BTS and MRT stations the cheaper the rent will be. Out of the city center and tourist hot spots prices will reduce to around 7,000 to 20,000 Baht. Most will be fully furnished meaning an easy adaption into life there. Many Condos have fitness facilities and some offer swimming pools which are free to use for all residents. Many condos are advertised online through websites and agents are used to show and offer rooms. Again utilities are extra but with payments for electricity being paid directly to the electricity authority prices are a bit cheaper. Another major benefit is you can have private internet installed for a reasonable price – around 690 baht a month for 18 MB. You will also have to pay a deposit of 1 or 2 months rent but contract will usually be for a minimum of 1 year.

Houses

The final option is renting a house. This option is the most desirable for families as you will have the most space of any option. However it is worth noting that there is a lack of housing in central Bangkok so this often means living on the outskirts of the city and having to commute in. There are many types of houses from townhouses to villas. Most houses are located in “villages”, communities of houses together which often share facilities such as a sports club, shops and small park. It can be difficult to find a fully furnished house which means that furniture will have to be purchased to make the house livable. Many come partly furnished but even so you will want to add additional items to make your house more homely. Prices of houses vary greatly with basic 3 bedroom houses out of central areas starting at around 5,000 Baht a month through to around 30,000 Baht a month in places like Phuket. Being away from central areas will also mean a lack of public transport so a car may be necessary for this option to be viable. Again utility bills are extra and with a larger area they can be more expensive. Houses can be found online through property search engines and require a deposit of 1 or 2 months rent.