Cambodia no longer one of the cheapest places to live: study

[geovalin]

Cambodia’s reputation as one of the cheapest places in the world to live has been called under question, according to a survey conducted by CEOWORLD magazine, a leading business publication.

 

The newly-released study ranked Cambodia 59 out of 132 countries in terms of cost of living (with one being the cheapest and 132 the most expensive). The basis for the rankings include local purchasing power, cost of living, rent, groceries and eating out. Cambodia’s ranking puts it above many much-wealthier countries like Czech Republic, Poland, China, Malaysia, Lithuania, Slovakia and South Africa. The general consensus is that the cost of living often corresponds to the economic standing of a country.

 

CEOWORLD magazine’s findings are backed up by an earlier study from GOBankingRates, which ranked Cambodia 97th globally in terms of living costs. Just a few years ago, the Kingdom consistently ranked as one of the countries with the lowest cost of living, according to studies conducted by reputable organsations and publications like International Living.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50700413/cambodia-no-longer-one-of-the-cheapest-places-to-live-study

[BritManToo]

But they never include cost of having a wife/gf/children in these studies.

If that was included, Cambodia would get a lot cheaper in the rankings.

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by BritManToo

[phuketrichard]

I have ALWAYS stated Cambodia is not cheaper to live in compared to Thailand

unless u enjoy sleeping on a mat in a $100/month room and existing on cheap draft (<deleted> water) beer an cigs

[Venom]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

But they never include cost of having a wife/gf/children in these studies.

If that was included, Cambodia would get a lot cheaper in the rankings.

 

Cambodia is a dump. I would not even consider raising children there. The Chinese can have it.

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, Venom said:

Cambodia is a dump. I would not even consider raising children there. The Chinese can have it.

Well at least I haven't 'confused' you.

[bkk6060]

I

My experience just traveling to Cambodia a few times is that it is about the same.

Sure, you can probably go to some cheap outskirt areas, but in and around the cities the same.  

It most certainly is not "a lot cheaper" the cost of here if a person wants a semi modern lifestyle ( not 3rd world).

Beer is cheaper yes.  I actually know guys who use this as their motivation to go there.

Whatever it takes to get thru the day I guess. 

[Isaan sailor]

China has deep footprints in Cambo.  And you know they want the same for Thailand.

[holy cow cm]

34 minutes ago, Venom said:

Cambodia is a dump. I would not even consider raising children there. The Chinese can have it.

Actually if single and had a vasectomy I would love to keep trying to have kids with the fine gals over there. Cheap in this respect. .

[JulesMad]

30 minutes ago, Venom said:

Cambodia is a dump. I would not even consider raising children there. The Chinese can have it.

I rather live in the dump called Cambodia than in the dump called usa (unless they give me an obscene amount of money and immunity ????)
The Chinese (and Russians) probably own already a significant part of both countries...

[holy cow cm]

10 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

China has deep footprints in Cambo.  And you know they want the same for Thailand.

How about try the entire world. 

[BritManToo]

24 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

My experience just traveling to Cambodia a few times is that it is about the same.

Sure, you can probably go to some cheap outskirt areas, but in and around the cities the same.  

It most certainly is not "a lot cheaper" the cost of here if a person wants a semi modern lifestyle ( not 3rd world).

Beer is cheaper yes.  I actually know guys who use this as their motivation to go there.

Whatever it takes to get thru the day I guess. 

50c for beer in Siem Reap and 75c for beer in Phnom Penh (bars & restaurants) is considerably cheaper than anywhere in Thailand

Edited March 11, 2020 by BritManToo

[curlylekan]

With the Chinese buying up everything and paying for all infrastructure projects, get ready for your cost of living to continue rising in Cambodia, no matter who you are. I hope the government is prepared when the people go to the streets because they can no longer afford to live but in a rural village.

[baansgr]

Thailand isn't expensive, in fact it could be cheaper than 10 years ago...rents are cheaper, chicken is cheaper, eggs are cheaper. Thailand has to be one of the cheapest places to live if you don't drink or associate with Thais. Where else could you make a healthy chicken and veg/salad meal for 4 people costing a dollar...yes 25cents a person...takes some beating...even fish don't cost much more more....however I spent $15 on 4 items at Siamburis today...which would have cost half that in UK...

