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How Much Does It Cost to Live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia?

two can travelThis is a guest post from Jen Joslin, best known for her blog www.twocantravel.com. She lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with her husband, stand-up comedian Stevo Joslin. They have been living and traveling in Asia together since 2011, and have been living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia since 2015. Jen works as a first grade teacher at a small international school. When he’s not on stage, Stevo dabbles in curriculum consulting, teaches swimming, and does English tutoring. Combined they earn less than $35,000 USD per year, yet this is the happiest they’ve ever been; both pursuing their passions while enjoying the pleasures of daily life in Phnom Penh. 

[This cost of living in Cambodia post first appeared in 2016. We updated it together in May of 2018]

Phnom Penh is at that sweet spot of development for expat living. An influx of foreign investment in recent years has meant more businesses, amenities and quality international schools geared toward foreigners. While gentrification has it’s positives and negatives, there is much to be said for the comforts and ease of life these businesses provide expats. At the same time, Phnom Penh retains its chaotic pace and Cambodian charm. Its not hard to get away from the foreign influence and experience local living.

capital of cambodia

All the development means you’ll have the option to shop at organic food stores or pay half the price at local outdoor markets. A typical meal at a Cambodian restaurant costs less than $2, or you can enjoy an upscale dining experience for $100+. A cappuccino at a foreign coffee chain costs $3, while a locally sourced brew at a Cambodian stall costs less than $0.75.

You can rent a luxury, serviced apartment with a pool, gym, 24-hour security guard, and cleaning service for anywhere from $400 to $3000, or live in a comfortable Cambodian style apartment for under $350. Phnom Penh is a city of choice, and whether you are seeking western creature-comforts or want to experience a more local way of life, the city has what you are looking for at prices much less than what you would pay in most developed countries.

Tuk-tuks and motorbikes, called “motos,” are the preferred method of transport for both locals and expats, though more and more luxury SUVs are crowding the roads every day (mainly driven by Cambodian officials).

Cambodian international airport

Phnom Penh’s recently expanded international airport and bus services make it a great base for travel throughout the region. Southeast Asian countries are all a short plane ride away. Comfortable buses are available for travel throughout Cambodia and to bordering countries.

The expat scene in Phnom Penh is a thriving community with interesting people, young and old, from around the world. There are events taking place every day of the week. These can include networking events, restaurant openings, athletic tournaments, street fairs, documentary film showings, riverboat parties, art galleries, plays, live music, stand-up comedy and more. Phnom Penh is a popular city for young families as well, with plenty of activities and businesses catering to children.

So let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. What does it really cost to live in Phnom Penh?

Stevo and I earn less than $35,000 combined annually. We currently pay $400 per month plus $75-100 a month in utilities for a one-bedroom apartment in a western style building with a rooftop gym and once a week cleaning service. It’s located a few blocks from the Russian Market, which is one of the more popular expat areas. The apartment came fully furnished and we have a large kitchen, double burner gas stove, an enclosed shower, air conditioning units in both the bedroom and living room, large picture windows with lots of natural light and beautiful views of the city. Previously we paid $350 per month in rent plus $75-$100 in utilities for a three bedroom, three bath Cambodian-style apartment on the fringes of the Russian Market, one of the more popular expat areas. We have a housekeeper come twice per week for $40 a month. We eat at mid-range restaurants about three times per week ($15-20 per meal for two), and go to events around the city several nights per week. Jen goes to a Khmer kickboxing gym and yoga studio. We travel around Cambodia about once per month to Kampot, Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, and other provinces. We have taken trips around the region to Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Laos and Vietnam, and are planning for more international travel. We live better and feel happier than we did back in our hometown in southern California. Our life in Phnom Penh is simple, fulfilling, and never dull.

