Living in Cambodia Is Ridiculously Cheap: An Expat's Budget
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 พ.ค. 2024
- After a year of living in Siem Reap, Cambodia as an expat, I'd like to share my budget for 2023 / 2024 to show you just how great the cost of living is. Cambodia is massively underrated as a cheap and fun destination for expats, retirees, and digital nomads.
00:00 Start
00:37 Housing
01:55 Electricity
02:40 Other Utilities
03:10 Phone Bill
03:38 Food
05:26 Visa & Healthcare
06:43 Other Minor Expenses
08:25 Transportation
09:37 Fun/Miscellaneous - บันเทิง
If you want even more detail on the living expenses in Cambodia, I would recommend that you also watch my new video here: th-cam.com/video/fSCT3ezvWmo/w-d-xo.html
It breaks down all of my grocery costs, so that you know EXACTLY how much each different kind of food costs compared to America.
This is the best S R video I have seen Allen ! -- I'm loving this place and what it has to offer. Simply a beautiful city and awesome friendly people. I'm an old retired American living on SS and have seen it reported that US expats live ''there'' quite comfortably on half of my income. I'm somewhat frugal but sweating all the time isn't fun. 🤔 So some AC in a frugal studio perhaps - then I can see me living there on $1000/mo with some health insurance perhaps ? Bangkok is a 1 hour flight away for some real quality medical if desired - or some fun. -?- ( Late 2024 ) --- Thank you very much !!! 🤗
i'm not here to make friends.
As someone who has lived in Phnom Penh for 16 years, I always caution people that transportation is going to be one of their highest costs, especially if they commute to work. I bought a motorcycle so my transportation is less than $20 per month, but most people will use taxis (Grab or PassApp) which can add up to $100-200 per month. Everything else you talked about is spot on! In addition, never choose where you live based on the apartment or house alone. It can be perfect, but then you end up with higher transportation costs or nasty neighbors. Instead, you should stay in a hotel or guesthouse for one month to understand the areas of the city and what your lifestyle will be. Do you eat out and never cook? Then live near your favorite restaurants. Do you love to cook? Then live near your favorite market. There will always be places available that you find by walking up and down the streets where you want to live and looking for rent signs in the windows or asking the neighbors. Even Siem Reap is starting to sprawl, so if someone wants to be able to walk everywhere, they need to consider the same things.
I agree that a lot of these decisions build on each other, such as where you live impacting your transportation costs. Thanks for your comment.
Transportation is plentyfull with the tuk tuk drivers, if you are retired,no need to be out and about every day, now, if you still working, is a different story all together@@Allen_in_Asia
Get a moped kit for a bike
do you see a lot of strays in the capital? also, can you help arrange private transfer at airport or have any safe recs? do women drivers do that?
Wish I read this before moving into a nightmare of a living situation! Nice Apartment but everything else was horrible
I used to live in The capital but now live in Siem Reap. I have large house and live a live in housekeep that total is $575.00 per month. I gave my housekeeper a raise. My food budget is $50.00 per weeks, electric is about $110.00 per month. Wyfi is $103.00 every three months and I have Netflix.
Good life ! Congratulation 🙏🥰🌺
My colleague heard about this story anh he has decided to send his wife and children to Cambodia to save money.
As Cambodian myself living in USA, Cambodia is a poor country and I’m sure the education system is suck. I wouldn’t send my kids living over there.
@@smokeymeow52I disagree. If you are poor Cambodian, then the school is limited. If you are expat with money, you can send children to private school ( varies from $45/ month to $$1,000). You can hire inexpensive private tutors for different languages, music, math, science etc…. I am Khmer American with Khmer family members that can get into competitive US/EU universities. They speak multiple languages. The US school system is terrible with many social issues and not very safe.
@@smokeymeow52 hold up- since when was the american education system any better T-T asians make fun of america for being dumb and the only competitions they win are with asian americans and never an actual american.
😂you lie
@@smokeymeow52what?
Good stuff! I lived in Siem Reap about 5 years ago and am returning in a few months for good. You give a very realistic expectation of cost of living. I can't wait to return!
Bro, if you think 7-12$ is approaching western costs for a sit down meal, you haven't been here in awhile. Try 3-4 times that
I live in Germany and dinner is a minimum 20-30 euros
Your video it’s spot on!🎉❤$250 rent per month in Siem Riep it’s still a gems. Siem Riep it’s a golden location including beautiful sceneries surrounding with Ancients site near Angkor Wat! We cant ask more . I’ll live in North LA, $5K / month still a burden 😅🫢🥰. 2 more years I’ll be getting a earlier retirement and will be returning back home to our ancestors ❤🙏🌺🦜🏔️🥰🥰🇰🇭thank you so much for your video. Stayed Bless 🇰🇭🥰🙏
There's a lot of good information there thanks Allen
Im here from the goat format channel. I love this content. Congratulations, man. And good luck
Love your content!
Great video with lots of information....😊 Take Care
Very informative. Many thanks.
Good video. Pretty accurate. Keep posting. Regards.
Very informative, Thanks
Very informative video.thanks
Good info, thanks.
Great video !
cool dude. great info
We have a fast food restaurant here in the USA called Wendy's. Yesterday I went into one and was shocked to see that a 5 piece chicken combo, fries and coke, was $17.99.
Most times it's around $8-14.. but now it's crazy without a promo or coupon
California is starting a minimum wage of $20 starting April
The last time I went to Wendy's, you could get a 4-piece spicy nuggets for $1. The struggle is real.
@Allen_in_Asia it was in a gas station outside of any towns. Location was arizona desert along the freeway, Seligman
and to think that's the food that's killing you in the long run.
@johnbell1810 but as I sit here in front of the TV, the pharmaceutical companies will save me. As long as I take my meds and keep getting new prescriptions, I should stay alive to continue making them rich.
It's a wonderful life, for them.
We can thank the Democrat Governor and party for the $20 minimum wage in California, high prices plus many business will close, Democrat progress.
Hello from Phnom Penh! Great Channel!!
Good ….factual…..no fluff.
Thank you
An excellent video young man ! -- "short and sweet" as the old saying goes. -- The facts laid out in an orderly and concise way. -- I'm impressed - w/o a lot of babble and irrelevant BS so many seem inclined to do on here ! -- And appreciative. -- I'm old and frugal by myself looking for a comfortable economical area with warm weather to spend my final days. A $1500 / month budget to stretch for all my needs. No other place on earth looks as appealing as Siem Reap in my years worth of almost daily searching ! You are the "icing on the cake" and sealed the deal over the Philippines for me. -- Thank you. -- Perhaps we can meet some day next year when/if I make it over there. I subscribed for future content and I'm selective.
I live in Siem Reap. It's a wonderful place. On $1500 / month budget you certainly don't need to be frugal. You can afford to do pretty much everything you want to do all the time.
@@gsomethingsomething2658 Thanks for the info. More accurately $1500/mo. is the "income" - so - Ill be targeting $1000 - $1200 actual expenses. Been frugal for quite a while & became a minimalist somewhat. I do like to eat good ! -- Thanks again.
@@gsomethingsomething2658 Thank you for this information ! -- I am frugal but comfortable myself. -- Since Allen here - I found people who report a reasonably comfortable life in SR for $750 to $800/mo. most months "recurring expenses" ? Sounds like a person '''could''' almost save half of the $1500 perhaps 10 months/year ??? 🙏
@gsomethingsome
So a single male expat could live there on US $ 1,000 /mth? Or less?
Thx. & blessings!
Nicely done
I lived in Cambodia in the early to mind nineties when beer was a dollar a can. Great to see that at least this hasn't changed :-)
Great video, very excited to visit Siem Reap in the future.
I currently live in Phnom Penh with my wife and two year old. We have found it to be cheaper than the uk, however not as cheap as we first thought. Our food bill is so much more expensive then we initially thought and those little 2$ grab rides quickly add up.
Great video thank you for sharing
spot on on the tuk tuk or grab rides adding up
Great video mate the other option for transport would be an ebike 7k baht in lazada thailand they have a nice 3 wheel one for 13k with the ability of 500kg!!!! I love how u explain that yes there are some crazy cheap options most vloggers all expect high end accommodation as standard
Thanks ❤
Cambodia is relatively cheap with friendly and kind people, easy visa regulation, easy to start a business, improved infrastructure and logistics and relaxing & laid-back environment.
