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AIT International School
Bangkok, Thailand
American
Ages 3–12
$3,551 – $4,246/yrLoading...
A suburban province north of Bangkok offering gated communities and larger homes at lower costs. Improved access with the Purple MRT Line.
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
A family renting a 2-bedroom condo near an MRT Purple Line station, using public transit and Grab, children at a local bilingual or affordable international school.
A family in a 3-bedroom townhouse or large condo, one car, children at a mid-tier international school on the Chaeng Watthana corridor.
A spacious detached house with garden, driver, children at a top international school, weekend activities and regular dining out.
Nonthaburi is one of the most affordable areas in the Bangkok metropolitan region for families. Rents are 40-60% lower than Sukhumvit, and daily expenses from food to healthcare are noticeably cheaper. The MRT Purple Line has made it viable to live here and commute, though the lifestyle trade-off is a more suburban, less walkable environment. All figures in USD; 1 THB is approximately 0.028 USD.
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
Yearly average AQI is 90. Best air quality Apr–Nov (best: Aug at 43). Jan–Dec air quality worsens due to heat, humidity, and dust (peak: Jan at 150). Families with children who have asthma or respiratory conditions should plan indoor activities during summer months.
Nonthaburi is overwhelmingly Thai, with a much lower expat concentration than Sukhumvit-area neighborhoods. Residents are predominantly Thai middle-class families, many of whom commute to workplaces in central Bangkok via the MRT Purple Line. A small but growing number of expat families have discovered Nonthaburi's value proposition: spacious housing at a fraction of Sukhumvit prices, with the MRT providing a lifeline to the city center. Most foreign residents are teachers at nearby international schools or remote workers attracted by the low cost of living.
Nonthaburi is surprisingly green for a Bangkok suburb. The Chao Phraya riverfront promenade near the provincial hall has been beautifully renovated with walking and cycling paths, shaded benches, and evening food vendors. Rama V Park (Suan Nai Fun) is a large, well-maintained green space popular with morning joggers and tai chi groups. For a genuine escape from the city, the durian and pomelo orchards on Ko Kret island — a short long-tail boat ride from Pakkret Pier — offer a glimpse of Nonthaburi's agricultural heritage.
The MRT Purple Line transformed Nonthaburi from a sleepy commuter suburb into an accessible extension of Bangkok's transit network. Key stations include Khae Rai, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi Civic Center, and Tao Poon (which interchanges with the MRT Blue Line into central Bangkok). The Purple Line runs from Khlong Bang Phai to Tao Poon and connects to Silom, Sukhumvit, and Chatuchak via the Blue Line transfer. The full journey to Sukhumvit MRT takes about 40-45 minutes.
CentralPlaza WestGate is one of the largest shopping malls in the Bangkok metropolitan area and the undisputed commercial anchor of Nonthaburi. It houses Tops supermarket, Robinson department store, hundreds of shops, and a massive food court. CentralPlaza Rattanathibet and The Mall Ngamwongwan provide additional large-format retail. For fresh produce and Thai ingredients at excellent prices, the Nonthaburi Old Market near the pier is a local treasure — stalls selling durians, pomelos, grilled fish, and traditional sweets have operated here for generations. Makro and Lotus's (formerly Tesco Lotus) hypermarkets along Rattanathibet Road offer bulk shopping at warehouse prices.
Nonthaburi's cool season mirrors greater Bangkok, with temperatures ranging from 22-32C. The riverfront areas benefit from evening breezes off the Chao Phraya, making riverside dining and evening walks along the promenade genuinely pleasant. Morning mist over the river is common in December and January, adding a photogenic quality. Temperatures can occasionally dip to 18-19C on the coolest January mornings — chilly enough that locals break out jackets.