[mrfill]

12 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Thailand isn't expensive, in fact it could be cheaper than 10 years ago...rents are cheaper, chicken is cheaper, eggs are cheaper. Thailand has to be one of the cheapest places to live if you don't drink or associate with Thais. Where else could you make a healthy chicken and veg/salad meal for 4 people costing a dollar...yes 25cents a person...takes some beating...even fish don't cost much more more....however I spent $15 on 4 items at Siamburis today...which would have cost half that in UK...

At that price I'd suspect the 'chicken' to be one of those 4 legged barking chickens.

[drbeach]

48 minutes ago, JulesMad said:

I rather live in the dump called Cambodia than in the dump called usa (unless they give me an obscene amount of money and immunity ????)
The Chinese (and Russians) probably own already a significant part of both countries...

Yeah but America has plenty of space...there are parts of it that suck but other areas where you'll be the only person for miles around. Cambodia meanwhile is so tiny it's smaller than most US states and people are everywhere except for the SW mountain areas.

[drbeach]

47 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

50c for beer in Siem Reap and 75c for beer in Phnom Penh (bars & restaurants) is considerably cheaper than anywhere in Thailand

That's one of the few exceptions.

 

In my experience having traveled to Cambodia many times (upwards of 30) mostly by car and in fact, exclusively by car since 2015 (why would i fly when it's so close and i have my own car anyway) - fuel is marginally more expensive in Cambodia than Thailand, but the differences are small. Some smaller gas stations charge about the same for diesel, though still a fair bit more for gasoline. Now that Thailand is moving towards B10/B20, which are subsidized while Cambodia uses only conventional diesel, expect the gap to increase.

 

Accommodation - about the same, but depends on your standards. In some Cambodian towns, it's overpriced or of very low quality compared to what you'll find in Thailand. Koh Kong Bay Hotel - overpriced, falling apart and no breakfast (they consider themselves to be a 4-star hotel). In Thailand, a similar place will cost you half that with complementary breakfast. Other hotels in Koh Kong, cheap but very old and basic. Other cities - Siem Reap and Phnom Penh - lots of boutique hotels that cost more or less the same as their counterparts in similar places in Thailand.

 

Food - generally a little cheaper in Thailand.

Rent - significantly cheaper in Thailand, more variety and usually more spacious. Luxury is available in Cambodia, but it's pricey.

 

Alcohol - as you say, this is about the only thing definitely cheaper in Cambodia than Thailand. Proprietors are losing money on beer with their 50-75 cent deals, so people come in to eat. In Thailand, any beer sold at a restaurant will probably cost twice as much, at the very least, but depends on the type of restaurant.

[phuketrichard]

Have lived in Cambodia, nice 1 bedroom apt on the tonle sap in PP>back in 2008/09 and traveling there since 2002
For my lifestyle with my khmer gf we live 25% cheaper in PHUKET than we did in Cambodia  and still travel up there 1/2 x/year

we dont drink the P#@S  $.50 drafts or smoke cigs.

 

Quote

Where else could you make a healthy chicken and veg/salad meal for 4 people costing a dollar...yes 25cents a person..

 

in fact it could be cheaper than 10 years ago

BS:   even in the local markets a full chicken is more than 75 baht

In Tesco a BBQ chicken is 125 baht

Chicken and rice is 50 baht min just about everywhere in the country

uncooked Tilapia in tesco is 59 baht

 

Had a $7 duck on the road between PP and Kep, nothing but bones and skin.

 

as to cheaper, more BS. rice, cooking gas, oil, sugar, everything has gone up 25 % in 10 years so how on earth could it be cheaper?

 

Baansgr;  ur delusional

 

Britman has spent, what 2 weeks there, an thinks he knows it all. gong to sr and saying it was to expensive to visit angkor wat LOL

 

Edited March 11, 2020 by phuketrichard

[Aspaltso]

Cambodia isn't any cheaper than Thailand, but at least its got a genuine "vibe", and genuine people. Something I will argue I don't find in wide supply over in Thailand. The Indian influence here from the Angkor, and Chenla times make it very interesting over here, and I prefer to live over here.

[Nyezhov]

7 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

I have ALWAYS stated Cambodia is not cheaper to live in compared to Thailand

unless u enjoy sleeping on a mat in a $100/month room and existing on cheap draft (<deleted> water) beer an cigs

Its  about $500 a month cheaper for me to live in Siem than it is in BKK, and I have three times the space in a modern, top location, pool building. Your evaluation is based on your own reality, not mine.

 

Interesting you havent been living there since 2009.

Edited March 11, 2020 by Nyezhov

[phuketrichard]

13 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Its  about $500 a month cheaper for me to live in Siem than it is in BKK, and I have three times the space in a modern, top location, pool building. Your evaluation is based on your own reality, not mine.