Since lots of people keep leaving the same comments about the $50 that I give to my fiance: That money that I give her is IN ADDITION to paying for 100% the rent, utilities, much of the food, and the occasional vacation. She is a happy, self-sufficient woman with a well-paying job. If you don't think I'm doing enough, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I can assure you that she is well taken care of.
Some people make me laugh. Your wife to be is your business & really is none of these people's business 'requiring' all the details ? I have no doubt you are taking good care of this lovely woman. Many simply jump to conclusions/assumptions very often ! To assume still makes an ass out of you and me !!!
Your getting by cheaper than in the Philippines. In the Philippines the retired men are paying their girlfriend $160/month to quit their job.
People need to stay out of that part. You're doing great my friend. 😊
Cambodia and Laos , it's like everyone forgets these countries
respectfully.. I think close to 1500 to 2000 per month. I am not moving overseas to experience indoor camping (smile).
Everything is very cheap here, unless you are a big drinker, and even that can be cheap.
Good job with the editing, dude! What do you use? Resolve? Thanks!
$50 on fiancee is definitely super extremely cheap
Yeah, best weekly price for the wife,fiance, Or girlfriend, maybe is all i the quality, that you have along, 50 a month Of for the week???
His fiancée doesn’t complain, why are you? Life is not about material possession
What kind of visa did you get? Most people that are old enough to get an ER multiple entry one year visa pay an agent around $290 for a year. I use Cam Smile Visa Service and Tour. They are very good.
I'm not old enough to get an ER visa, so I have to get a work permit to stay long term, even though I'm not working. The work permit costs $200, in addition to the $300 that I have to pay for the 1yr visa.
Great. Im living and working in Yangon next door. Thinking of retiring to there in 18months so vids like this are very useful. I know Russian and Chinese so I think I can use there also.
Isn't it dangerous there right now?
I’ve been living in Phnom Penh for the last 3 months and it’s very affordable. Just don’t drink too much. In general, you can drink beer for around a dollar or so, and as a result I’ve met many expats that are drinking themselves to death.
you are the GOAT Mr ACP ;)
2 goats. lol
A quick note; I have lived in Cambodia for several years and… you don’t get a house like your thumbnail on a 3rd world budget. But, yes, Cambodia is very very affordable and fantastic.
Tell us in a video a detailed description about the weather year round. Would most Americans and Canadians spend 24/7 running the A/C?? What about infrastructure? Does the electricity go out very often?
Hey Allen, great video! I'm a teacher by trade and worked many years in Seoul and Boston, and am considering trying out Cambodia. My question: Siem Reap looks great, but is there a good job market for teachers there, or would a first-timer be better off sticking to Phnom Penh for an initial search and to get set up to live? Thanks for yours or anyone else's advice👍
Pretty cool dude. Tempting me.
You can come visit me anytime.
Might take you up on that. Is there a ideal time to be there?
Flights are super pricey, so def would wanna be there for a while. Guessing I could get a short term rental for a couple months for a reasonable price.
@@RyanSpicer I hear you. I paid $1500 for my 1-way ticket to Phnom Penh and I bought it 6 months in advance.
@@Allen_in_Asia Have you met "Dave does Cambodia" in person yet???
I travel with a folding bike it almost paid for itself the first trip meandering around when a cab costs $10 to go 2 blocks 🤣🤣
Folding bikes are definitely cool... until someone steals it. You'd be surprised how ineffective chains and cable locks can be. If your bike is the coolest one in the parking lot, it's likely that someone else is probably having the same thought.
@@ronagoodwell2709 I keep them in my room albeit the staff could be the worst culprits
when I lived abroad in Brazil--living was cheap, but outfitting a house to 'western' standards was prohibitively expensive. The cost of electronics, appliances, and furniture offset any saving from lower cost of living. And the price of flying home once a year adds up quickly.
If resorting to that type of life it almost requires a 'minimalist' lifestyle out of a suitcase & backpack - and rent furnished places if you need a tighter budget. Frugal and free to wonder keeping things simple for adventure & discovery. We just can't have > "champagne tastes - on a beer drinkers budget" ? Try Colombia Panama or Costa Rica where traveling home might be much cheaper ?
Great! Thanks!
I experienced the same thing moving from US to Java last year. Cost of living so much lower. We saw your apartment too man - since the rent is so inexpensive - why don’t you hire a maid? Once a week at least!
