Bangkok Tops Global List as LEAST Affordable City for Renters

[Gaybutton]

Bangkok Tops Global List as Least Affordable City for Renters

October 28, 2025

Bangkok has been labelled the least affordable city in the world for renters, according to the Housing Affordability Review 2025 by German asset manager DWS. The report highlights that a typical median household in Bangkok spends approximately 79% of their disposable income on renting a two-bedroom flat, marking the Thai capital as the priciest city in terms of rent-to-income ratio.

This year's findings are consistent with DWS' inaugural study from last year, which also ranked Bangkok as the least affordable. The sharp increase in rental costs is attributed to a drop in condo supply, reaching a 16-year low due to high interest rates and rising construction expenses, as reported by Colliers Thailand. Following Bangkok are Mumbai and Mexico, with renters spending 66% of their income, while Hong Kong and Johannesburg take the fourth and fifth spots, with ratios above 60% and 58% respectively.

The report's analysis of 80 cities worldwide indicates that a lower ratio signifies more affordable rents, with the global average standing at 38%. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Salt Lake City ranks as the most affordable city, with a rent-to-income ratio of just 20%, followed closely by Leipzig and Austin at 23%. The study notes that cities in the lower half of affordability have experienced a sharper decline in their ratios and slower growth in residual spending power compared to more economically robust cities.

DWS also examined the residual income households retain after rent. Singapore leads globally, with residents having an average leftover income of around 292,960 Thai baht, significantly higher than the global average. This ranking is followed by San Francisco and Abu Dhabi, with household residuals of 280,080 Thai baht and 256,000 Thai baht, respectively, showcasing these cities' ability to maintain strong purchasing power post-rent.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1377223-bang ... r-renters/

[Dodger]

Why anyone who has a choice would want to live in Bangkok is beyond me.

Not only are the rents high - but it also ranks as being the second most polluted city in Thailand...and the worst for traffic by far.

Jai and I visit once or twice a year and have a great time. Nice place to visit - but that's about it.

Bangkok also achieved top place as being the worst city in the world for pickpockets and scams. Read below:
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Safety warning: World’s worst city for pickpocketing and scams revealed

By Hoai Anh

October 25, 2025

Thailand’s Bangkok has been ranked the worst city globally for pickpocketing and scams, according to U.K.-based insurance price comparison website Compare the Market.

The Thai capital scored 83.45 on the website’s ranking of pickpocketing and scams hotspots worldwide, released on Wednesday.

The Grand Palace, one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks, was marked as the worst site in the world for tourism crime, receiving more mentions of scams and theft in visitor reviews than any other destination.

Two other popular spots, Wat Pho and the Chatuchak Weekend Market, also stood out for the number of pickpocketing and scam reports.

Compare the Market’s study assessed over 75 cities worldwide based on perceived risks of these activities, using the number of scams and pickpocketing mentions per 1,000 visitor reviews.

It also evaluated how often visitors expressed concerns about being robbed or mugged at specific locations.

Paris and Prague, two renowned cultural destinations, followed in second and third places, respectively.

Paris scored 68.81 with 4.54 pickpocketing mentions per 1,000 reviews, as against 2.27 for scams. The French capital also scored 60.04 for concern over robbery, placing it sixth globally on this measure.

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, scored 52.16 largely due to a high rate of pickpocketing and the total number of crime mentions in reviews.

Travel insurance experts advise visitors to Prague’s major attractions to keep their hands on their pockets to protect their phones from theft.

Shanghai ranked fourth with a score of 51.83. It has the second highest rate of scam mentions globally, at 6.28 per 1,000 reviews.

Similar to Bangkok, visitors to this city are less concerned about robbery but need to keep a close eye on their belongings.

Overall, 27 European and 24 Asian cities were named, together accounting for more than half of the ranking.

By contrast, only six American cities made the list, all of which placed near the bottom. In Australia, only Sydney and Melbourne were mentioned.

To minimize the risk of pickpocketing and scams, travelers should take simple precautions, such as keeping valuables in secure places, avoiding unlicensed taxis, and exercising caution when approached by strangers.