Money in Cambodia

Cambodia primarily uses US Dollars and Cambodian Riel. The exchange rate is roughly 4000 Riel to 1 USD, so most transactions are made in USD with small change given in Riel. ATMs dispense USD unless otherwise stated, in which case you become an instant thousandaire!

cambodia apartmentWhere to live in Phnom Penh and Housing Costs

Phnom Penh is divided into districts. A majority of expats live in BKK 1, 2 or 3, Russian Market, or by the Riverside. BKK 1 and 2 tend to be more expensive with restaurants, bars, and shops geared toward expats. BKK 3 (near the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum) and the Russian Market have a good blend of western and local amenities. The Riverside area tends to be crowded with tourists and can feel seedy due to the lady bars and nightclubs in the area. However, it is close to many restaurants, shops, and attractive tourist sites. Another area of the city growing in popularity with expats is Tuol Kork, located 20-30 minutes from downtown. Phnom Penh is expanding outward, and the further outside the city center you go, the less you can expect to pay in rent.

Housing Options

There are a variety of housing options in Phnom Penh ranging from upscale apartments with 24-hour security guards, pools and gyms, to basic Cambodian-style apartments in local neighborhoods. There are even old French colonial buildings and wooden countryside-style homes still available in parts of the city. Western-style homes in gated communities with tree-lined streets and parks are also available, and many more of these housing developments are popping up on the outskirts of the city and near the airport. Housing costs range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on location, size, and style.

Cost of Housing

Typically single expats pay anywhere from $150-500 per month depending if they rent their own place or live in a shared apartment. The Facebook group Phnom Penh Housing is a great resource to find a roommate and see what housing options are available.

Couples and families can expect to pay $250-$1000+ depending on what type of amenities they require.

roof pool at apartment when living in Phnom Penh

Utilities

Some apartments include utilities while others charge an additional fee for water, trash pick-up, cable, and Wi-Fi. One thing to note is that electricity is almost always charged in addition to rent and can be expensive. Landlords charge different rates to unsuspecting tenants, but the standard rate is usually 1000 Riel ($0.25USD)/kilowatt. We use a fan during the day and run our air-conditioner in one room for most of the night. Our electric bill is usually around $65 per month, just to give you an idea.

Finding a Place to Live

There are many real estate agencies in the city to help you secure accommodation. You should not have to pay the real estate agent a fee as the landlord will pay them a commission. We had a good experience working with a local agent we met through an apartment advertisement online. He spoke great English and took us to half a dozen different properties based on our criteria. Once we found a place, he went through the details of our lease together with us and our landlord. We gave a one-month security deposit and first month’s rent, signed a lease, and were done!

Cambodian People

Cambodian people are some of the friendliest people in the world. They are quick to smile and happy to help. Many Cambodians in Phnom Penh speak English, making it easier to make Cambodian friends, and simplifying basic daily tasks like shopping or eating out.

Safety in Phnom Penh
Sadly, petty crime is on the rise in Phnom Penh. Bag and phone snatching is a common occurrence, so always be on guard when you are in a tuk-tuk or walking. We have been robbed three times in three years, and know very few expats who haven’t had something stolen at some point. We now take Grab taxis at night as an additional safety measure. Download the Grab app to your phone. It works similarly to Uber, and you pay in cash at the end of your ride. As is true in the rest of the world, a vast majority of people in Cambodia are kind, decent, hard-working people who shouldn’t be overlooked.

Live in Phnom Penh Cambodia for cheap

A Brief Recent History of Cambodia
To understand Cambodia as it is today, it is important to know about it’s recent, tragic past. In the 1940-1960s Cambodia was developing at a similar rate to Thailand and Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, Cambodia’s northeast was heavily bombed, which, along with internal strife in the country, aided in the Khmer Rouge’s rise to power during the 1970s. Cambodia’s people suffered a mass genocide by the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979, who killed an estimated 1/3 of the total population. People were forced out of Phnom Penh into the countryside and made to work as farmers. Educated people such as teachers, doctors, lawyers and business owners, were killed first. Hundreds of thousands of others, including women and children, died of starvation. Thousands more were put in prison, tortured, and forced into absurd confessions that they were spies of the KGB or had betrayed the Khmer Rouge in some way. They were brutally murdered and put into mass graves.

