property
Thonglor Suburbs Where Buying Homes Now Costs Less Than Renting
Mortgage costs have dipped below rental rates in select Thonglor pockets after 2025 price adjustments.
How we reported this
Buyers in parts of Thonglor now face lower monthly outlays for a two-bedroom condo than tenants pay in rent, according to July 2026 listings from local agencies.
Interest rate cuts announced by the Bank of Thailand in March pushed fixed-rate mortgages below 4 percent for properties under 12 million baht, while Thonglor rents held steady amid slower expat inflows after the 2025 high season. The shift has reversed a five-year pattern where ownership carried a premium.
Thonglor Soi 10 and Ekkamai Link
Along Thonglor Soi 10 near the J Avenue complex, a 65-square-metre unit listed at 9.2 million baht carries a 35,800-baht monthly mortgage payment over 30 years. Comparable rentals in the same building run 42,000 baht. Further east on the Ekkamai corridor, units near the Big C Supercenter show similar gaps, with purchase costs landing 15 percent under prevailing lease rates.
Agents at the Thonglor branch of CBRE reported 28 such flips in the first half of 2026, concentrated in mid-rise blocks built between 2012 and 2018. These buildings sit within walking distance of the Thonglor BTS station and the EmQuartier food hall, keeping transport costs low for buyers who work in Sukhumvit offices.
Price and Payment Data
CBRE’s June 2026 Thonglor report listed average asking prices at 118,000 baht per square metre, down 6 percent from December 2025 peaks. A 70-square-metre unit therefore totals roughly 8.26 million baht, producing a 32,200-baht mortgage at current rates. Median rents for the same size remain 39,500 baht, according to the same dataset.
Prospective owners should run fresh calculations with their bank before signing, as individual credit scores and down-payment sizes alter the exact crossover point. Checking recent sales at the Land Department office on Sukhumvit 55 will confirm whether listed prices align with actual transfers from the past quarter.
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.