Just a thought. Since it probably won’t cost very much!
Cheap living there . And yummy food too
Do you have any questions about expenses in Cambodia? Leave your comment below.
Ok!
How do you earn money there?
The new No Joke Howard
Can you please tell us the cost of fish like snakehead fish which is my favorite in wet markets in Cambodia please?
Good job Allen! Enjoyed the video! Is Siem Reap a walkable city? Is there a minimum income requirement for retirees? Thank you!
It's very walkable. I don't believe there is a hard income requirement for the retirement visa.
You can get a retirement visa if you are over 50 easily. It cost around $300 a year. Visit a travel agent and they will organise everything. You don't have to show proof of income.
David, love to have you as a guest on my podcast someday. Please let me know?@@davidcolman5290
What about the pesticides used on local vegetables? Got any information on that?
Thank you for the video. I understand that doctor visits are inexpensive but health insurance is for the catastrophic events such as stroke, heart attach or car accident. People say they will go home for major stuff but if you’re have a heart attack your definitely not traveling…..
If you are vulnerable then move to Thailand. They have incredible hospitals and very cheap private health insurance plans.
Open heart surgery in Thailand is $13,000. That's why most people just have a $30,000 emergency fund and self insure. I heard terrible things about "wing/nomad health" insurance that the premiums are $173/month, but only pay half your bill.
@@will580if of a retired age medical insurance isn’t cheap at all and doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. thankfully many u.s. retirees who properly planned their lives have pensions with portable health insurance or some medicare advantage plans include urgent care overseas.
What's the electrical rating? 220? What about banking? Can a bankcard get out funds from local ATMs?
Thanks for the upload helpful information. How can you love animals and eat them though 🤔
Surprisingly clear presentation, thank you.
Cambodia Visa Fee seems strangely high, as comparing to Thailand
It isn't. It is because he is going through a private agent in Siem Reap. My buddy has lived in Phnom Penh since 2003 and just walks to the immigration office in Phnom Penh and fills it out himself, because it is all in English. It only costs $180.
@@MyLifeThai371 Yep its only 180.....
Good video - but - I disagree with your assessment of traffic/walking in Taiwan, specifically Taipei. The city has many parks, including an extensive network of riverside walkways / bike paths. If you tire of walking they have an inexpensive bike share program (YouBike). There's also the subway train system, the MRT, which whisks you to many destinations through the greater Taipei area, including both airports that serve the city. Certainly there are places where the sidewalk is uneven and even interrupted but not next to major thoroughfares. Perhaps you should visit and check it out for yourself? It won't beat Siem Reap's cost of living but for an Asian metropolitan city it's quite well sorted.
Question: Do you work in Cambodia? Is remote international work / digital nomad a possibility, with getting a visa and all?
I don't work, but it's definitely a possibility. Cambodia gives out work visas to basically anyone that wants them.
You can stay in Cambodia forever on the looking for work visa (type e-ordinary visa). You just keep extending it. They are just happy to get the visa money from foreigners.
Can you manage to live there without command of the local language? E.g. when communicating with authorities, e.g. filing taxes, getting a driving license etc.?
Can people email for further guidance?
What about health conditions due local environment?
Electricity also depends on how your rate. in an old building in a local neighborhood it might be $0.19 per kwh. In a newer building in a touristy neighborhood it can by at least $0.33.
$0.12 per kwh in Kentucky - but - almost everything else is higher than hell !!!
WHAT IS NAME OF AGENCY FOR GETTING EXTRA VISA ?
HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE ?
DUDE! Im going to Cambodia to teach in a few months. Any tips on getting the attention of a cute gal ? Lucky guy ! :D
Once things like this appear prices go up..
And those who come might not find all the information correct. TH-cam really is awful at times.
Does your insurance back in your homecountry cover the transportation home in case you have a bad accident and wont be able to travel home on your own for treatment? Here in Denmark healthcare is free. But for the transportation home you must have an insurance or pay out of your own pocket and ambulance planes are freaking expensive.
You can get insurance that covers transportation, yes. Maybe I'll do some research and make a video on it in the future.
Isn't the daily wage in much of the world about $1 a day or something like that? How did you calculate that having expenses of under $1000 in a single month can be a cheap place?