Today the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Killing Fields in Phnom Penh are tourist sites aimed to educate visitors about the horrific atrocities committed against the Cambodian people. The Khmer Rouge retained their seat at the United Nations until the early 1990s. The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) located outside Phnom Penh has only started trying Khmer Rouge leaders responsible for the deaths of millions, within the last decade. The trials are currently ongoing and can be viewed by the public.

Cambodia is still recovering from the loss of the majority of its educated population and the subsequent trauma that has been passed down to the next generations.

Working in Cambodia

cheap living abroadDepending on their profession, expats in Phnom Penh live on an estimated $12,000 to $60,000 per year. Phnom Penh is a thriving city of opportunity. Expats work and volunteer in a variety of fields in Phnom Penh, from NGOs, education, hospitality and tourism, the medical field, consulting, technology, and business. Some expats come to the city on expat packages, in which case pay and benefits are usually more attractive. Many other people, including Stevo and I, simply show up and look for work. Integrating into the expat scene and learning about opportunities through word of mouth is a good way to find jobs that may not be posted online.

Bongthom.com, newspaper job listings, and the local HRinc site are all good resources to view job listings in the city.

Cambodian Visas to Live in Phnom Penh

Cambodia has some of the most lax visa regulations in the world, but the rules for long-term visas have changed as of 2018, and may change again in the coming months. Currently, getting an Ordinary (E) visa is as simple as showing up at an airport or land border, ticking a box, and paying a few dollars more than the Tourist visa price. You need an Ordinary (E) visa if you want to extend your stay in Cambodia for more than one month. You can extend an Ordinary (E) visa to a three-month (E) visa one time without leaving the country. If it is your first time in Cambodia, then you can extend your Ordinary (E) visa for a six month (E) visa one time. Otherwise, to get an (E) visa for 6 months or one year you now need to have a government-issued work permit. Although the work permit law is still not well regulated, the government has been cracking down on work permits and charging fines to foreigners who do not have them. It is up to businesses to help with the work permit process for their employees, so be sure to speak with your employer about this during your contract negotiations.

Although the visa situation has changed, Cambodia is still a prime place to work, start a business, or simply live a comfortable life of leisure with fewer visa hassles than in neighboring countries. There may also be ways around visa and work permit issues if you know the right people or grease the right palms. Just be aware that the visa situation is changing and is not as relaxed as it used to be. There are several additional visa types offered such as retirement visas and student visas, which can be another way to get around the work permit issue if you qualify. You can find up to date information about Cambodian visas here.

Medical and Dental Care in Cambodia

In the past, the common medical advice for travelers and expats in Cambodia was “Go to Thailand!” Thankfully medical care facilities have greatly improved, and many ailments can now be treated in Phnom Penh by foreign doctors and foreign-trained Cambodian doctors. Dental care is also professional and affordable.

That said, certain medical procedures or tests may be unavailable or expensive, so it can be necessary to seek medical care out of the country, namely in Thailand, Singapore, or Malaysia. Even traveling out of Cambodia for medical care is generally cheaper than being treated in the USA. Many expectant mothers choose Bangkok for prenatal care and delivery.

During our first few months in Phnom Penh I had a freak accident. A glass door shattered onto my back, cutting me on my upper booty and ankle, but thankfully nowhere major. I took a tuk-tuk to a local emergency clinic and was treated immediately by skilled Cambodian staff and doctors who all spoke English. I received stitches and had two follow-up appointments. The total cost was less than $300.

There are several insurance companies that offer medical insurance for expats. We recommend getting insurance for catastrophic incidents that might require hospitalization, medical evacuation, or repatriation. We have found that it’s not necessary to be covered for outpatient procedures as it is affordable to deal with these issues at medical clinics and hospitals.

