Asoke
อโศก
BTS/MRT interchange — Terminal 21, office towers.
Asoke is the junction in Bangkok where the BTS Sukhumvit Line crosses the MRT Blue Line, and for many newcomers it is the first address they rent. Office towers, Terminal 21 and serviced apartments sit within a short walk, so it suits nomads, professionals and first-time expats who value convenience over charm.
Asoke at a glance
What we love about Asoke
Asoke is the most-arrived-at neighbourhood in Bangkok — BTS + MRT interchange, Terminal 21 above the station, Bumrungrad five minutes north. The picks below are the moments locals who actually live here keep coming back to.
- Morning coffee
Roast at The Commons Saladaeng or Roots at EmQuartier — both 1 BTS stop away with the espresso bar Asoke residents actually order from.
Asoke proper is malls and offices; its best coffee is one stop east in Phrom Phong.
- After-work drink
Above Eleven on Sukhumvit Soi 11 — Peruvian-Japanese rooftop, the only Soi 11 venue that locals still rate after a decade.
The Soi 11 nightlife strip turns over fast; Above Eleven is the long-standing anchor.
- Quick dinner
Pier 21 food court on Terminal 21's 5th floor — every cuisine in Bangkok at airport-food-court prices, open until 10pm.
When you don't want to commit to a soi, Pier 21 covers everyone in your group.
- Park escape
Benjakitti Park's elevated boardwalk — 8-minute walk south of MRT Asoke, restored 2022, the city's best new urban park.
Benjasiri (next to EmQuartier) gets the press; Benjakitti is bigger, quieter, and closer to Asoke.
- Hospital
Bumrungrad International — 5-minute walk from BTS Asoke, the international expat default for everything from a cold to surgery.
The reason a lot of long-stay expats refuse to leave the neighbourhood.
Living in Asoke
Weekdays here run on office hours. The skywalks fill with commuters by eight, lunch queues form in the food courts of Terminal 21 and Interchange 21, and coworking spaces stay busy into the evening. Traffic on Sukhumvit and Asok Montri Road is heavy most of the day, so people use the elevated walkways rather than cross at street level. Weekends are slower: residents head to Benjakitti Park for running and cycling around the lake, or drift east to the cafés and malls of Phrom Phong. Nights can be loud near Soi Cowboy and the hotel sois, while the residential lanes a few minutes off the main road are quieter than you might expect.
Renting in Asoke
Housing is mostly high-rise condos and serviced apartments, many of them newer towers aimed at foreign renters. Expect studios at 20,000–32,000 THB a month, one-bedrooms at 28,000–50,000 THB a month and two-bedrooms at 55,000–100,000 THB a month, with the top end reserved for buildings close to the stations. Landlords here are used to foreign tenants and English-language listings are plentiful, which makes a first search easier. To see how these numbers compare across the city, check Bangkok rent prices by area.
- Studio
- ฿20k–฿32kTHB / mo
- 1 bedroom
- ฿28k–฿50kTHB / mo
- 2 bedroom
- ฿55k–฿100kTHB / mo
Typical furnished condo listings in Asoke and neighbouring blocks, compiled by BKK Oracle editors from DDProperty, Hipflat and agent listings. Utilities are extra.
Getting around Asoke
Few places in the city are better connected. BTS Asok on the Sukhumvit Line is about 50 m from the centre, and MRT Sukhumvit on the Blue Line is around 150 m away, linked by a short walkway. Nana is a 600 m walk west and Phrom Phong about 1.3 km east. From here Siam, Silom and the Airport Rail Link are all within easy reach. If you are weighing up the Sukhumvit corridor, read Asoke vs Ekkamai vs On Nut.
- Asok · Sukhumvit Line50 m
- Sukhumvit · Blue Line150 m
- Nana · Sukhumvit Line600 m
- Phrom Phong · Sukhumvit Line1300 m
Who Asoke suits
- First months in Bangkok while you learn the city
- Commuters who use both the BTS and MRT daily
- Remote workers wanting coworking spaces and malls on the doorstep
- Heavy traffic and noise along Sukhumvit and Asok Montri Road
- Rents are high for the size of unit you get
- Feels corporate, with little old-Bangkok character left
Areas near Asoke
Compare Asoke
Helpful guides for Asoke renters
Asoke vs Ekkamai vs On Nut
A practical comparison of three very different points on the BTS Sukhumvit Line.
Read guidechoose an expat-friendly Bangkok area7 minWhere to live in Bangkok as an expat
A decision guide for expats choosing between Sukhumvit, Silom, Sathorn, Ari, Rama 9, Ratchada, and riverside Bangkok.
Read guidefind digital nomad areas in Bangkok6 minBangkok areas for digital nomads
Where to live in Bangkok if you care about cafes, coworking, gyms, food, transit, and a routine that works from home.
Read guidecompare central Bangkok areas6 minSukhumvit vs Silom vs Sathorn
A direct comparison of Bangkok's three most common central choices for expats and long-stay renters.
Read guideAsoke FAQs
Is Asoke a good area to live in Bangkok?
Asoke is a good fit for nomads, professionals and first-time expats. It sits in Bangkok's prime rent tier, with one-bedroom condos typically at 28,000–50,000 THB a month. The nearest rail station is Asok on the Sukhumvit Line, about 50 m from the centre of the area.
How much is rent in Asoke?
Typical furnished condo rents in Asoke are studios 20,000–32,000 THB, one-bedrooms 28,000–50,000 THB and two-bedrooms 55,000–100,000 THB a month. Electricity, water and internet usually add 2,500–5,000 THB a month, and most landlords ask for a two-month deposit plus the first month upfront.
What is the nearest BTS or MRT station to Asoke?
Asok (Sukhumvit Line, about 50 m), Sukhumvit (Blue Line, about 150 m) and Nana (Sukhumvit Line, about 600 m) are the closest rail stations to central Asoke. Walking times depend on the soi you live on, so time the walk in the midday heat before signing a lease.
Is Asoke the same as Sukhumvit?
Asoke is one part of the long Sukhumvit Road corridor, centred on its junction with Asok Montri Road. The naming confuses newcomers: the BTS station is called Asok, while the MRT station next to it is called Sukhumvit. Both refer to the same interchange, so if someone says to meet at Sukhumvit station, they usually mean this spot.
Is Asoke noisy at night?
It depends on the building. Towers facing Sukhumvit or Asok Montri Road get constant traffic noise, and the lanes near Soi Cowboy stay busy late. Units on higher floors or set back in the residential sois are much quieter. Visit a shortlisted condo in the evening before signing, and ask which way the bedroom windows face.
Can you live in Asoke without a car?
Easily. With the BTS and MRT meeting here, most of central Bangkok is reachable by train, and the elevated walkways connect the stations to Terminal 21 and nearby office towers. Groceries, gyms, clinics and coworking spaces are all within walking distance. For the occasional longer trip, taxis and Grab are plentiful at any hour.