Have you found any day traders in Cambodia? I really want to find a mentor and learn but I’ve not n my any any traders in Cambodia. Thanks
Would you say Cambodia is a quiet or noisy country?
Siem Reap is way inland. 10 hours drive. OK if you like living inland. Some expats like Phnom Penh but for me it's a busy polluted city. Rice is not free dude. It's about $50 for a 50kg sack. Cook it yourself if you like eating rice every day.
$120 a month on electricity per month is HUGE!
Yes it is. If your AC is on almost day and night you will easily have a bill like that. Last month I paid 133 USD on electricity for a 1 bedroom apt. (in Siem Reap).
That's why people only use the A/C at night while they are sleeping.
@@MyLifeThai371 Only use the A/C during night, when it's coolest? Sad.
Why is electricity expensive??
I always wonder how bike friendly a city is. I’d love to bike everywhere but don’t want to take my life in my hands.
Is it safe ?
Where did you get that shirt ?
😂
i learned a lot here, thanks for posting. How is marijuana viewed there and how much are cigarettes?
Marijuana is technically illegal, but in practice there's no enforcement of that, and it's very easy to obtain. Cigarettes are very cheap, about $1 a pack from what people tell me.
@@Allen_in_Asia Thanks for the reply, I wonder if you realize that your living my dream. I watched your video on currency which was counter intuitive but understandable. I have a lot of questions but think I should watch more of your videos before I get into all of that. Thanks again and I hope we talk more at some point.
The countryside is inexpensive cause of so many mosquitoes.
What rules out Cambodia and most of SE Asia for us is the heat and humidity.
I grew up in Florida. My wife grew up in Corinto, Nicaragua….both super hot and humid, and we hate that kind of weather. That would keep us trapped inside in the air con most of the day and night.
I know no place is perfect but there are lots of great cities in Latin America, between Mexico and Argentina, and many cool weather mountain highlands kind of cities. Our next stop is Quetzaltenango, Guatemala….highs about 65….lows around 50. Jeans and a light jacket in the evenings. Very low cost of living, fairly safe for a city close to a million people.
But we have lots of cities to visit still.
….currently in Nicaragua.
I also grew up in Florida, so I'm used to the heat here.
@Allen_in_Asia Texas here. Same! Cheers.
Great content. Age age gap relationships common? Siem Reap good for dating? Is just walking around good for meeting women? I don’t drink and don’t go to bars. Can you do a video on dating and relationships in Cambodia? Thank you 🙏🏼
Are you working in tech remotely (just curious)?
No, I'm retired
bro i live in phoenix 100F is cold.
How much did the bicycle cost??
What's an average price for decent used 2nd bicycle??
Depends on the quality of what you're buying. You could find something used for $50, but I spent more than that.
There are many bicycle rentals who sell also their use bikes. As Allen says, the price can start from 50 USD. New mountainbikes are available for 200 up to 1200 USD, depending on the brand.
"NO joke Howard" said he paid $60 for his bicycle, but also gave advice on dating Cambodian women, but he only dated a Cambodian Lady Boy. I'm sorry but a Lady Boy is not a woman. It is a man.
It's cheap everywhere in asia when you live in substanderd areas.
Is there Parmesan cheese to buy in Cambodia? How much?
Yes, you can buy Parmesan cheese, grated or pieces. USD 2.75 for 110 grams.
Cheese in Cambodia is 2-4x what I paid in England. It's one of the most marked-up items. But all the cheeses are available: Parmesan, Feta, etc. I have some good Pecorino in the fridge right now: $7 for 200g.
Why was your visa so expensive?
Cool video. Where do you live?
Siem Reap
1 year visa if you 55 year or older is 290$ for the first year and then 275$ for each 1 y extension (not 500$!)
This is the part quite different from Thailand.
In Thailand retirement visa usually less US 80 for first application and US 60 yearly on each 1-year extension.
Interesting! But it's bit more complicated as you'll have to show proof you're officially retired & have a pension whereas in Cambodia just show your passport proving you're st least 55y. + In Cambodia you can extend from a travel agency, in Th probably have to travel to an immigr.office?
@@agoodchow"The standard processing fees for Thai retirement visas are: For a 1-year single-entry Thai retirement visa: THB ฿2,000. For a 1-year multiple-entry Thai retirement visa: THB ฿5,000.
