Bangkok landlords charge electricity at two different rates. Buildings that buy power directly from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) pass on the government rate, which sits around 3.50 to 4.20 baht per unit depending on usage tier. But many serviced condos and older buildings re-sell electricity at their own markup, sometimes charging 7 to 8 baht per unit. That difference sounds small until you run three air conditioning units through a hot April.

A studio in a mid-range building near BTS Ekkamai running the AC eight hours a day can easily hit 2,500 to 4,000 baht in electricity alone during the hot season. The same unit during a cooler November might come in under 1,500 baht. Always ask the landlord which rate applies before you sign, and ask to see a previous tenant's bill if possible.

Water Costs: Small but Worth Understanding

Water in Bangkok is genuinely cheap by international standards. The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority charges a progressive rate that works out to roughly 8 to 15 baht per cubic meter for normal residential use. A single person uses maybe 5 to 8 cubic meters a month, so your water bill in a place like a Sukhumvit Soi 11 serviced apartment rarely exceeds 150 to 300 baht. It is almost never the bill that breaks a budget.

Some buildings, particularly older condos in areas like Din Daeng or Lat Phrao, bundle water into a flat monthly charge of 200 to 500 baht regardless of actual use. That is usually fine unless you have multiple people sharing a unit. Ask specifically whether water is metered or flat rate, and whether it is included in the rent or billed separately.

The Building Fee Question Nobody Asks

Many Bangkok condos quote rent as the headline figure and leave out the building or common area fee. In some buildings this is zero, folded into the rent. In others, particularly in high-rise condos in Asok or Ratchada, there is a separate monthly maintenance fee that tenants sometimes pay directly.

At a well-known building on Ratchadapisek Road near MRT Phetchaburi, some landlords advertise a unit at 18,000 baht but the common area fee of 1,800 baht is billed separately, making the real baseline 19,800 baht before any utilities. Always read the rental agreement carefully and ask what is included in the quoted rent figure.

Parking is another cost that surprises people. Buildings in central areas like Chidlom or Phrom Phong sometimes charge 1,500 to 3,000 baht a month for a reserved parking spot on top of everything else.

Internet, Aircon Servicing, and Small Costs That Add Up

Internet in Bangkok is affordable and competitive. A standard fiber package from True, AIS, or 3BB runs around 500 to 700 baht a month for decent speeds. Some condos offer a building-wide package for 400 to 500 baht, but the speeds can be unreliable if everyone in the building is connected to the same line during peak hours. Many renters in areas like On Nut or Phra Khanong simply get their own separate contract.

Air conditioning servicing is one of those costs people forget entirely. Most landlords include one free service per year, but if you are running the unit constantly, Bangkok's dust and humidity mean the filters need cleaning every two to three months. A basic clean runs 300 to 500 baht per unit. In a two-bedroom place with three or four AC units, that adds up quietly over a year.

Rubbish collection fees are usually negligible, around 50 to 100 baht a month if charged at all. Some buildings in areas like Sathorn include this in the service charge. In Bangkok Municipal Administration areas it is often built into property costs that landlords absorb.

Putting It All Together: A Realistic Monthly Budget

Take a 30,000 baht two-bedroom condo near BTS Ari as an example. On paper the rent looks manageable for a family or two professionals sharing. But add electricity at 3,000 to 5,000 baht during hot months, water at 300 baht, internet at 600 baht, and parking at 2,000 baht, and the real monthly cost lands between 35,900 and 37,900 baht. That is a gap of almost 8,000 baht from the advertised price, and it catches people out every month.

The situation is different in a newer serviced building near MRT Lumphini where electricity is at MEA rate and building fees are included. A 22,000 baht studio there might only cost 24,500 to 25,500 all-in because the structure is more transparent from the start.

The key variable is always electricity rate and whether utilities are bundled. Everything else is relatively predictable once you ask the right questions upfront.

What to Ask Before You Sign

Before committing to any Bangkok rental, get clear answers on five things: electricity rate per unit (MEA rate or building rate), whether water is metered or flat, what is included in the monthly rent figure, parking cost if relevant, and whether there is a separate building or common area fee.

Ask for a sample or previous utility bill. Any reasonable landlord will share this without hesitation. If they hesitate or avoid the question, that itself tells you something useful about how the rental relationship will go.

Comparing Bangkok condos properly means comparing total monthly costs, not just the headline rent. A 28,000 baht listing with MEA electricity and no extra fees on Sukhumvit Soi 49 can easily be cheaper than a 24,000 baht listing in a serviced building where the utilities and building fees push everything higher. The difference between these two types of listings is often not obvious until you know what to look for.

Superagent.co helps Bangkok renters see the full picture before they commit. Browse listings at superagent.co and ask the AI assistant to break down estimated monthly costs for any unit that catches your eye.

Written by the Superagent editorial team. Superagent is Bangkok's AI-powered condo rental platform, helping expats and locals find the right rental faster. superagent.co