Dental care is also available in the city at affordable prices. We recently got cleanings done at Roomchang Dental Clinic for $25. The facility is state of the art, and the staff were professional and trained abroad.

Food Shopping in Cambodia

There is a wide variety of choice when shopping at markets in Phnom Penh. There are open-air local markets, big and small, scattered throughout the city. We do all of our produce shopping at these. Local market shopping is always an adventure, and having sellers we regularly go to is a nice way to feel integrated into our neighborhood and practice our Khmer.

mangosteens

A large selection of fruits and vegetables are available at the local markets. Of course produce that is in season is cheaper, but prices are quite reasonable any time of year. For example, in season mangoes are 4000 Riel ($1)/kilogram and avocados are 8000 Riel ($2)/kilogram. (Yes, they have avocados here! Be still, my Californian heart.) Imported fruits like apples and oranges are available at a price. I was once gifted four apples by a student’s parents that were bought at Aeon Mall, the largest modern mall in Cambodia. They left the price tags on, and each apple had cost $2.90!

We occasionally buy eggs at the outdoor markets too, but are skeptical of the meat that sits outside in the heat for hours on end. Instead we buy meat from air-conditioned markets and butcher shops geared toward foreign customers. There are stores catering to western customers throughout the city, especially in BKK 1 and 2, near the Russian Market and at the Riverside. The French influence in Cambodia lingers in the baguettes, croissants, and other fine baked goods at countless bakeries. Stevo and I find that we never crave anything from back in the States as we can buy just about everything we want here. Fancy meats and cheeses, name brand peanut butter and chocolate, breakfast cereal, good wine, you name it. A nice baguette or chocolate croissant costs $1-2, similar to prices in developed countries.

Cambodian food in market

 

Drinking in Cambodia

Hard alcohol and spirits are surprisingly cheap in Cambodia. A 750ml bottle of Absolut Vodka goes for $10, Blue Sapphire for $12, and very few bottles cost more than $20. There are a few wine shops in town selling imported wine from around the world as well as craft beers. The wines are about the prices you’d expect to pay at home or a bit higher. Drinking at restaurants is inexpensive. Cocktails, even at nicer restaurants and bars, are $2-8, and are often 1/2 price during happy hour. Local beers range from $0.75-$1.50 at most restaurants. A can of beer from a local shop is $0.50. There are also a couple of local breweries in town and a rum distillery which is open for tastings once per week.

Transportation Costs in Phnom Penh

Getting around Phnom Penh is relatively cheap and easy. The main method of transport for expats and locals are tuk-tuks, carriages pulled by motorbikes. A ride across the city should cost no more than $5, and generally going from A-B within town will cost about $2-3. If you are riding solo, motorbikes are a cheaper option. Unlike in Bangkok, where the motorbike drivers are clearly distinguished by their fluorescent vests, Cambodia’s moto drivers are just regular guys who own motorbikes. They often hang out in groups on corners or keep their eyes peeled for people who look like they might need a ride, slowing down to check as they ride past. They don’t usually provide helmets for passengers, or even themselves. Yes, it’s dangerous and don’t tell your mom, but man is it fun! Taxis are also available in the city, mainly coming from the airport.

There are public buses as of 2015 with three routes currently open. They are cheap and air-conditioned, though they do make many stops and don’t move very quickly during rush hour.

In 2017 both Uber and Grab taxi came to Cambodia. In early 2018 Grab bought out Uber and is now the main game in town. Download the Grab app to book cars, rickshaws and motorbike taxis, and pay in cash at the end of your ride. PassApp Taxi is another useful cash-based transportation app that also has cars and rickshaw taxis. A big perk of using these apps is not having to negotiate prices with drivers, which can become tedious. PassApp rickshaws run on CNG, and are nearly half the price of what tuk-tuks charge.