"Meeting the Financial Requirements for a Retirement Visa:
Thai bank account showing deposit amount of a minimum of THB 800,000 or monthly income of at least THB 65,000 (monthly income affidavit from your embassy in Bangkok) or Combination (bank account + annual income = THB 800,000
@@trond5656 In Thailand yearly extension fee on retirement visa is 1900 Baht.
Not to confuse with out-and-back-in reentry fee ( only if desired ).
@@agoodchow Yes, Thailand is more affordable. But it's bit more complicated as you'll have to show proof you have a pension of at least 65k Bath a month, or deposit 800k Bath, whereas in Cambodia just show your passport proving you're at least 55y. + In Cambodia you can extend from a travel agency, in Th probably have to travel to an immigr.office?
So Thailand possibly better if you're younger than 55 year..
What about alcohol and bar. Say if you drink once a week or so
Drinks are pretty cheap. $1 or less for a beer, and $2-5 for a cocktail.
.50 cents in some bars.
you can get 50 cents draft beer everywhere.
Can you drink the water from the tap? Or do you use bottled water?
I would recommend not drinking unfiltered water from the tap. Drinking water is very cheap. My landlord supplies unlimited bottled water to us at no additional cost.
In the whole of Asia, the only countries where you can drink water directly from the tap are Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan.
@@Allen_in_Asia Is the water in plastic bottles? If so, are glass bottles available?
Can you get away with a ceiling fan/normal fan instead of an AC? or won’t be good enough?
Google for year round temperature. 😉
How much costs retirement Visa I am 63 years old what is a requirement how much is income per month they ask in us dollars??
Watch this video: th-cam.com/video/UrYPwpgfFjs/w-d-xo.html
Do they have surgeons in Cambodia?
It's only $54 for a one way flight from Phnom Penh to Bangkok to go to the hospital. That's what I paid for my flight.
How you can stay there? What about visa stay limits? What about how to make money?
You can renew a 1-year visa as many times as you want. I don't work (as I already have more than enough money to support my lifestyle), but it's easy to earn a decent living here, if you want to.
Everyone works as an English teacher, since you do not need a Bachelor's Degree. All you need is a TEFL certificate. I got mine through i-to-i tefl for $200.
what are the top dating sites for Cambodia?
Just use Tinder.
I though Tinder was for hook ups, unless it is only in the USA that people use Tinder for hookups.@@Allen_in_Asia
That's where "Vagabond Awake" found his 6' Malaysian model girlfriend.
What’s the immigration process like ?
I'll make another video about that later. If you're coming from a developed/western country, it's pretty simple and hassle-free.
that's because it looks like a 200/month apartment!
@10:04 I think that's $3.00 too much.
I can tell my man is a Marvel Snap fan. Anyways are the women traditional or westernize?
This new video talks about that subject a bit: th-cam.com/video/690bPjENK4I/w-d-xo.html
You have a fiance with her own room, she leaves a wreck AND you pay someone to come clean? Bruh.
Why did your visa cost so much? I guess you didn't get the ordinary visa?
Ordinary visas are for short-term stays, not 1-year.
@@Allen_in_Asia lol they are converted into the proper visa when you get work
@@phlezktravels Which I did... which costs about $500 ($300 for the visa and $200 for the work permit).
@@Allen_in_Asiathere we go! It's important to be specific. Cheers.
What about your income while you are there? Something people forget is most people are not qualified to work or the government restricts jobs. Something I think that you should talk about in your video. Not everybody is a retiree.
Make your money in a high income economy to spend in a low income country. Or be an aid worker.
Not everybody has that option. What happens if you marry a local? @@tubewatcher3100
He said he spends $994/month.
You live as though you are the king. But if you live in a country side your quality of life is way better.
What about healthcare tho?
Self medicate for minor illnesses. Tons of pharmacies in PP. Many (not all) of what are considered prescription drugs in other countries are easily available over the counter. Like the guy said, return to your home country for medical treatment if you have major illnesses like cancer.
still 1k USD still a lot of money if u live and work there. how much a regular work earns in cambodia?
Just teach English or get a remote job if you want to earn more than $1,000 a month.
Is your fiance from Cambodia?❤