Moving to Bangkok with Kids

Start with the school, not the house

You probably already know this, but it bears repeating: the school determines where you live, not the other way around. In Bangkok, where a 10-kilometre drive during peak hours can take well over an hour, signing a lease before you have a school offer can lock you into a daily commute that eats two to three hours.

Shortlist schools, visit them (or attend virtual tours), get an offer, then look for housing within a sensible radius. For most families, that radius is 15 to 20 minutes by car outside of rush hour.

Bangkok has more than 100 international schools. The realistic shortlist for most expat families is narrower: perhaps 15 to 20 that are well-established, properly accredited, and genuinely set up for globally mobile children. The rest vary widely.

Schools are spread across a wide metropolitan area. Bangkok Patana is in Bang Na. ISB is in Nonthaburi. Harrow is up on Chaeng Watthana. Shrewsbury is on the riverside. There is no single "expat area" that is conveniently close to everything. Bangkok offers strong options across British, IB, and American curricula. For a full comparison, see our Bangkok fees guide.

Fee sources: ISB, Patana, Harrow, Bangkok Prep, Garden. Rate: ฿35 = US$1. Verify directly with each school.

See also: IB schools in Bangkok | British curriculum schools in Bangkok.

Where to live

Once you have shortlisted schools, the neighbourhood question answers itself. Bangkok's expat family clusters are shaped almost entirely by school locations and proximity to the BTS Skytrain.

Sukhumvit corridor (Phrom Phong to On Nut)

This is the default expat strip. It runs along the BTS Sukhumvit line, and the stations between Phrom Phong (E5) and On Nut (E9) form the spine of international family life in central Bangkok. Restaurants, supermarkets (Villa Market, Tops, Gourmet Market), hospitals, and international-standard condominiums are dense along this stretch. NIST is off Sukhumvit Soi 15. Bangkok Prep is on Sukhumvit 77 (On Nut). St Andrews International School (Sukhumvit 107) is at Bearing BTS.

The area is walkable by Bangkok standards, at least between the BTS and the main sois. The trade-off is density: this is a city centre, and the condos reflect that. A two-bedroom condo runs ฿40,000 to ฿80,000 per month (US$1,100 to US$2,300). Three-bedroom units or townhouses with a garden cost ฿80,000 to ฿150,000 (US$2,300 to US$4,300). Families who want a house with outdoor space will find the options limited and expensive here.

Good for: families who want urban convenience, BTS access, and proximity to NIST, Bangkok Prep, or St Andrews. Dual-income families where both parents work in central Bangkok.

Sathorn / Silom

More corporate than the Sukhumvit strip, and noticeably fewer families. The area is home to embassies, banks, and high-end hotels. Garden International School is here, offering a British curriculum at significantly lower fees than the premium schools (primary tuition around ฿431,100 per year, roughly US$12,300). BNH Hospital is nearby.

Sathorn works well for smaller families, particularly those with one child at Garden International and a working parent in the financial district. It is less suited to families who want a ready-made expat community or a large house with a garden.

Nichada Thani

A different world. Nichada Thani is a large gated compound in Nonthaburi, north of central Bangkok. Inside the walls: detached houses with gardens and pools, a clubhouse, tennis courts, and a community of predominantly expat families. International School Bangkok (ISB) is right next door, and Rose Marie Academy is within the estate.

The feel is suburban American. Children ride bikes around the compound. There is a genuine neighbourhood. The trade-off is isolation: Nichada is 30 to 45 minutes from central Bangkok outside of rush hour, and longer during peak times. If both parents work in central Bangkok, this is a punishing commute. If one parent works from home or does not work, and the children attend ISB, it makes a lot of sense.

House rents in Nichada run ฿60,000 to ฿200,000 per month (US$1,700 to US$5,700) depending on size and condition, according to listings on Thailand Property and FazWaz. A four-bedroom house with a pool sits around ฿120,000 to ฿150,000.

