Why are gyms super-expensive here?

the other replies nailed the main reasons but one thing nobody mentioned is the aircon. those 100+ usd places keep the temp at like 18 degrees which costs a fortune in electricity here. jetts and fitness24seven let it sit at 25-26 and just run fans, saves them a ton on utilities

also check out the fitness parks under the bts tracks near on nut or ekkamai. free outdoor gym equipment, not fancy but works fine for basic lifting. just go early before it gets hot

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

fair point but you gotta look at the business model here. those cheap gyms back home are usually subsidized by the government or run as non-profits, thailand doesnt have that. everything here is private and commercial rent in bangkok is brutal, like 500-800 baht per square meter in central areas

the real hack is to join a university gym. chulalongkorn's sports complex is like 50 baht per visit and the equipment is solid. thammasat too. no contracts, no nonsense. just show up and pay

also check out the public fitness parks under the bts skytrain. lumpini park has outdoor pull-up bars and calisthenics stations for free. not a full gym but good for basic stuff

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

You already found the right ones with Jetts and Fitness24Seven. Most of the other places are just pricing themselves into a different market, like Virgin Active or the ones attached to five-star hotels where the monthly fee covers towel service and a steam room nobody uses.

The weird thing is that local chain gyms like We Fitness or Muscle Factory charge around 600-800 baht a month, but they're usually tucked away on the third floor of an old shopping center in areas like Ratchada or On Nut. They're not on Google Maps in English and the front desk might not speak much, but the equipment is perfectly fine.

If you're staying near Sukhumvit, just stick with what you have. The 30-40 USD range is actually a solid deal for the location, and you're not missing anything by skipping the 140 USD places.

arrow_drop_up 4 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