Although renting a condo is not as permanent as buying a condo, potential renters still want to find a place where they can live for awhile. That old saying “location is everything” really is true, particularly when looking for a place to rent or buy.
 
As everyone knows, Bangkok’s traffic can be a nightmare, especially when you are trying to get to work or home again at the end of the day. Living close to a BTS station can make the journey a lot quicker, provided that the place where you work is also located reasonably close to a BTS station.
 
If you are lucky enough to find your dream condo located within walking distance of your place of work than you may find that you depend on the BTS a lot less than commuters, although you might still want to use the BTS to explore the city and when you are going out in the evening. Some offices and companies also offer their employees free transportation to and from work to make sure that everyone is ready to start their day on time and without feeling stressed. Before looking for a condo it is a good idea to find out which transportation routes your company is located close to.
 
It’s not a surprise that one question often asked by aspiring condo renters is if it’s best to rent a condo near BTS/MRT in Bangkok. Here’s some helpful information to hopefully guide you in making your decision.
 
 

Why It’s So Important to Be Near BTS/MRT in Bangkok

Renting a condo that’s near to the BTS/MRT in Bangkok can be a good idea for many reasons. The first one, of course is because of how congested Bangkok is; traffic jams can have drivers sitting and waiting for several hours. This is particularly bad in the Central Areas.
 
Even riding in a taxi won’t get you to your destination any faster because taxi drivers also find themselves stuck in the traffic. With more than 14 million people passing through this city, there’s seldom a time when the streets aren’t filled with travelers.
 
Not only the subway or the Skytrain are almost five times faster than taxis, but they are also much cheaper. The MRT is considered a service that’s complementary to the BTS, although it’s typically used more for the residential/commuter passengers.
 
The subway and the Skytrain are also more reliable. Let’s say you have a business meeting during the day. If you use taxi’s or busses it would be very hard for you to arrive on time for your appointment.
On the other hand the BTS and MRT run in 7-8 minutes interval, you know exactly how much time it will take to transfer from your station to the destination point. It just that your time management will be a lot easier.
 
Additionally there are 2 stations (Asoke and Sala Daeng) where the BTS and MRT have their stations right next to each other, so you can switch easily from the one to another. By combining them both you could cover almost all the city, faster and cheaper.
 
 

Getting Around Bangkok with BTS

What is the BTS?

To get around Bangkok, many people choose the Bangkok Mass Transit System, also known as the BTS or the Skytrain. The BTS, an elevated rapid transit system that consists of 34 stations, runs both north and east with two lines operating daily. Running both north and east is the Sukhumvit Line, which end at Mo Chit. Meanwhile, the Silom Line crosses over Silom and Sathorn Roads, runs through the Central Business District of Bangkok and ends at the National Stadium and Bangwa. The two lines connect at Siam Station.
 

 
Of special interest is that the Skytrain’s main routes cover popular tourist attractions, shopping centers and the various important business centers. This is another reason why it’s beneficial to be near the BTS – it covers the areas where residents go most frequently, whether it’s for work or pleasure. The BTS offers an economical and stress-free way to get around the city and explore its many features and attractions.
 

How to Use the BTS

The BTS offers a few different ticket types: a single-trip ticket, distance-based stored value tickets, limited/unlimited adult and student passes and the Rabbit Card. Implemented in 2012, the Rabbit Card is an electronic card system that issues one card but covers travel on both the BTS and the Bangkok Bus Repaid Transit (BRT) system. While some consider the fees slightly high compared to the public buses, the fares are based on the number of stations you’ll pass through on route to your destination.
 
 

Getting Around Bangkok with MRT

What is the MRT?

In addition to the BTS, Bangkok also offers transportation via the Metropolitan Rapid Transit, also referred to as MRT, an underground railway line that’s also part of Bangkok’s metro system.
 
The MRT is fast, convenient and functional method of transportation to get around the city and also a great way to avoid having to drive through the horrendous traffic that’s a part of Bangkok. Serving 18 stations, the MRT covers a horseshoe area by Chinatown in the south to Bang Sue in the north.
 

 
The MRT comes through every 5 to 7 minutes and connects to the BTS at two of its stations, running from 6:00 a.m. until midnight. Although the MRT will eventually offer seven different lines, the Blue line is the only one that’s currently running. The remaining six are scheduled to be running in the next several years. The Blue Line starts at Bang Sue Station and continues through Pracharat Sai 2 Road and goes to the intersection of Charansanitwong and Petch Kasem. A few of the most important stations in the MRT include Hua Lamphong, San Yan, Silom and Lumpini.
 

How to Use the MRT

To ride the MRT, passengers must purchase tokens for single trips and value cards if they’re frequent travelers. Passengers who have distance-based fares can purchase rechargeable smart cards. Very recently the MRT implemented a system that allows passengers to purchase a single ticket that covers travel on both the Metro and the Skytrain. Tickets can be purchased at vending machines (with correct change) or through ticket booths during operating hours. Senior citizens and children pay a discounted rate to ride on the MRT. Many of the MRT stations offer working commuters lots to park their cars while they’re riding to work on the MRT, with the lots being either free or discounted.
 
 

When is It Beneficial to Rent a Condo Near the BTS/MRT in Bangkok?

Anyone who lives and works in Bangkok and has lived through the nightmare of trying to drive home at night knows how stress-free and relaxing – not to mention time saving – it can be to just hop on the transmit and enjoy the scenery as you travel home. This is why so many potential condo renters immediately ask if the condo is near a BTS station. What many don’t realize is that while, yes, it is beneficial to have your condo near a BTS but only if your place of employment is also near a BTS station.
 
Because of the headache Bangkok transportation can cause, many employers provide their employees with free transportation to and from work just to ensure their employers are there each day. To individuals who can walk to work or utilize employer-paid transportation, having a condo close to a BTS station is a bonus for off-work hours. However, for the rest, it’s almost a necessity. Unfortunately, the horrendous traffic in Bangkok has done more than just make driving almost impossible. It has also caused the price of condos near BTS stations to be in demand and substantially higher in price. On the flip side, condos that are not near BTS/MRT stations are not only less expensive but also typically offer more amenities to attract renters.
 
However you can still find a cheaper rent if the place is located near some of the distant stations. Such condos for example are those close to BTS On-nut or Phra Khanong, which are the last stations in the Sukhumvit line.
 

In Summary

Of course, you don’t have to rely on the mass transport whether BTS or MRT to get around Bangkok. There are also plenty of other ways to cover the city including bus, boat, taxi and motorcycle.
 
One important thing to bear in mind is that condos that are located close to a BTS station tend to be in high demand. Also, depending on the part of the city they are located in they can also be much more costly than condos that are not within walking distance of a BTS station. In order to attract buyers and leasers, condos with no BTS station in sight often offer attractive rates as well as a whole host of fantastic on site amenities for residents to make use of.

If you do want to rely on the BTS to get around the city you can always cover the distance between your condo and the nearest BTS station by taking a motorcycle taxi. The cost of a single ride is usually just a few baht and with the money that you save you can easily afford to cut through the Bangkok traffic by taking motorcycle taxis or even save up for your own motorcycle.

Ultimately, whether you opt for a condo that is located close to a BTS station or not will depend on a lot of different factors such as your lifestyle, your budget and where you work. However, it is important to take a look at various different options before settling on a condo and not simply take the first condo you see because of its proximity to the BTS.