Chaeng Watthana / Don Mueang corridor

Harrow International School Bangkok is on Chaeng Watthana Road. DBS Denla British School is also in Nonthaburi, in this general area. The neighbourhood is newer, less established as an expat hub, and distinctly less walkable. Families here tend to organise their lives around the school campus and the car. Rents are lower than Sukhumvit, and houses with gardens are easier to find.

This area suits families attending Harrow or DBS who are happy to trade central-Bangkok convenience for more space and lower costs.

Bang Na / Bearing

Bangkok Patana School, one of Bangkok's oldest and most respected international schools, is in Bang Na. Concordian International School is further out on the Bangna-Trad Highway. St Andrews (Sukhumvit 107) is at Bearing BTS.

Bang Na offers more space than central Sukhumvit, with lower rents and a less frenetic pace. Three-bedroom houses are available from ฿50,000 per month. The area is less cosmopolitan and has fewer of the cafés and restaurants that characterise Phrom Phong or Thonglor, but it is a genuine neighbourhood with real community. Mega Bangna, one of Bangkok's largest shopping centres, is nearby.

Cost of living

Bangkok is often described as cheap. For a single person eating street food and living in a studio, it can be. For a family with children in international schools, it is not.

School fees are by far the largest line item in any expat family budget in Bangkok. A single child at ISB costs over ฿1,000,000 per year in tuition alone (roughly US$28,000). Two children at a premium school, and you are looking at US$50,000 to US$60,000 a year before you have paid rent or bought groceries.

The "modest" tier assumes a budget-tier school, a two-bedroom condo, and eating mostly local food. "Comfortable" assumes a mid-tier school, a three-bedroom house or condo, regular dining out, and some domestic help. "Premium" assumes a top-tier school, a large house, a full-time driver and maid, and imported groceries. All figures based on ฿35 = US$1 (March 2026). Sources: Numbeo Bangkok, Thailand Insider Guide, school fee schedules linked above, and rental listings on DDProperty and Hipflat.

The key takeaway: if both children are at a premium school, fees alone will approach or exceed ฿200,000 per month. That single line item dwarfs everything else. Families on a corporate package rarely feel this; families paying out of pocket feel it acutely.

Healthcare

Bangkok's private hospitals are excellent. Several are internationally accredited and attract medical tourists from across Asia. For expat families, the standard of care is comparable to or better than what you would find in most Western cities, and at a fraction of the cost if paying out of pocket.

The hospitals most used by expat families:

• Bumrungrad International Hospital - Sukhumvit Soi 3. The most internationally known. Ranked in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2026 top 100. Treats patients from over 190 countries. Expensive by Thai standards, but world-class.
• Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital - Sukhumvit Soi 49. Popular with expat families along the Sukhumvit corridor. Strong paediatric department.
• BNH Hospital - Sathorn. Established in 1898. Preferred by many families in the Sathorn/Silom area. Good general paediatrics.
• Bangkok Hospital - Multiple branches. Part of the BDMS group.

Most expat packages include international health insurance. If yours does not, individual plans for a healthy adult in Thailand run roughly ฿40,000 to ฿120,000 per year depending on age and coverage level, according to Sawadee Living. Family plans with both inpatient and outpatient coverage typically cost US$4,000 to US$7,500 per year through international insurers such as Cigna, BUPA, or Pacific Prime, per Pacific Prime's 2025 estimates.

Air quality and children's health. This is the topic that every Bangkok relocation guide should talk about and many avoid. From roughly January to April, Bangkok's air quality deteriorates significantly. Agricultural burning in neighbouring provinces and countries, combined with vehicle emissions and stagnant weather, pushes PM2.5 levels to unhealthy or hazardous territory. In January 2026, readings across Bangkok reached 79 to 108 µg/m³, nearly triple Thailand's own safety threshold.

During bad spells, schools sometimes cancel outdoor PE and sports fixtures. Children with asthma or respiratory conditions may find these months difficult. Most expat families invest in air purifiers for their home and check apps like IQAir daily during the season. N95 masks are standard kit for February and March. It is not a reason to avoid Bangkok, but it is a factor that deserves honest acknowledgement, particularly if your child has existing respiratory issues.

Visas and paperwork

Thai visa arrangements for expat families are bureaucratic but well-trodden. The system works, provided you start the paperwork early and resign yourself to periodic queuing.

Working parent: Non-Immigrant B visa, obtained from a Thai embassy or consulate before arrival. Your employer in Thailand will arrange the supporting documentation, including a letter from the Ministry of Labour. Once in Thailand, you apply for a work permit. The visa is initially valid for 90 days and can be extended to one year at Thai Immigration.

90-day reporting. Every foreign national staying in Thailand longer than 90 consecutive days must report their address to immigration every 90 days. This can be done in person, by mail, or online. The 90-day clock resets if you leave the country. Miss it, and you face a fine of ฿2,000 (rising to ฿5,000 if caught by authorities). It is not difficult, but it is one of those recurring administrative tasks that catches people out.

Re-entry permits. If you leave Thailand while holding a one-year extension of stay, you need a re-entry permit or your extension is voided. Single re-entry permits cost ฿1,000; multiple re-entry permits cost ฿3,800. Get this before any trip abroad.

The visa situation is manageable. It is not frictionless. Budget half a day for each immigration visit and keep a well-organised file of photocopies. Thai immigration offices have a fondness for paperwork that can feel extraordinary if you are coming from a country where things are done digitally.

Transport and traffic

Bangkok's traffic is genuinely bad. Not "a bit congested" bad. Genuinely, grindingly, life-alteringly bad during peak hours. The morning school run (6:30 to 8:30am) and the evening commute (4:00 to 7:00pm) can turn a 5-kilometre drive into a 45-minute ordeal. This is why the school-before-house rule matters so much.

BTS Skytrain. The BTS Sukhumvit line is the spine of expat life in central Bangkok. A single trip costs ฿16 to ฿44 depending on distance, per KKday's Bangkok transport guide. It is fast, clean, air-conditioned, and avoids the traffic entirely. If you can organise your life along the BTS line, daily transport becomes radically easier. The limitation: it does not reach Nichada, Harrow, ISB, or Bangkok Patana.

School buses. Most international schools run their own bus services. At Bangkok Patana, bus fees for a round trip range from ฿77,000 to ฿116,100 per year depending on zone. At Harrow, bus fees run from around ฿96,300 to ฿136,200 per year. These are additional to tuition. The buses are air-conditioned and monitored, and for most families they are the most practical option for the school run.

Grab. Ubiquitous and reliable. A 20-minute ride costs around ฿100 to ฿200. For daily errands and weekend outings, Grab largely replaces the need to own a car.

A private driver. Common among families at premium schools. A full-time driver with their own car costs roughly ฿15,000 to ฿20,000 per month for the driver's salary, plus fuel, according to expat community estimates. Some families hire a driver at ฿3,000 per day for an 8 to 10-hour period. For families at schools not on the BTS line, a driver transforms daily logistics.

Do not underestimate traffic when choosing a home. Check your proposed commute during actual school-run hours, not on a Sunday afternoon. Google Maps at 7:30am on a Tuesday will tell you a very different story from Google Maps at 2pm on a Saturday.

Settling in

Bangkok is not a difficult city to enjoy once you are set up. The food is excellent, the cost of dining out is low by international standards, the service culture is warm, and there is a large, well-established expat community. The hard part is the first month.

Language. You do not need to speak Thai to function in expat Bangkok. The international school community operates in English, and most service staff in expat-heavy areas speak enough English for daily transactions. That said, children pick up conversational Thai surprisingly fast, particularly in primary school. Adults less so. Learning basic Thai is appreciated, and a few phrases go a long way in building goodwill outside the expat bubble.

Community. The expat parent network in Bangkok is strong. BAMBI (Bangkok Mothers and Babies International) runs regular playgroups, events, and support groups. The Bangkok Mums Facebook group is active and useful for practical questions. Most international schools have well-organised Parent Teacher groups that provide an immediate social network. For the non-working spouse, these communities are often the difference between enjoying Bangkok and feeling isolated.

