What Does THB50,000 (US$1,350) A Month Get You in Samut Prakan?

Samut Prakan is home to 1.3 million people, and I am but just one of them.

You may be considering adding yourself to that number by moving to the province. But maybe you have a budget of THB50,000 per month and wondering what 

In this guide, you’ll find out what kind of lifestyle you can live for THB50,000 per month in Samut Prakan has, including what kind of place you can rent, where you can eat and buy groceries, where to go for healthcare, and much more.  

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Why I Picked Samut Prakan

I’ve been living in Samut Prakan since 2014 with my wife and two daughters. But I never actually planned to live in Samut Prakan. It happened simply by chance.

When we arrived in Thailand, we stayed with my wife’s family near Suvarnabhumi Airport. Looking for a better quality of life, my wife reached out to a friend who told us about the condo complex she lived at on the border of Bangkok and Samut Prakan.

My wife went on Prakard.com when that was the place to look for rentals in Thailand, and she found a two-bedroom, two-bath condo at the complex for THB16,000 per month. We jumped on it.

Since then, we’ve moved around but always stayed in Samut Prakan. It has become my home, and I could sometimes never imagine living anywhere else in Thailand.

Samut Prakan Good to Know

Samut Prakan has one airport, and it happens to be a major travel hub in Southeast Asia.

Airports

Samut Prakan is home to one of the most popular airports in the world — Suvarnabhumi Airport. Although the international hub is associated more with Bangkok than Samut Prakan, it does indeed belong to Samut Prakan.

People

Samut Prakan may not be as diverse as Bangkok, but it is home to Thais and people from all over the world — mainly Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and those from Western countries. According to official Samut Prakan statistics, most of the population in the province is between 15 and 59 years old. Women outnumber men as well, but only by a narrow margin. 

Samut Prakan Immigration Office

Samut Prakan Immigration Office is located in the Mueang Samut Prakan District, about a 5-minute walk from BTS Pak Nam. It’s open from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and from 1:00 PM to 4:20 PM Monday through Friday except on public holidays. If you live in Samut Prakan, this is where you go to:

• Apply for long-term Thai visas
• Apply for re-entry permits
• Request a residence certificate
• Report for your 90-day check-ins 

Samut Prakan police (emergency): 191

Mueang Samut Prakan police (non-emergency): 02-389-2885

Ambulance: 1669

Mueang Mai Emergency Relief and Protection Division: 02-702-9038 

Thai Immigration: 02-395-0029

Crime and Safety

If you spend enough time reading the news, you’re bound to come across stories of crime in Samut Prakan. But like most of Thailand, the province is generally a safe place to live, especially for non-Thais. 

There are no official crime statistics for recent years, but authorities in the province have published reports in the past that you can read through.

•   Samut Prakan Provincial Statistical Report

Official numbers aside and going by my own personal experience and that of friends and family, I would say that Samut Prakan is a safe place to live.

I’ve never felt threatened in Samut Prakan, whether daytime or night. My daughters often play at the local park in our condo complex by themselves, as do most other kids. Some kids even walk to the local market by themselves.

That said, always exercise common sense. Avoid the snooker clubs. Don’t hang out where you’d expect to find trouble.

Quality of Life

Everyone’s meaning of quality of life differs. But I’ve broken down quality of life into a few main categories and tie them into Samut Prakan. I rate it based on my experiences between 1 and 10, with 1 being poor and 10 being high.

• Job opportunities 8/10 – Samut Prakan offers job opportunities in teaching and industry. You can find a job as a teacher relatively quickly if you look in the right places and/or know the right people.

• Environment 5/10 – Sadly, much of Thailand has environmental issues, and Samut Prakan is no different. The air quality is dangerous for at least four months out of the year because of the burning smoke coming from the north and surrounding countries. 

• Education 7/10 – Samut Prakan has a variety of schools to study at, from Thai government schools to international schools and everything in between. Of course, the quality of education your children receive depends on how much you can afford in tuition.

• Recreation 5/10 – Samut Prakan, it feels, has so much potential for recreation activities. It’s located at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. But it lacks a lot of outdoor activities. Because of this, the malls become the main source of recreation.

• Social belonging 7/10 – It’s easy to feel as if you belong in Samut Prakan, even as a non-Thai. 

