property
Renting Edges Out Buying in Sukhumvit Right Now
Monthly outlays for tenants in central Sukhumvit currently run below equivalent mortgage payments on new condos by roughly 12 percent.
How we reported this
Tenants in Sukhumvit paid an average 780 baht per square metre in June 2026 while owners with 80 percent bank financing faced effective monthly costs of 890 baht per square metre on comparable units.
Global oil-price spikes after the Strait of Hormuz tanker incidents have pushed the Bank of Thailand to hold its policy rate at 2.5 percent since March, lifting mortgage rates to 6.75 percent for most new buyers. That shift has widened the gap between renting and buying in Bangkok’s densest corridor even as new supply continues to hit the market.
Units along Sukhumvit Soi 24 near EmQuartier and in the Thong Lor stretch around Sukhumvit 55 show the clearest difference. Listings tracked by the Sukhumvit Property Association record 42 new rental contracts signed in those two pockets last month against only 19 sales.
Direct cost comparison
A 45-square-metre one-bedroom condo in the 2024-built Origin Thong Lor project rents for 38,000 baht. The same layout bought at 175,000 baht per square metre carries a 30-year loan at current rates that demands 43,200 baht each month once insurance and maintenance fees are added. Knight Frank’s Bangkok residential report released 2 July put average Sukhumvit resale prices at 168,000 baht per square metre, down 3 percent from the same date in 2025.
Next steps for residents
Households weighing a move should run fresh numbers with three local agents before 15 August, when another 620 units from the Park Origin Phrom Phong development are scheduled to reach the rental pool. Checking current Bank of Thailand mortgage tables and comparing them against listings on DDproperty.com for Soi 24 and Soi 55 remains the quickest way to confirm whether renting still saves money on any given block.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.