Domestic help. Full-time live-in nannies in Bangkok cost ฿18,000 to ฿40,000 per month depending on experience, language ability, and duties, according to Kiidu and HelloNanny. A part-time housekeeper (three to four days per week) runs ฿8,000 to ฿15,000. Domestic help is both affordable and normal within the expat community. Recommendations from other parents are the most reliable route to finding someone good.

Burning season (January to April). This has already been covered under healthcare, but it is worth repeating under settling in because it affects daily life. During the worst weeks, typically late February to March, the sky turns hazy and the air smells of smoke. Outdoor plans get cancelled. Children wear masks to school. You check the IQAir app before deciding whether to go to the park. This is the one period when Bangkok can feel oppressive rather than enjoyable. It passes, but families with young children should be aware of it before they commit.

Rainy season (June to October). Heavy afternoon downpours are the norm. Streets flood temporarily. The rain is usually short, an hour or two, and the temperature drops pleasantly. Most families adapt quickly. Carry an umbrella and avoid scheduling outdoor activities for late afternoon. The rain is not a reason to avoid Bangkok; if anything, it clears the air.

Weekend life. Bangkok offers plenty for families at weekends. Chatuchak Weekend Market, Lumpini Park, the Chao Phraya river boats, and dozens of family-friendly malls (Bangkok is a mall city, for better or worse). Day trips to Kanchanaburi, Khao Yai, or the beach towns of Hua Hin and Pattaya are all within two to three hours' drive. Domestic flights to Chiang Mai, Phuket, and the islands are short and cheap.

Frequently asked questions

Can I enrol my child mid-year? Most Bangkok international schools accept rolling admissions throughout the year, subject to availability. Popular year groups (Reception, Year 7, Year 12) at the most sought-after schools fill up. Start the conversation three to six months before your intended arrival.

How much should I budget for the first year? At a premium school, the first year typically costs 20 to 30 per cent more than the annual tuition figure. Registration fees, admission fees, capital levies, uniform, and deposits add up. At ISB, the one-off registration fee is ฿260,000 (US$7,400) on top of tuition. At Harrow, the admission fee is ฿225,000 plus a refundable deposit of ฿200,000. Ask every school for the total first-year cost in writing before you commit.

Is Bangkok safe for children? Generally, yes. Bangkok is a low-crime city by international standards. The expat neighbourhoods are safe, the school campuses are gated and secured, and violent crime against foreigners is rare. The practical safety concerns are road traffic (pavements are uneven and crossings are anarchic), air quality during burning season, and the heat. Mosquito-borne illnesses (dengue) are present but manageable with repellent and awareness.

Do I need a car? If you live on the BTS line and your children's school provides a bus service, you can manage without one. Many families do. If your school is off the BTS line (Nichada, Harrow, Bangkok Patana), a car or a driver becomes close to essential. Grab covers most other transport needs.

What about the heat? Bangkok is hot year-round, typically 30 to 35°C, with humidity above 70 per cent. Children acclimatise faster than adults, usually within a few weeks. Schools are fully air-conditioned. Make sure your home has good air conditioning and that your electricity budget accounts for running it constantly; a family condo easily uses ฿3,000 to ฿6,000 per month in electricity.

Methodology: This guide draws on published school fee schedules (2025-26 academic year), rental listing data from DDProperty, Hipflat, Thailand Property, and FazWaz, healthcare information from hospital websites and insurance brokers, visa information from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and community sources including BAMBI and expat forums. Cost-of-living figures reflect early 2026 and will change over time. Exchange rate used throughout: ฿35 = US$1 (March 2026).

We work hard to make every figure, date, and description on this page accurate. We do not always get it right. If you spot an error, a fee that has changed, a fact that is out of date, or something we have got wrong, please tell us. Use the feedback button above or email us directly. We will check it and update the article.