• Religious practice 8/10 – Samut Prakan has temples, churches, and mosques for all major religions. 

• Safety 8/10 – As I mentioned above, I feel quite safe living in Samut Prakan.

• Security 8/10 – Since moving to Samut Prakan in 2014, I’ve only once felt that my security was at risk, and that was during the COVID pandemic. Even during military coups, I never once felt my security was threatened.

Weather and Air Quality

One thing you can’t escape in Thailand is the PM 2.5 issue, not even in Samut Prakan. From January to May the air quality drops as the burning smoke rolls down from the north and spills in from Laos and Myanmar. During these months, I usually stay inside most of the day, where I have the air filters running around the clock.

Weather

The weather in Samut Prakan follows the weather patterns of Central Thailand.

• Hot season: Samut Prakan is hottest from February to June, where it could get as hot as 110 F/43 C.

• Rainy season: The rainy season in Samut Prakan ranges from July to October. At the peak of the rainy season, you can expect heavy thunderstorms every day. But they only last for an hour or so and then it clears up.

• Cool season: Samut Prakan gets cooler from November to January. Usually, in mid-December, we have a few days that drop down to 62 F/17 C in the mornings and late nights. 

Cost of Living

Samut Prakan, like most places in Thailand, was hit with a hike in prices following the COVID pandemic. But it’s still an affordable place to live. 

With a THB50,000 per month budget, you should have no issues living a comfortable lifestyle if you’re single. In fact, I have single friends who spend almost half that amount each month.

Having said that, let’s take a detailed look at the major expenses you’ll have to budget for.

Rent

If you’re looking to rent a condo or house in Samut Prakan, you have plenty of options with a budget of THB50,000 per month.

Condos

Samut Prakan has many condos for rent and more are being built every month, especially as the BTS line expands deeper into the province. Furnished studio condos at the newly built NUE Noble at BTS Sri Lasalle start at THB8,000 per month. Not far away at The Parkland Srinakarin, you can rent a two-bedroom condo for 15,000 per month.  

Houses

Samut Prakan has many gated housing communities as well. On the lower end, you can find a detached house in a neighborhood like ANANDA BEACH LIFE for around THB25,000 per month. 

Townhouses

Townhouses are popular in Samut Prakan, but most of them tend to be poorly maintained, meaning the pools, playgrounds, or gyms may not be up to par. If you want to rent a townhouse, though, go for one in a community that has just been built and with a good management team. Bang Kaew district behind Mega Bangna has plenty of townhouses for rent in the high teens.

Food

With a budget of THB50,000 per month, you can eat out regularly in Samut Prakan and also buy groceries for home from either local markets or international supermarkets.

Thai Restaurants

Whether you’re craving southern curries like masaman, northern noodle soups like khao soy, or northeastern nam tok neua, Samut Prakan has a popular Thai restaurant that’ll satisfy your hunger. One of my favorites is Noir in the Lasalle area. A typical meal and drink for one person starts at around THB100 at these places. 

Asian Restaurants

Samut Prakan has a lot of Japanese and Korean restaurants. In fact, you could spend months in the province and not visit them all. A few of my favorites are Sushi Dai, Momotaro, and Daya Korean Barbecue. Expect to pay around THB300 per person at these restaurants. 

Indian Restaurants

I’ve talked to a lot of other foodies in Samut Prakan, and we all agree that Flavors of India is hands down the best Indian food in the province. I’ve ordered a variety of dishes from the restaurant, and none of them have disappointed me. Its garlic naan bread is fantastic and pairs well with any of the masala dishes. That said, a typical meal will run about THB200 here.

Italian Restaurants

It’s hard to find good Italian food in Samut Prakan, but Buonissimo Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria lives up to expectations. Whether you’re in the mood for pizza, pasta, or a salad, they do everything well and with pride. A margherita pizza starts at THB300 here.

Villa Market

Villa Market is the most well-known Western grocery store chain in all of Thailand, but it tends to be the most expensive because most of its goods are imported. That said, we do about 50 percent of our grocery shopping here, mostly for our kids’ snacks, eggs and dairy, chicken and pork, and some dried and canned goods. For a single person, you can expect to pay around THB6,000 a month shopping here.