Visitors should also familiarize themselves with common scams at each destination to better recognize suspicious behavior and avoid becoming victim.

The study’s findings serve as a reminder that, while travel can be a rich and rewarding experience, it also carries certain risks.

Cities like Bangkok, Paris, and Prague offer incredible attractions, but tourists must remain vigilant to avoid falling for tourism theft.

Below is the full list of the 10 worst cities for pickpocketing and scams in 2025.

Bangkok: 83.45
Paris: 68.81
Prague: 52.16
Shanghai: 51.83
Agra: 47.48
Rome: 45.53
Pattaya: 44.43
Phuket: 40.52
Shenzhen: 39.51
Mumbai: 36.86

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/e ... 55888.html

[Gaybutton]

avoiding unlicensed taxis

I don't know if I agree with that part. It's the licensed taxis I hear about most when it comes to ripping off passengers.

[Jun]

Bangkok also achieved top place as being the worst city in the world for pickpockets and scams.

I'd prefer to separate pickpockets and scams.

Scams are easily avoidable by switching the brain on.
I did a little reading on scams before my first trip to Thailand & Cambodia. For the latter, there was a site called Scambodia.
Anyhow, so on my first trip, when a tuk tuk driver told me the Royal Palace was closed, I said I think I will go anyway & carried on.

Pickpockets take a little more effort to avoid.
However, I've never suffered from that in Thailand or anywhere in SE Asia. I don't directly know of anyone who has been affected and I don't recall reading about it on a forum. Not once.
It's also the kind of country where you can hand over £6000 in a forex booth, get the correct sum back and then feel safe walking to a bank to pay it in.

Whereas, I personally know several people who have been had by pickpockets in Barcelona. I would have thought Barcelona should be in the top 5 for pickpockets, yet it's not even in their top 10.

But the important thing with a top 10 list is clicks, not accuracy. Clicks pay the bills and the punters have no way of proving inaccuracy.

As for Bangkok accommodation, there are 2 bedroom apartments available for under 5000 per month in reasonable locations.
Even a couple on the minimum wage ought to earn 16,000 baht per month & I'm sure the median in Bangkok is a long way above that minimum wage.

[christianpfc]

Why anyone who has a choice would want to live in Bangkok is beyond me.

Not only are the rents high - but it also ranks as being the second most polluted city in Thailand...and the worst for traffic by far.

Jai and I visit once or twice a year and have a great time. Nice place to visit - but that's about it.

I would say the same about Pattaya. Nice to visit a few times per year for a few days each, I could even stay a week, but wouldn't want to be there long term.

Rents high - not by my standards. I think the article distorts some data. Maybe they take the income of a family of 4 and compare it with rent for a two-bedroom apartment, disregarding the fact that a family of 4 would probably live in a one-bedroom apartment?
Leipzig is a low-rental city in Germany. Munich the most expensive as far as I know.

Worst traffic - there is a good bus system and you have various metros. Standing room only during rush hours, but not affected by traffic jams. Cheap taxis (in non-touristy areas, and speaking Thai, no problems with meter).

[christianpfc]

Pickpockets take a little more effort to avoid.
However, I've never suffered from that in Thailand or anywhere in SE Asia. I don't directly know of anyone who has been affected and I don't recall reading about it on a forum. Not once.

I once thwarted an attempt at pickpocketing on a songtheo in Bangkok. A friend got pickpocketed in Pattaya. A friend's friend got pickpocketed in Phnom Penh last week.

[Dodger]

I would say the same about Pattaya. Nice to visit a few times per year for a few days each, I could even stay a week, but wouldn't want to be there long term.

Rarely are two people's preference for where they want to live the same.

I grew up in one of the most dangerous cities in the world and couldn't wait to one day be near the ocean away from the smothering traffic, street hustlers, gun shots, and sounds of police sirens. So for me, Pattaya was like heaven when I first washed-up on its shores.

At this very moment all I can hear are the sounds of the waves crashing on the distant shores...birds chirping in the jungle outside...and my native partner mashing chillies in a mortar and pestle. Just the way I like it. 20 clicks around the bay to Pattaya for short visits, but not close enough as to distract from the Robinson Caruso lifestyle I have here at HOME.