If you've been scrolling through Bangkok rental listings in the 8,000 to 12,000 THB range, you've probably seen Pruksa Prime Sukhumvit 89 pop up more than a few times. It sits in that eastern stretch of Sukhumvit where rents drop significantly compared to the Thonglor or Asoke bubble, and it attracts a mix of young Thai professionals, teachers working at nearby international schools, and budget conscious expats who don't mind being a bit further from the main action. But is it actually a good place to live, or just cheap for a reason? Let's break it down.

Location and Getting Around from Sukhumvit 89

Pruksa Prime Sukhumvit 89 sits on Sukhumvit Soi 89, which is technically in the Bang Chak area of Phra Khanong district. The nearest BTS station is Bang Chak, and depending on where exactly you are on the soi, you're looking at a 10 to 15 minute walk to the station. That's not terrible, but it's not exactly doorstep access either. On a hot April afternoon, you'll feel every meter of that walk.

The good news is that motorcycle taxis line up at the mouth of the soi, and a quick hop to Bang Chak BTS costs about 10 to 15 THB. From Bang Chak, you're two stops from On Nut and about 20 minutes from Asoke during off peak hours. If you work somewhere along the Sukhumvit line, the commute is manageable.

One thing people overlook is that Soi 89 connects through to Sukhumvit 77, which means you also have relatively easy access to the On Nut side of things. A colleague of mine who taught at a language school near Ekkamai used to live here and found the commute perfectly fine, about 25 minutes door to door on the BTS.

The Building and What You Actually Get

Pruksa Prime Sukhumvit is a Pruksa Real Estate development, and if you know the Pruksa brand, you know what to expect. Clean, functional, no frills. These are not luxury condos. They're mass market units designed for affordability, and Pruksa does that well. The common areas are maintained, the lobby is simple but presentable, and there's usually a small fitness room and a rooftop pool.

Units here are compact. Most one bedroom layouts come in around 23 to 28 square meters, which is standard for this price tier. You'll get a small kitchen area with a counter and maybe a single burner, a bathroom, and a combined living and sleeping space. Some units have been fitted with built in furniture by previous owners, so quality varies a lot depending on the specific room you're renting.

I visited a friend's unit here last year. It was a 26 square meter one bedroom on a mid floor. The view wasn't spectacular, mostly other low rise buildings and some greenery, but natural light was decent and the air conditioning worked well. The walls are thin though. He could hear his neighbor's TV clearly at night, which is a common complaint in buildings at this price point.

Rent Prices and Value for Money

This is where Pruksa Prime Sukhumvit 89 really earns its appeal. Studio units here rent for around 6,000 to 8,000 THB per month. One bedroom units go for 8,000 to 12,000 THB depending on the floor, furnishing level, and how motivated the landlord is. Compared to similar sized units near On Nut BTS, where you'd pay 10,000 to 15,000 THB for the same square footage, the savings are real.

For someone on a teaching salary of 35,000 to 45,000 THB per month, spending 9,000 on rent here leaves a lot more breathing room than paying 14,000 closer to the BTS. A Thai friend of mine who works in accounting downtown chose this building specifically because she could save an extra 5,000 per month compared to her old place near Phra Khanong station. For her, the trade off in commute time was worth it.

Electricity is individually metered, so you pay the government rate directly. Water is usually billed at a small flat rate. No surprises there.

The Neighborhood and Daily Life

Sukhumvit 89 is a quiet, residential soi. Don't expect rooftop bars or trendy cafes on your doorstep. What you will find are local street food vendors, a few small Thai restaurants, and convenience stores within walking distance. For serious grocery shopping, Big C and Tesco Lotus at On Nut are a short motorcycle taxi or grab ride away.

The area feels very Thai. You won't run into many other foreigners on this soi, which some people love and others find isolating. If you're the kind of person who enjoys being embedded in a local neighborhood rather than an expat enclave, this part of Sukhumvit has a genuine community feel to it.

There's a decent night market near On Nut that runs most evenings, and the whole Phra Khanong to On Nut corridor has developed rapidly over the past few years with new restaurants, coworking spaces, and cafes popping up along the main road.

Who Should Consider Pruksa Prime Sukhumvit 89

This building makes the most sense for solo renters on a budget who work somewhere along the BTS Sukhumvit line. If you're a new teacher, a remote worker watching your expenses, or a young professional saving aggressively, the math works out well here. You sacrifice some convenience and building quality compared to pricier options, but you keep thousands of baht in your pocket every month.

It's less ideal for couples who need more space, anyone who relies heavily on nightlife and dining within walking distance, or people who are particularly sensitive to noise. If you need a gym you'll actually use regularly, you're better off joining a nearby standalone gym rather than relying on the building's small fitness room.

If Pruksa Prime Sukhumvit 89 is on your shortlist, or you're comparing it against other affordable options in the On Nut and Bang Chak area, try searching on superagent.co to see real time listings, compare prices across buildings, and get matched with units that fit your actual budget and commute needs. It beats scrolling through dozens of Facebook groups, trust me.