Tops Supermarket

Tops is a supermarket chain similar to Villa, and prices tend to be the same. But Tops stocks more Thai goods than Villa, so if you’re looking for a good mix of groceries, it’s a great place to shop. We do some of our grocery shopping here, but only if we happen to be nearby. Once again, expect to pay around THB6,000 per month on groceries.

Lemon Farm

Lemon Farm is a boutique grocery store chain that sells healthy and fresh local foods. We spend about 25 percent of our weekly grocery shopping budget here on dried beans, seeds, berries, peanut butter, and, occasionally, fish and pork. You can go here to supplement your grocery shopping with hard-to-find healthy foods for about THB3,200 per month.

Foodland

Foodland doesn’t put a lot of emphasis into its marketing. In fact, from the outside the supermarket doesn’t look like much. But once inside, you’ll find a lot of different Thai and Western foods. Foodland isn’t that different from Tops, so we don’t go there too much. But if I’m in the area, this is where I stop to get excellent imported pickles on the cheap. 

Makro

Makro is like the Costco of America. You can buy food and goods in bulk and save some money. For the first nine years that I lived in Samut Prakan, I never went to Makro. But then I decided to go one day and couldn’t believe what I had been missing out on. I find it a great place to pick up bulk dry goods, seafood, and imported cheeses. You can do all your grocery shopping here though for around THB5,000 per month.  

Big-C and Lotus’s

Big-C and Lotus’s are located all throughout Samut Prakan. These supermarkets sell everything you need for home, including food. But you won’t have many choices when it comes to imported goods. If you’re okay with that, then Big-C and Lotus’s are budget-friendly places to shop at for your weekly groceries.

Fresh Markets

I noted above that we do 50 percent of our weekly grocery shopping at Villa and 25 percent at Lemon Farm. That leaves 25 percent for markets. Samut Prakan has many outdoor morning markets where you can buy organic fruits and vegetables for around THB2,000 per month for one person. Although my wife shops at a nearby market in Bangkok, there are some in Samut Prakan.

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Transportation

Like Bangkok, Samut Prakan has a great public transportation system and it’s fairly inexpensive. You can take almost all forms of public transportation from one part of the province to another, and even into Bangkok. With a budget of THB50,000 per month, you’ll only spend a small percentage on public transportation — say roughly THB2,000.

BTS and Monorail

Some of Bangkok’s BTS lines extend into Samut Prakan, as far down as the Kheha station in Mueang Samut Prakan. And at the end of 2023, Samut Prakan got its very own monorail. It ties into the Samrong BTS station and goes all the way to Lat Phrao in Bangkok. Average fares are about THB15 per stop. 

Buses

Buses run along the major roads of Samut Prakan. You can tell when buses are expected to pass through your area by looking for the signs with the local bus info on them. Buses will cost you between THB30 and THB40 depending on the bus you take. 

Vans

Vans are an easy way to get around Samut Prakan, especially up and down Srinakarin Road. They are slightly more expensive than songthaews but cheaper than all other forms of transportation. On average, expect to pay around THB20 for a short trip pon a van. 

Songthaews

Songthaews are pickup trucks with bench seats in the back. You can find these traveling up and down all major roads in Samut Prakan. They usually cost THB10 to ride. 

Motorcycle Taxis

Motorcycle taxis are a popular way to get from the major roads of Samut Prakan to the end of sois. Fares, on average, are about THB20 for short rides and THB60 for longer rides.

Ferries

Samut Prakan has two main ferries. The Pu Chao Saming Prai ferry shuttles passengers across the Chao Phraya River, from one side of Phra Pradaeng District to the other. And the ferry at the Samut Prakan Pier carries passengers from Mueang Samut Prakan to the Phra Samut Chedi Pier and back. There is a third ferry, although it isn’t in Samut Prakan. It runs from Bangkok Wat Bang Na Nok to Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok Port in Samut Prakan’s Green Lung — aka 

Car Insurance

When I lived in the United States, I always remember car insurance fluctuating a lot depending on what state you lived in. In Thailand, though, car insurance seems to cost the same no matter where you live. I pay about THB6,000 for car insurance each year in Samut Prakan.

Hospitals, Clinics, and Health Insurance

If you spend enough time in Samut Prakan, you’ll eventually need to visit a doctor or dentist. Although the province isn’t on par with Bangkok when it comes to hospitals, you still have a few nearby choices. But as for dentists — they are everywhere, as are clinics. 

When moving to Samut Prakan with a THB50,000 per month budget, you should put away about THB4,000 a month for healthcare needs, whether that’s buying health insurance or saving for a medical emergency.

Private Hospitals

Samut Prakan isn’t known for its private hospitals, so if you want to visit one, you have to cross the border into Bangkok. Two very nearby private hospitals are Thainakarin Hospital and Srikarin Hospital. Both me and my family members have been treated and stayed at both of these hospitals, and there are both pros and cons to using both. On average, you can expect to pay around THB1,000 to THB1,500 per doctor’s visit. For a few day’s stay with no insurance, you’ll pay around THB50,000.  

Public Hospitals

Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital is a fairly new government hospital/premium clinic in Samut Prakan related to the popular Ramathibodi Hospital on Rama VI Road in Bangkok. Prices are somewhat cheaper here than at private hospitals, but it does take longer to get to. So, it’s a good place to visit for non-emergency treatment. 

Dentists

You’ll find plenty of dentists in Samut Prakan. We usually go to LDC Dental on Srinakarin Road. Its prices are higher than your average local dental clinic, but they use all the latest equipment. For cleanings, we pay around THB1,500 per person.  

Clinics

If you need stitches or have some minor ailment, you can go to a clinic instead of a hospital. To see a doctor at a clinic, you might pay THB300 per visit. 

The prices above are for people who don’t have health insurance. If you have full coverage, you can visit any hospital you’d like in your insurnace’s network — oftentimes many of the private hospitals. I use Luma Health’s Hi5 plan and it has covered me for extensive inpatient treatment on a few occasions. My premium is roughly THB43,000 per year, which comes out to about THB3,600 per month.

Nightlife and Socializing

Samut Prakan has an endless stream of nightlife. All major roads have clubs, pubs, and restaurants that cater to every demographic from every generation. That said, you’ll never be bored at night in Samut Prakan if you enjoy going out at night.

With a budget of THB50,000 per month, you can spend about THB3,000 per month going out at night. This amount lets you eat out and grab some drinks a few times a month at either local or international hangouts. You can cut back on this cost by eating at home and only going out for drinks afterward.

As for socializing, if you live in a condo in Samut Prakan, you’re sure to meet other expats at the pool or gym. In fact, this has been my main way of meeting and forming good friendships with other Thais and expats. And we often hang out away from the condo by going on bike rides, exercising at the parks, or meeting up for food and drinks. 

Activities

Samut Prakan offers a lot of activities that you can do for either free or with a small cut of your THB50,000 monthly budget.

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Parks, Nature, and Outdoor Activities

Our family loves spending time outdoors, and Samut Prakan gives us plenty of chances to do that. Here are some of the activities that we have done in the past or continue to do often.

Bike Riding

One of the most popular places to ride bikes in Samut Prakan is at the Healthy and Happy Bike Lane. But to be honest, I’m not sure how healthy it could be to ride for long periods around an international airport. So instead, we often cross over into Bangkok to ride bikes around Nong Bon Water Park. If you have a bike, it’s free to enter the park. If you need to rent a bike, it’ll only cost THB50 per person.

Camping

Believe it or not, Samut Prakan has one camping spot — 54camp in Lat Krabang. We went there once a few years back and it was, to say the least, quite the experience. It seemed to us that the owner of the property had nothing to do with his land, so he let people camp on it. I’m glad we did it, but I wouldn’t do it again — and this is coming from an avid camper.

Green Lung

The Green Lung is often associated with Bangkok, but it does indeed belong to Samut Prakan. In this area, you can spend the day riding bikes or bird watching at Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden, let the kids go a little crazy at Get Growing Community Farm, or rent bikes and ride around the Green Lung, exploring and eating and exploring some more. To take the ferry across it only costs THB8. Renting bikes is another THB100. And food and drinks will run about THB200 per person. 

Bang Pu Recreation Center

This pier stretches into the Gulf of Thailand and gives you a chance to walk among seagulls, spy on crabs, and watch mud-skippers slip and slide across the dirt during low tide. And it’s also free.

Malls

When our kids were toddlers, my wife and I always promised each other we’d never raise mall kids. But in Thailand, there’s no escaping the malls. They are home to supermarkets, martial arts and dance schools, language centers, restaurants, and more. And on really hot days, it’s where most people go to escape the heat. 

On average, I spend about THB1,000 every time I go to a mall, whether on food, arcades, or clothes. Although you don’t have to allocate part of your THB50,000 budget to malls, it is good to set aside some cash for those rainy days when there’s nothing else to do.

Mega Bangna

Mega Bangna is in the Bang Phli District of Samut Prakan. This oval-shaped shopping center has over 400 stores, restaurants, schools, banks, movie theater, post office, driving range, outdoor water park, playground, dog walk, an IKEA, and much more. In other words, you’d need a week to explore everything Mega Bangna has to offer.   

Market Village Suvarnabhumi

Market Village Suvarnabhumi is a humble mall in the Bang Phli District not far from Mega Bangna off Bang Na-Trat Road. It has a variety of stores, restaurants, and supermarkets, plus banks and a post office. Because Mega Bangna is closer and offers so much more, we rarely visit Market Village. In fact, I think we’ve been there once in the last 10 years.

JAS URBAN

JAS URBAN is an indoor-outdoor mall in the Mueang Samut Prakan District on Srinakarin Road. was supposed to be the next super mall in Samut Prakan, but it seemed to miss its mark. It’s worth taking the occasional trip there, however, for its outdoor market, food, Tops Supermarket, and movie theater. 

Imperial World Samrong

If you want to experience what a Thailand mall was like decades ago, you have to visit Imperial World Samrong. The mall is located in the Mueang Samut Prakan District on Sukhumvit Road. Although the mall offers most of what any mall in Thailand has, its charm can’t be matched. Imperial World Samrong has restaurants, food courts, discount clothes stores, ice skating rink, skateboarding park, and much more.  

Robinson Lifestyle

A little ways past JAS URBAN where Srinakarin Road merges into Sukhumvit Road is Robinson Lifestyle Samut Prakan. Robinson used to be part of the Central Mall chain but has since branched off to become its own entity. Robinson offers everything you’d expect from a mall in Thailand, including food, clothes, and activities. 

Tourist Attractions

Samut Prakan isn’t usually the first place tourists want to visit when they arrive in Thailand, but it does have its share of attractions. Also, many of them are free, which means you won’t have to tap into your THB50,000 budget to visit these places.

The Ancient City

The Ancient City is a re-creation of many of Thailand’s historical landmarks. Keep in mind that you’ll be out in the sun most of the time, so try to avoid going on hot days or mid-day.

The Erawan Museum

My daughters know The Erawan Museum as the three-headed elephant that towers over the Kanchanaphisek Tollway. We can see it everytime we travel from Samut Prakan to Hua Hin. But we’ve never actually been inside. That said, it’s a tremendously popular attraction for locals.

Phi Suea Samut Fort Museum

The Phi Suea Samut Fort Museum sits on an island in the Chao Phraya River just off Samut Prakan. You can get there by ferry and spend a few hours exploring the fort and reading about its history. 

Naval Museum

I haven’t been to the Naval Museum yet, but I see it every time I go to Samut Prakan Immigration. It’s free to get in, so it might be worth a visit, especially if you have a background in the navy.

Although the next place on this list is somewhat popular with tourists, I’d recommend avoiding it. 

Crocodile Farm and Zoo

Although you might be tempted to visit the Crocodile Farm and Zoo in Samut Prakan, I’d suggest skipping this “attraction.” It’s widely known that the animals are treated poorly here. A friend of mine knew someone who worked there, and he said the staff would feed street dogs to the crocodiles. Do not support this place, seriously.

Sports Clubs

You might be interested in sending your kids (or yourself) to an after-school sports program if the school they attend doesn’t offer them. Samut Prakan has plenty of soccer (football) clubs, martial arts and Muay Thai gyms, ballet and dance centers, and tennis or badminton courts. Just do a search on Google to see what other parents have to say about the place before enrolling your children.

Schools and Education

When it comes to education options, Samut Prakan has everything from government to international schools and from colleges to universities. But to be honest, THB50,000 isn’t going to be enough to send your children to one of the province’s top schools.

On the lower end, tuition for an international school will cost at least THB500,000. So, in this case, your better off sending your children to a bilingual program at Assumption Samut Prakan or St. Joseph Bang Na School for between THB80,000 and THB120,000. 

Universities

Samut Prakan isn’t known for its colleges and universities, but it does have a few standouts like Raffles International College Bangkok, Samut Prakan College of Commerce and Technology, and Samut Prakan Polytechnic College.

Private Schools

The most popular private schools with Thais in Samut Prakan are probably Assumption Samut Prakan, St. Joseph Bang Na School, and Prapamontree 2 School. We have a lot of neighbors and friends who send their children to St. Joseph, and they seem happy with the level of education their children get. This doesn’t discredit the other two schools though.

International Schools

As for international schools, Bangkok Chicago Christian International School, Concordian International School, Thai-Singapore International School, Thai-Chinese International School, and Raffles American School are all positively rated. I do know from talking to other parents that Thai-Singapore International School tends to be heavy on academics.

Government Schools

Samut Prakan has dozens of government schools — too many to list here. But if you’re interested in sending your children to one, make sure you research and vet the school carefully.

Language Schools

You won’t find many places to learn Thai or other languages in Samut Prakan, and if you do, the place might be hit or miss. You’re better off hiring a private tutor to teach you Thai.

Libraries

The Samut Prakan Provincial Public Library is the only public library in Samut Prakan, and it does offer a section of English-language books. If you’re looking for a larger selection of books in English, you might have to visit Neilson Hays Library in Bangkok instead.  

Job Opportunities

Most people I know who work in Samut Prakan didn’t move to the province with the idea of finding a career here. They lived somewhere else (like Bangkok) and then moved here after finding a job to be closer to work. That said, Samut Prakan does have some job opportunities for expats.

Teaching

You can teach at one of the many government, private, or international schools in Samut Prakan like Raffles American School, Assumption Samut Prakan, or Thai-Singapore International School. Or you can teach at the local language centers. In order to qualify for a teaching job though, you should have experience and the right credentials, as there are only a handful of well-paying teaching jobs in the province and plenty of competition.

Bang Pu Industrial Area

As I mentioned elsewhere in this guide, Bang Pu is an industrial paradise — for better or for worse. But if you’re looking for a job and you have highly sought after skills in a specific field, this may be the place to look. There are plenty of multinational companies that set up shop in Bang Pu, such as Mattel, Nestle, and NHK to name just three. 

Expat Community

The expat community in Samut Prakan might not rival that of Bangkok, but it is fairly large. The main difference is that most expats I’ve met in Samut Prakan are already settled down raising families as opposed to those in the city who are still single. That said, almost every area of Samut Prakan will have expats living there, so you should have no trouble fitting in.  

Traffic and Road Conditions

Samut Prakan is notorious for its traffic, but only during peak travel hours or when it rains hard. Otherwise, the traffic isn’t so bad.

Mornings

Traffic in Samut Prakan in the mornings can be horrendous, especially near schools and major industrial areas. A ride that would normally take you 10 minutes with no traffic could take more than 30 minutes. The worst traffic in Samut Prakan occurs around Bang Pu and Bang Phli during morning rush hour.

Afternoons

The afternoon traffic in Samut Prakan tends to die down in most areas except for Theparak Road. Because it’s a major road connecting Samut Prakan to other provinces, there always seems to be traffic here.  

Evenings

Like the mornings in Samut Prakan, traffic picks back up in the evenings, usually from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM. If at all possible, avoid driving during these times, especially down Srinakarin Road, Theparak Road, Sukhumvit Road, and Bangna-Trat. 

Floods

Samut Prakan has had major flooding issues ever since I moved here in 2014. They did major drainage work down Srinakarin Road so that the rain waters recede a lot quicker, but most places still flood during the rainy season, especially in Bang Pu near the waterfront. 

Popular Neighborhoods

After living in Samut Prakan for nearly a decade, here are my top two areas that expats should check out when thinking about moving to the province.

