If you're planning to move to Bangkok from India, you're joining one of the fastest growing expat communities in the city. Over the past five years, the number of Indian professionals, startup founders, and remote workers calling Bangkok home has exploded. And honestly, it makes sense. The cost of living is lower than Mumbai or Bangalore for a comparable lifestyle, the food scene is incredible, and the city just works in a way that feels familiar but upgraded.

I've helped dozens of Indian friends settle into Bangkok, and the same questions always come up. Where do I live? What visa do I need? How do I avoid getting ripped off on rent? Let me walk you through all of it.

Visa Options That Actually Work for Indians

Let's start with the paperwork, because nothing else matters if you can't legally stay. Indian passport holders get a visa exemption for 60 days on arrival, which gives you breathing room to explore. But if you're planning to actually live and work here, you'll need something more permanent.

The most common route is the Non-Immigrant B visa, sponsored by a Thai employer. If you're working for an Indian IT company with a Bangkok office, like Infosys or TCS, your employer handles most of this. The process takes about 4 to 6 weeks and requires a work permit on top of the visa.

For remote workers and freelancers, the Thailand DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) launched in 2024 is a game changer. It gives you 180 days, extendable to 360, and you can work remotely for a non-Thai company. You'll need to show an employment contract or proof of freelance income of at least USD 15,000 per year. Another solid option is the Thailand Elite visa, which starts at 600,000 THB for 5 years. Pricey, but zero hassle.

My friend Ravi moved from Pune last year on a DTV. He applied at the Thai consulate in Mumbai, got approved in two weeks, and was set up in a Sukhumvit condo before his old lease in India even ended.

Where Indian Expats Love to Live in Bangkok

The Indian community in Bangkok has a few distinct hubs, and where you choose depends on your lifestyle and budget. Let me break down the main neighborhoods.

Sukhumvit Soi 3 to Soi 23, near BTS Nana and Asok stations, is the classic choice. It's central, walkable, and packed with Indian restaurants. You'll find everything from Punjabi dhabas to South Indian filter coffee within a 10 minute walk. One bedroom condos in buildings like The Trendy Condominium near BTS Nana go for 15,000 to 22,000 THB per month. Two bedrooms in nicer buildings like Supalai Premier Asok run 28,000 to 40,000 THB.

If you have a family and want more space, look at On Nut or Bearing along the BTS Sukhumvit line. The Ideo Mobi Sukhumvit near BTS On Nut offers two bedroom units starting at 20,000 THB. There's a Big C and Tesco Lotus nearby, and the Indian grocery store on Sukhumvit Soi 3 is only a short BTS ride away.

For IT professionals working in offices around Rama 9 or Phra Ram 9, the MRT corridor is gold. Buildings like Life Asoke Hype near MRT Phra Ram 9 offer modern one bedrooms for 14,000 to 18,000 THB, and you're steps from Central Plaza Grand Rama 9 for everything you need.

How Renting Actually Works Here

Bangkok's rental market is different from India in a few key ways, and knowing them upfront will save you money and headaches.

First, almost every condo comes fully furnished. We're talking bed, sofa, fridge, washing machine, TV, and often dishes and cookware. You don't need to buy furniture like you would when renting in Bangalore or Delhi. Just bring your suitcase.

Standard lease terms are 12 months with a two month security deposit plus one month's rent upfront. So for a 20,000 THB condo, you're looking at 60,000 THB on day one. Some landlords accept a one month deposit for shorter leases, but that's negotiable.

A big difference from India is that there's no broker fee for tenants in most cases. The landlord pays the agent. But you still need to watch out for inflated prices on listing sites. A unit listed at 25,000 THB on Facebook might actually rent for 20,000 THB if you negotiate directly with the owner.

My colleague Priya found her Thonglor two bedroom on a listing site at 35,000 THB. After using an AI search tool, she found the same unit available at 30,000 THB directly from the owner. That's 60,000 THB saved over a year.

Setting Up Your Life After You Land

Once you've signed a lease, the practical stuff moves fast. Get a Thai SIM card from AIS or True at any 7-Eleven. Open a Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn Bank account, which most branches will do with your passport and lease agreement. Download Grab for transport, LINE for messaging (nobody uses WhatsApp here), and Foodpanda for delivery.

For Indian groceries, the shops around Soi 3 and Soi 11 stock everything from atta and dal to Maggi and Haldiram's. There's also a Little India area near Pahurat, accessible from MRT Sam Yot, where you'll find fabric shops, sweet stores, and temples.

Healthcare is another huge advantage. Bumrungrad Hospital near BTS Nana has Hindi speaking staff and costs a fraction of comparable care in Indian private hospitals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't wire money to a landlord before seeing the unit in person or through a verified platform. Scams targeting Indian renters do exist, especially on Facebook groups. Always verify the unit, meet the landlord or agent, and check the condo's juristic person office to confirm ownership.

Also, don't sign a lease without checking the electricity rate. Condo buildings charge between 6 to 9 THB per unit, while the government rate is about 4 THB. That difference adds up to thousands of baht per month if you run air conditioning heavily, which you will.

Moving to Bangkok from India is one of the best lifestyle decisions you can make, but finding the right condo at the right price is what makes or breaks your first few months. If you want to skip the guesswork and compare verified listings with real prices, check out Superagent at superagent.co. It uses AI to match you with condos that fit your actual needs, not just whatever a random agent wants to push.