Finding a condo near a good school in Bangkok is the kind of puzzle that keeps expat parents and local families up at night. You want your kids in a solid school, but you also need to be realistic about commute times, rent prices, and whether the neighborhood actually feels like somewhere you want to live. The good news? Bangkok has genuinely excellent schools scattered across the city, and there are rental neighborhoods clustered around them where prices haven't completely spiraled out of control yet.

Let me walk you through the neighborhoods that actually work if you're balancing school proximity with a reasonable rent budget. I am talking about areas where you can find a two-bedroom condo for 30,000 to 50,000 THB per month and still get your kids to school without losing your mind in traffic.

Thonglor and Ekkamai: The Premium School Belt

If you are looking at Bangkok's most established international and Thai schools, Thonglor and Ekkamai sit right in the middle of everything that matters. Bangkok Prep, Harrow, and Bromsgrove are all within 10 to 15 minutes from this area depending on traffic. The BTS skytrain runs through both neighborhoods, which matters when you are calculating your morning commute.

The trade-off is obvious: rents here run hot. A decent two-bedroom condo in Thonglor typically costs between 40,000 and 65,000 THB per month. Ekkamai is slightly cheaper, sitting in the 35,000 to 55,000 THB range. You are paying for location and the fact that every expat family in Bangkok seems to want to live here. Buildings like Aguston Sukhumvit 22 and Q House Ekkamai have good availability, and both are minutes from the BTS.

Why it actually works: Your kids walk to school or take a five-minute songthaew ride. You have direct BTS access to Silom for work. Restaurants, clinics, and grocery stores are everywhere. The school run is not a nightmare, which is honestly the biggest win you can have with young kids.

Ari and Sanam Pao: The Underrated Option Near Top Schools

This is where I usually tell friends to look first if they have a real budget constraint. Ari sits on the BTS line and is minutes away from some of Bangkok's best Thai and international schools without the premium price tag of Thonglor. Sanam Pao, just north of Ari, is even quieter and more affordable.

Schools like Ruamchoke School and Bangkok Christian College are accessible from this area, and rent averages 25,000 to 40,000 THB for a two-bedroom. The MRT also runs through Sanam Pao, giving you backup commute options. A lot of local Thai families live here, which means the neighborhood feels authentic and the local markets are genuinely good.

The actual scenario: Your family moves to a 35,000 THB condo in Ari, kids take a short songthaew to Ruamchoke, you take the BTS to Asok in 12 minutes. You spend maybe 8,000 THB per month on school fees instead of 100,000 THB. The neighborhood is livable without feeling like you are in a foreign bubble. That math works for a lot of people.

Phrom Phong and Nana: Near International Schools and Convenience

Phrom Phong is where you find families who want school proximity and don't mind paying for it, but are looking for something slightly less frantic than central Thonglor. The BTS station is a major hub, and schools like Anglo Singapore International School and St. Andrew's International School are accessible from here.

Two-bedroom condos in Phrom Phong range from 38,000 to 58,000 THB per month, depending on the building and floor. Nana, directly north, is marginally cheaper at 35,000 to 50,000 THB. Both neighborhoods have solid restaurants, good hospitals like Bumrungrad International Hospital, and enough expat density that you won't feel completely lost.

One thing to know: traffic on Sukhumvit Road during school run times is predictable chaos. You budget an extra 15 minutes for any commute during 7 to 9 AM and 2 to 4 PM. But if you are working in the Phrom Phong or Nana area or heading downtown via BTS, it balances out.

Bearing and Lat Phrao: The Family-Friendly Value Play

If you are open to being outside the main expat zone, Bearing and Lat Phrao offer serious value and reasonable school access. The MRT connects directly here, so your commute to central Bangkok is predictable and affordable at 15 to 20 THB per ride. Thai schools in this area are solid, and rent drops to 20,000 to 35,000 THB for a two-bedroom.

This is genuinely the neighborhood where Bangkok families who are not chasing international school status actually live. The tesco lotus is enormous, the local hospital is well-maintained, and your kids go to Thai schools where they will actually become fluent in the language. If that sounds like your plan anyway, the financial difference is substantial, and your rent money goes further.

Reality check: You are not walking to a major international school from here. But if you are sending kids to Ramkhamhaeng School or another strong Thai option, the location works. Your MRT commute to anywhere downtown is 25 to 35 minutes. For families prioritizing value and authentic neighborhood living, this makes real sense.

Chidlom and Petchburi: Office Workers with School-Age Kids

If you work in the central business district and have school-age kids, Chidlom and the Petchburi area sit on the BTS line with reasonable school access. Rents here are 35,000 to 50,000 THB for a two-bedroom. Your commute to work is 10 minutes on the BTS, and schools are accessible via short drives or songthaew.

The neighborhood is less dominated by families than Thonglor, so it feels less like a school-focused residential zone. But that also means fewer massive tuition fees, less school-parent competition, and a bit more breathing room. You get BTS access, decent condos, and you are not paying premium family neighborhood prices for every square meter.

Comparing Your Options at a Glance

• Thonglor: 40,000-65,000 THB | BTS Thonglor | Bangkok Prep, Harrow, Bromsgrove | Premium international school families
• Ekkamai: 35,000-55,000 THB | BTS Ekkamai | Bromsgrove, NIS, Anglo Singapore | Good balance of school access and price
• Ari and Sanam Pao: 25,000-40,000 THB | BTS Ari, MRT Sanam Pao | Ruamchoke, Bangkok Christian College | Budget-conscious families wanting local schools
• Phrom Phong: 38,000-58,000 THB | BTS Phrom Phong | Anglo Singapore, St. Andrew's | Families wanting Sukhumvit convenience
• Bearing and Lat Phrao: 20,000-35,000 THB | MRT Lat Phrao, others | Ramkhamhaeng, Thai public schools | Thai school families, maximum value

Getting Your School Research Straight

Before you commit to a neighborhood, visit the school and drive the actual route during actual rush hour. Read recent parent reviews on Fazwaz forums or local Facebook groups. Call the school directly and ask about transportation options and whether they have agreements with local condos for pickup points.

According to BTS system data, neighborhoods within a 10-minute BTS journey to major schools see higher rental demand and slightly higher prices, but that demand exists for a reason. The school commute is genuinely easier.

Check CBRE Thailand's rental market reports to see recent price trends in your target neighborhoods. Bangkok condo rents near good schools have stayed relatively stable in the 2024 market around 30,000 to 45,000 THB for a solid two-bedroom in most prime school areas.

The honest truth is this: you are balancing three things that do not always align perfectly. Good schools, affordable rent, and convenient location. You will not get all three at maximum capacity. But most neighborhoods on this list let you get two of those three quite well, and that is the win you are actually looking for when you have kids and a real monthly rent budget.

Start your search on Superagent, where you can filter by neighborhood and price range, then ask the landlords directly about proximity to your school of choice. The platform is built for exactly this kind of search, and landlords listing on Superagent are used to families asking practical questions about school commutes and neighborhood daily life.