Getting out of Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh’s international airport is undergoing major renovations. The country’s first Starbucks opened in 2016, which can be seen as a blessing or a curse. The airport’s expansion means more international flights to and from the city. There are non-stop flights to countries throughout Asia. There are about 10 flights to Bangkok, Thailand per day, and five to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for under $100. Air Asia is the largest budget airline in the region, and a flight to their hub in Kuala Lumpur costs about $50.

The buses in Cambodia are much better now than even just a few years ago. Giant Ibis has quality air-conditioned buses and mini-buses going to most parts of the country for under $20. Many bus companies also have air-conditioned buses around Cambodia and to bordering countries. An overnight bus from Phnom Penh to Thailand currently costs about $30. Cars with private drivers are also available to hire anywhere you want to go for a reasonable price. Check out the Facebook group Taxi Share Cambodia to find drivers and share taxis with other travelers.

Kampot

Phnom Penh is one of the best values for money in Southeast Asia. It is a city primed for opportunity and will best be enjoyed by those with an adventurous spirit and open mind looking to immerse themselves in a new culture, while still enjoying many comforts of the western world.

This is a guest post by Jen Joslin, who also shot the photos. She blogs at TwoCanTravel.com about travel and expat life in Cambodia and around Asia. Follow her and her comedian husband Stevo on Facebook and Youtube.

aubrey Mitchell

Saturday 1st of December 2018

Thanks for the article, but the airline ticket prices are very wrong, a simple budget airline ticket cost over $200 dollars to Siem Reap, and upwards to $300 to vietnam, I just flew to singapore, and the cheapest available ticket through jetstar was $360

Tim Leffel

Saturday 1st of December 2018

Only from Bangkok. Just searched four weeks out and Denang to Siem Reap is $77 to $176, Hanoi from $131. If coming from Ho Chi Minh City there are flights as low as $67. All on Skyscanner USA - it should be less locally.

Suzanne Saldi

Wednesday 31st of October 2018

Great article that I am just reading now. I am curious--as a foreigner have you ever been turned away by a healthcare facility because you were not Cambodian? Or, do all healthcare facilities take foreigners? How do you know where to go? Thank you.

EXPAT

Monday 8th of October 2018

14 years here and most this info is BS. 90% of the expats are nothing but Criminals and hiding from there own gov Very Very few real expats here

Tim Leffel

Monday 8th of October 2018

Says the person who won't use his/her real name and leaves a fake e-mail address...

Peaam

Tuesday 17th of July 2018

When it comes to the monthly cost of living, Cambodia has huge advantages. Living is cheap in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or Sihanoukville. Thanks for sharing.

Neng

Wednesday 29th of August 2018

living in Siem Reap is cheaper than Phnom penh,

Alex

Friday 13th of July 2018

With the advent of PassAp public transport has become one of the cheapest in the world. So cheap that you end up taking pity on the drivers. No longer $2-3 from A to B. PassApp will put you there for less than $1. I always tip those guys at least 50%, so cheap it is. For normal tuk tuk rides, you should pay about $1 per km.

Just to clarify, the Russian market area is not an "expat" area. It is more of a backpacker area. It is far away and, apart from restaurants, it has no attraction at all. Same goes for Tuol Kork.

Dining out is not cheap and it measures up with Western standards. If you want a good western meal with wine or craft beer it is going to cost you upwards of $15 per person. While eating in the street is ok in some cities, it is not recommendable in Cambodia. Hygiene standards are pretty low (cultural) and you often do not really know what you are eating. Local restaurants suffer from the same: low quality and hygiene. When living in Cambodia you either cook yourself or put up with the Western prices.

One work of social responsibility: Tip people for their service. a $1 tip goes a very long way. Restaurant staff toil away for $150 a month (if they make that much); PassApp drivers can't barely pay for the gasoline at the prices imposed on them; most people in the city need to support families in the province, where only 4% have a flush toilet. You are fortunate enough to live in a cheap country. Share your fortune