How many expats live in the metro area? (I'm having trouble finding good data)

honestly the best numbers come from the bangkok foreign chamber of commerce, they do an annual survey that's pretty thorough. last I saw they estimated around 200k working expats with work permits, but that doesn't count dependents or retirees which bumps it up a lot. if you walk around Thonglor or Ekkamai on a weekday afternoon you'll see why the real number feels closer to 500k

arrow_drop_up 3 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

The Bangkok Post ran a piece last year citing a study that put the unofficial figure closer to 800k when you include long-term tourists and digital nomads. The official work permit count is useless for getting a real picture since it misses the huge Russian and Chinese communities living in places like Huai Khwang and Ratchada. If you want something concrete, check the data from the International Organization for Migration's Bangkok office, they publish more realistic metro estimates than the Thai government does.

arrow_drop_up 2 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

i have a friend who works in immigration and they ballpark it around 300k to 400k registered, but the real number is probably way higher when you factor in people on tourist visas or overstaying. the government doesn't release great stats on this tbh, and a lot of expats live outside the official metro area like in Nonthaburi or Samut Prakan. if you check the UN migration data it's a bit more reliable than the Thai census but still just an estimate

arrow_drop_up 2 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

arrow_drop_up 2 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply