A guy in a coworking space in Bangkok told me to stop booking hostels and get a monthly rental instead

I was bouncing around guesthouses every 3 days for my first 2 months in Southeast Asia, wasting so much time checking in and out. He said look for a spot on Airbnb for $400 a month and just settle for a while. Has anyone else found that slowing down actually saves money long term?

3 comments

3 Comments

miles2796d ago

Wait, $400 a month for a rental in Bangkok? That's wild to me. I mean sure maybe if you go way outside the center, but are we talking like a legit studio or just a room in someone's house? I've seen prices jump lately, so that number sounds really low unless you're fine living in a shoebox with no AC. Slowing down does save money on checkout fees and random last-minute grabs for overpriced rooms, but that rental price has me scratching my head a bit.

val9496d agoTop Commenter

The $400 figure is real if you hunt around the old city areas like Soi Nana or parts of Banglamphu, but like you said it's usually a basic studio with a window unit AC and a bathroom that's basically a wet room. I've noticed this pattern everywhere now where people think travel has to be either luxury resorts or hostels, but actually the middle ground is still there if you're willing to dig a bit. Same thing with groceries here in the US where everyone complains about prices but nobody checks the discount aisle or buys store brands anymore. People just grab what's in front of them and call it a day, then act shocked when the bill shows up.

grantf734d ago

@miles279 My buddy actually found a place for $375 last year and it was a legit studio, not a room share, but the AC sounded like a lawnmower and the shower just drained onto the bathroom floor. He lasted two months before moving to a place with actual water pressure and a quieter AC for like $500. Funny thing is, he spent way more on random nights out because saving rent made him feel like he could splurge on stupid stuff like overpriced craft beers in Sukhumvit. Goes to show cheap rent doesn't always mean cheap living if your habits don't slow down too.