Where do the expats live in Bangkok
Bangkok is always a popular city for foreigners’ destination for not only travelling, and shopping, but also working and settling down. According to HSBC survey reported that Thailand is the best place for foreigners to live after retirement. This news might bring great opportunities for property investors advantaging a greater demand from the expats.
The expats in Bangkok, like any other places in the world, have gathered to build their own communities spreading around the city and the outskirts where each area has somehow portrayed their cultural specification and lifestyles. The expatriate demographic in Bangkok is various and diversified, for example, Middle Easterners in Nana, Westerners (who have purchasing power) in Sathorn..,etc.
Exploring Bangkok, TerraBKK Research has surveyed and gathered useful information for interested property investors on expat communities, which totally divided into 6 major areas are as follow:
1. Sukhumvit Soi 3-23 (Nana area)
The area between Sukhumvit Soi 3 and 23 is the first on TerraBKK lists of the expat communities in Bangkok. In fact the area is a center to diverse expatriate populations, but “Middle Easterners” are the most common seen. The Arab exoticism filling the air: Arabic letters on board signs, the taste of Arabic food around the corner, these are not built in a day for their real settling down in Bangkok has rooted more than 40 years ago. The Tailor and Fabric shops from the old day are still run and can be spotted.
Sukhumvit Soi 3-23 is fully convenient with plenty of amenities and infrastructures. Many important roads like Wireless Road, Phetchaburi and Asok Montri are available, but despite all, located in the neighborhood, Bumrungrad International hospital, one of the top medical services providing for foreigners, has greatly gained the most attraction to Middle Easterners.
Bumrungrad International hospital is one of largest private hospital in Southeast Asia and over 520,000 are international patients from over 190 different countries. According to Bumrungrad International Hospital Analyst Meeting 4/2014, the numbers of the patients from Myanmar rank first on using the service followed by Middle Eastern, Oman, American and Cambodian.
2. Sukhumvit soi 21 – Ekamai
Sukhumvit soi 21 – Ekamai has the largest Japanese community in Bangkok. The area is called “Japanese Town”, a home to various Japanese restaurants, shops, karaoke, Spa & Massage, scattered along the street. Others are small community malls located in the area such as K Village, Rain hill, A square..,etc. There is even a special supermarket called UFM Fuji Super available, selling ingredients and grocery for anyone who seeks to do their own Japanese homemade dish. Tiring from strolling around, Gateway Ekamai shopping mall, designed based on the concept of Japanese lifestyle, is also available, just right in a heart of Ekamai. Japanese expats often have high income so the imported goods and products are considered to be Hi-end.
3. Sukhumvit 12 (Korean Town)
This small populated area for Korean expats used to be recognized as “Korean community”, but recently has changed the name to “Korean Town”. The zone might not look outstanding compared to others because most Koreans come to Thailand for travelling than working, causing their residents to be scattered around Bangkok. However after Korean expats living in Sukhumvit decide to open businesses and services providing for major Korean customers (and now for all Korean culture fans as well), the community appears. Within the zone, visitors will discover and experience Korean lifestyles and amenities such as imported goods stores, restaurant, health stores, supermarket, Sauna and Spa, beauty salon, Karaokes and Korean Cultural Center.
4. Yaowarat or China Town
Certainly Yaowarat or China Town, one of Bangkok’s vibrant neighborhoods can’t be missed in our lists. The area is a major zone for Chinese and Thai – Chinese residents, which is also considered to be the important business district packed with old charming shop houses and gold jewelry stores, which are decorated by Chinese lanterns and Chinese characters on vivid red boards creating the exact atmosphere like Bangkok China Town from the past.
Many Chinese settlers from the old day became merchants and got rich by opening the shop houses in the area. Truth to be told, many Thai - Chinese wealthy businessmen were born and grew up in Yaowarat. The best example is the legendary story of how Charoen Pokphand Group has originally first opened a seed store named Chia Tai Chueng, which later is highly successful. The business continues to expand and become the most powerful company known as CP group today in Thailand.
5. Ratchadaphisek
With the increasing numbers of Chinese expats, perhaps, Ratchadaphisek is the next business territories for Chinese investors. Although little sign of Chinese distinctive cultural trails like Yaowarat has been shown, since the area just catches the Chinese’s attention, the probability of new born community is high due to the recent expansion of business area to Ratchadaphisek. The further evidence is how a large number of condominiums in Ratchada – Rama 9 are bought up by Chinese investors in order to accommodate the Chines expats. The action is not only shorten the distance between work and home but also the Embassy of China. Moreover, in 2012 the Bank of China, Ratchada branch was established to provide a full service banking in order to encourage the trade between Thailand and China.
6. Nichada Thani
Nichada Thani, known as the expatriate town of Thailand, is truly suitable for any expats. Since its first plan has aimed to be international community, Nichada Thani looks very similar to American suburb, attracting a large number of American expats. The amenities, for example, shopping plaza, pharmacy, beauty salon, a fitness center, Villa Market and Thailand premier International School - International School Bangkok (ISB), are fully provided with spoken English staffs. For health care services, Bumrungrad International hospital has a clinic operating inside the area.
According to 2014 statistics of foreign employees in Thailand shows 77,601 positions are foreign investors and temporary workers, while 6,049 positions are others, which all totals 83,650 positions (from common jobs and BOI promotion types.) The record also found that Japanese employees come the first ranking of employment in Thailand. Their occupations are assigned to a division manager or in engineer section which is allowed them to have high income and purchasing power.
Information courtesy of : Office of foreign workers administration
For property investors, getting to know your target zone is critical. However in Bangkok, TerraBKK research still believes condominiums located in CBD have largely met the demand for expats. In addition to further information, our researching teams have surveyed the condominiums located within 300 meters range of BTS station and concluded the analysis of rental prices are as follow:
