Air Quality
| Measure | PM2.5 | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 annual average | 22.7 | Worse than Chiang Mai and Phuket across the year |
| 8 June 2026 live reading | 4.0 | A good day can happen, but don't confuse it with the long-term story |
Source: Smart Air 2025 rankings and IQAir's Bangkok live page. Bangkok can absolutely look cleaner on a given day, but the annual average still tells the harsher truth. See the full city comparison in our pollution comparison article.
Getting Around
- BTS Skytrain16–44 THB (about USD 0.49 to 1.35, £0.36 to 1, and €0.42 to 1.16) per trip. Fastest option for the Sukhumvit/Silom corridor. Get a Rabbit Card.
- MRT (underground)Connects BTS at interchange stations. Extends further into the city.
- Grab / Bolt50–200 THB (about USD 1.53 to 6.13, £1.14 to 4.55, and €1.32 to 5.26) most trips. Essential for anywhere off the rail lines.
- River ferry (Chao Phraya Express)15–30 THB (about USD 0.46 to 0.92, £0.34 to 0.68, and €0.39 to 0.79). Scenic and genuinely useful for riverside areas.
- Taxi meter35 THB (about USD 1.07, £0.8, and €0.92) flag fall. Honest drivers most of the time. Avoid tuk-tuks for real journeys.
Where to Work
- The Hive ThonglorDesign-forward, strong community. Thonglor/Ekkamai — the expat cluster.
- Hubba EkkamaiEvents, good energy, well-designed. Popular with founders.
- WeWork (multiple branches)Flexible day passes, consistent quality. Multiple Sukhumvit locations.
- Punspace AriQuieter neighbourhood north of town. Less hectic than Sukhumvit.
- CAMP (Mahidol / Maya)Coffee shop chain that openly welcomes laptop workers. Multiple branches.
Eat & Drink
- Ekkamai / ThonglorCafes, bistros, wine bars. The neighbourhood most expats end up in.
- Sukhumvit Soi 11International restaurants and a relaxed street-level bar scene.
- Yaowarat (Chinatown)Best late-night food in Bangkok. Fresh seafood, street stalls, open late.
- Silom / SathornBusiness lunch scene. Great street food running down the main road.
- Ari neighbourhoodQuieter, local feel, good cafes and markets. Popular with long-termers.
Stay Healthy
- Bumrungrad InternationalWorld-class private hospital. Multi-language, Sukhumvit. Most expats' benchmark.
- Bangkok Hospital SukhumvitStrong reputation, multiple city-wide branches.
- BNH HospitalSilom/Sathorn area. Well-regarded, convenient for that side of town.
- Samitivej SukhumvitPopular with expat families. Paediatrics particularly strong.
- Lumphini / Benjakitti ParkFree outdoor gym equipment plus proper running tracks in the city.
Immigration Offices
- Immigration Division 1, Immigration BureauChaeng Watthana / Government Complex. The main Bangkok office for most long-stay immigration matters.
Schools
- NIST InternationalIB, years 3–13. Sukhumvit. Well-regarded across the board.
- ISB (International School Bangkok)American curriculum. Large campus, Nichada Thani. Suits US families.
- Bangkok PatanaBritish curriculum. South Bangkok. Strong academic reputation.
- KIS InternationalIB, years 3–12. Smaller, community-focused. Good for families who want that.
