“Should I move to Cambodia?” is a question many visitors ask themselves after visiting the Kingdom of Wonder. Cambodia has a habit of capturing people’s hearts from the very first time they encounter the hospitality that the Cambodian people are known for, or when they first get to see the beauty of Angkor Wat, or even when they first get their bill at the bar and realise they were only paying 50 cents for a beer.
It’s a common tale amongst the growing community of expats when you ask them how they ended up living here, “Oh I came for a holiday, but I decided to stay!”. Cambodia has a special feeling to it, one that draws people in and doesn’t want to let them go. However, every country in the world has it’s challenges, and before making packing your bags and moving abroad, it’s important to look at all aspects of life here and make sure that life in Cambodia is suited to you.
The most important, yet perhaps most dull question to ask yourself is “What will I do there?”. If you’re retired, this is perhaps an easier question to answer. There is an endless amount of ways to keep yourself occupied in Cambodia. Whether that be physical activity like cycling to hidden temples and going for afternoon swims, or a more laid back lifestyle of relaxing in the sun and joining a chess club, there’s something for everyone. But if you’re working or looking to do business here, things can get a little bit more complicated.
Local wages in Cambodia are low and usually not enough to sustain a lifestyle that many of us from the west are used to. Whilst there are certainly jobs in Cambodia that can pay good wages, these are in short supply and are often filled through placements in Cambodia from foreign companies. Many people here make a living (and often a good one!) teaching English, though this will depend on your native language, skills and qualifications.
There are others that work online for foreign companies, earning a wage in line with their home nation, which naturally will go a lot further here with the low cost of living. There are also the people who open their own businesses in Cambodia, though this certainly comes with it’s own hardships and is something that isn’t recommended unless you’ve been here a fair amount of time and are aware of the challenges this brings.
Visas and long term stays are much more simplified in Cambodia than most other Southeast Asian nations. If you want to delve into the visa situation, click HERE to find out more about which visa you need.
The lifestyle in Cambodia is inherently different to that of many western countries, and for most people who live here, that’s exactly what they’re looking for. If you arrange to meet someone at 2pm, don’t be surprised or confused when they turn up at 3pm and greet you as normal, we run on Cambodian time here!
Cambodia has a very laid back vibe in general, which for some people is perfect, but for others can be frustrating over time, especially if you need to get certain things done on a schedule. This can be difficult to adjust to, but surprisingly once you embrace it, you’ll actually find it’s pretty relieving! Let’s be fair though, that’s pretty good advice for anything in life, just go with it!
Over the past decade, Cambodia has made major leaps and strides when it comes to infrastructure. In many places, government programs have seen an incredible improvement to roads and highways, especially in the cities and on the highways between them. Lengthy power cuts which used to be the norm are becoming fewer and further between to the point that they are rarely an issue anymore and short lived when they do happen.
The roads are much better, and have shortened travel time between cities especially with the addition and current construction of new express highways. In Siem Reap in particular, with it’s 38 Roads Project, has dramatically improved the quality of the roads in the centre of Siem Reap city and allowed for much wider and more accessible sidewalks, and even the addition of cycle lanes. This is not to say that roads in Cambodia are perfect; There are many areas where drastic improvement is needed. Lots of roads remain unpaved, and if you head to Phnom Penh you’ll notice that even paved roads can be difficult to navigate, especially as a pedestrian.
This is something to consider if you have accessibility needs or young children to look after. Transport via train in Cambodia is very limited, though in 2023 it was announced that a new high speed rail network was to be built, which would run from Phnom Penh all the way to the Thai border. However, it’s very easy and cheap to get around the country using one of the many bus companies! A bus from Poipet to Siem Reap is only a few dollars and makes the Siem Reap Bangkok journey quick and easy.
It’s easy to maintain a healthy social life in Cambodia. With the Cambodian people being very friendly and open, you’ll be sure to establish some great friendships here. There is also a large expat community in most major cities, and with this comes a multitude of options for events and socialisation. If you want to meet up for disc golf, you’ll find a group! If you want some regular drinking buddies for Friday nights, you’ll find them! There is quite a big drinking culture in Cambodia with people coming together over a beer as a way to unwind and meet new people.
This can be great, but it’s important to note that if that isn’t your scene or you’d rather stay away from alcohol, you’ll need to be a little bit more pro-active in finding your people, though your people are definitely out there and they’re looking for you too!
Whether you’re looking for a bustling city, a laid back town or a retirement at the beach, Cambodia has it all. Be sure to check out various parts of Cambodia before making your decision on where you want to be long term.
Another factor to consider is the climate. Cambodia has 2 seasons as opposed to 4; Dry season and Rainy season. Both seasons see hot temperatures, though the heat reaches its peak around April, with temperatures up to 42 degrees celsius (which feels a lot hotter due to the high humidity). From May until around September, Cambodia is blessed with cooling rains and thunderstorms. These storms are usually heavy downpour that is short lived, although some evenings you’ll find yourself trapped inside by a large storm that feels like it’s never going to end.
Outside of these months, Cambodia is hot and dry, rarely seeing rain. Electric utility bills can become expensive in Cambodia if you rely on air conditioning, with the majority of landlords charging 1000r per kw/h (Around 25 cents US) despite the official rate being set lower than this.
If you’re craving a taste of home, many of the larger supermarkets here carry a wide range of imported western brands (most importantly Marmite, Bird’s Eye fish fingers and Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings!) and there is an abundance of restaurants, from Greek to Indian to Mexican, and everything in-between. Eating out in Cambodia is very cheap, with some restaurants doing local dishes from as little as a dollar or western dishes from around two dollars and up.
Whilst there are of course a lot of incredible restaurants here with higher prices, it’s good to fall back on these cheaper options if you’re looking to save money. If you enjoy cooking, meat and vegetables can be purchased at local markets for bargain prices. If you want to see what restaurant or nightlife options are on offer, make sure to check out the EAT and DRINK categories of our site.
One thing many people need to consider is what their healthcare options are. We ALWAYS recommend having insurance when coming to Cambodia, and that applies to people of all ages no matter how invincible or healthy you may feel! Healthcare in Cambodia works on a “pay at point of use” basis and you don’t want to be caught with your pants down! Healthcare in general is improving in Cambodia, with several hospitals that are very well equipped and able to deal with most issues.
There is still room for improvement though, and many people still travel to the more advanced hospitals of Thailand for procedures or treatments if they feel their issue is too serious or complex to be dealt with by the hospitals here. This is definitely something to consider if you have serious long term health issues, as if you opt to (or need to) have treatment in Thailand or back in your home country, this will of course take an additional toll on your time and finances.
I think we’ve covered some of the main considerations here, but as always, if you have any specific questions you want answered, head to our ABOUT page and send us an email, or head to our social media pages and message us there. We’re always happy to help and want to make sure everyone makes the most of their experience in Cambodia. From the rich and cultured history, to the beautiful landscapes and the wonderful people, Cambodia is a very welcoming place to live, provided you do your research and understand that nowhere is perfect. In our opinion though, Cambodia is as close to perfect as you can get!
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