Samrong Nuea Subdistrict

Samrong Nuea is in the northwestern part of Samut Prakan close to Bangkok. Here, you’ll find a great variety of local and international food, international schools, the BTS and MRT, and lots of other conveniences. It’s a popular area for young expat families, retirees, and those who come to work as an English teacher in Thailand. 

Bang Kaew District

The northern part of Bang Kaew, the area separated by Bangna-Trat Road, is popular with expat families because it’s close to two international schools — International Community School and and Raffles American School. The entire area of the district is filled with established and newer gate communities and offers many conveniences.  

Neighborhoods to Avoid

On the flipside, there are three subdistricts in Samut Prakan that I believe you should avoid at all costs.

Bang Poo Subdistrict

Back when I used to teach English to adults at different corporations, I had a few contracts in Bang Poo. In my experience, there is not much in this industrial area for anyone let alone expats. During the rainy season, it always flooded and the electricity would go out often. 

Bang Phli Noi Subdistrict

We lived in Bang Phli Noi when we moved to Thailand in 2014 and only lasted five months there. It’s too close to the airport, which makes it too noisy, and King Kaew Road is always congested and dusty. Plus there was the chemical explosion in 2021, after which residents said they were smelling fumes in the air for years.

Thepharak

This is another subdistrict that gets quite congested during rush hours. The main throughway — Thepharak Road — is heavily trafficked by large trucks and gets dangerous to drive on at times.  

Day Trips and Weekend Getaways From Samut Prakan

With THB50,000 per month, you can dedicate THB10,000 to traveling around Thailand. Because Samut Prakan is located in central Thailand, it’s easy to go on day trips and weekend getaways to some of the more popular surrounding areas. 

Pattaya

Pattaya is about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Samut Prakan, close enough for a day trip or a weekend getaway to the beach.

Nakhon Nayok

Nakhon Nayok is about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Samut Prakan. You can visit the province to go camping, explore the outdoors, and enjoy some peace and quiet.  

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is a beach town located about 3 hours from Samut Prakan. Although it’s a bit far for a day trip, you can make a weekend getaway out of it and enjoy some seafood by the beach. 

You can even take domestic flights to other areas of Thailand like Chinag Mai in the north or Phuket in the south.  

Lifestyle With a THB50,000 Monthly Budget

With THB50,000, you can live a comfortable lifestyle as a single expat in Samut Prakan. Here’s what you can afford to do:

• Rent a fully furnished one-bedroom 42 square meter condo at Lakeside Srinakarin for THB9,000, complete with kitchen and washing machine.

• Eat out almost every meal at both international restaurants and local food shops.

• Socialize with friends over food and drinks once or twice a week.

• Get coverage with Luma’s Hi5 health insurance plan.

• Travel around Thailand.

Expense	Cost (Baht)
Rent	9,000
Food	12,000
Transportation	2,000
Health	3,600
Utilities	3,000
Social Activities	3,000
Visa	500
Travel	10,000
Misc.	6,900
Total	50,000

Samut Prakan Vs. Nearby Provinces

Here is how Samut Prakan measures up against some of the other nearby provinces that are popular with expats.

Samut Prakan vs. Bangkok

Samut Prakan isn’t as lively as Bangkok, so it’s more popular with expats looking for a quieter, more affordable lifestyle or those wanting to raise families.

Samut Prakan vs. Chon Buri

Samut Prakan doesn’t have the beaches that Chon Buri has, but it does have plenty of green areas to enjoy the outdoors. As for cost of living, Samut Prakan is on par with Chon Buri.

Samut Prakan vs. Nonthaburi

Samut Prakan is similar to Nonthaburi in that it’s on the outskirts of Bangkok. The two provinces also have a large number of expats. In my experience, Nonthaburi is a bit more laid back but offers a similar lifestyle to Samut Prakan.

Should You Live in Samut Prakan?

Samut Prakan is one of those places where you never planned to live, but once you’ve stayed here for any length of time becomes home. Whether I stay here for the rest of my life or not, the province will always hold a special place in my heart, as will all the people I’ve met here along the way.

That said, it may or may not be right for you. I could say this though. If you have a family and sewed all your wild oats around Thailand, then it might be the place for you. But if you feel like you still have unfinished business in Thailand, maybe revisit the idea of living in Samut Prakan later on.