LOL:
ones the capital of the country, the other a provincial town

you cant compare.

Quote

Interesting you havent been living there since 2009.

why?  we found we both have a better live in Phuket than anywhere in Cambodia and my gf is treated better here and has a better job than in her own country

 

visiting her family in Kep and our house there 1-2/x/year is enough

Edited March 11, 2020 by phuketrichard

[Nyezhov]

3 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

LOL:
ones the capital of the country, the other a provincial town

you cant compare.

LOL. Sure I can. Its cheaper for me. I proved you wrong with personal experience. So your spin and qualifying is just an ego need.

 

What do you know anyway, you live in Phuket. You havent been living in Cambodia since 2009. 

[Burma Bill]

7 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

I have ALWAYS stated Cambodia is not cheaper to live in compared to Thailand

unless u enjoy sleeping on a mat in a $100/month room and existing on cheap draft (<deleted> water) beer an cigs

I am sorry, but utter rubbish - $100 per month on a mat in a room! I rent a fully furnished modern pent house type apartment in the quiet Wat Bo Village area of Siem Reap (photo below). My apartment covers the complete upper floor with smaller apartments below. Cost - $250 per month inclusive of WiFi, multi channel cable TV and refuse collection. Bedroom this end with panoramic window, then bathroom, lounge and kitchen at far end. Bedroom and lounge both have flat screen wall TV's and air-conditioning units, also fans throughout. Cambodian beers are, in my opinion, far better and of greater value than Thai brews also smoking is a disgusting habit. 

 

 

[Nyezhov]

5 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

I am sorry, but utter rubbish - $100 per month on a mat in a room! I rent a fully furnished modern pent house type apartment in the quiet Wat Bo Village area of Siem Reap (photo below). My apartment covers the complete upper floor with smaller apartments below. Cost - $250 per month inclusive of WiFi, multi channel cable TV and refuse collection. Bedroom this end with panoramic window, then bathroom, lounge and kitchen at far end. Bedroom and lounge both have flat screen wall TV's and air-conditioning units, also fans throughout. Cambodian beers are, in my opinion, far better and of greater value than Thai brews also smoking is a disgusting habit. 

 

 

I looked at that place I think. Nice area. 

 

PS, dont tell these guys that the cable TV is horrible. I just stream on the super fast wifi I have. Hey do you have a maid too, I do, and fresh linens every week.

[phuketrichard]

and ur paying  how much for electric?  $.25 vs  $.12 here

and how much for ur water?

and forget about buying a decent car for under $8,000 ( for a 22 year old Rav 4 or honda crv)

or putting a used motorcycle in ur name  ????

 

Quote

super fast wifi

in Cambodia>>LOL not according to my friends in Kep or Phnom Pehn where there lucky to see 25mbs down and i hear open net is really bad now

 

PS;  i pay 599 baht for 200 up and down an my speeds average 150/200

 

anyway no reason on arguing, i know what the costs are there

Regardless what it costs ya, if ur lucky, you live where you want to live and where ur happiest.
 Namaste'
 

Edited March 11, 2020 by phuketrichard

[Burma Bill]

11 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I looked at that place I think. Nice area. 

 

PS, dont tell these guys that the cable TV is horrible. I just stream on the super fast wifi I have. Hey do you have a maid too, I do, and fresh linens every week.

Yes indeed, but no maid. 2 charming laundry ladies just around the corner. On the downside, the road alongside is a typical dirt one so what it will be like in the monsoon season who knows?

[bkk6060]

13 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

I am sorry, but utter rubbish - $100 per month on a mat in a room! I rent a fully furnished modern pent house type apartment in the quiet Wat Bo Village area of Siem Reap (photo below). My apartment covers the complete upper floor with smaller apartments below. Cost - $250 per month inclusive of WiFi, multi channel cable TV and refuse collection. Bedroom this end with panoramic window, then bathroom, lounge and kitchen at far end. Bedroom and lounge both have flat screen wall TV's and air-conditioning units, also fans throughout. Cambodian beers are, in my opinion, far better and of greater value than Thai brews also smoking is a disgusting habit. 

 

 

Geez, I know of many many places in Pattaya for $200 a month that look as good as that. With the same or better amenities.  Surrounded by a more modern environment, not 3rd world.

By the way, what do you do all day?

In Thailand you can play golf with many course options, go to a modern mall with food and movie options, many gyms, restaurants, walk on the beach Naklua is very nice, and geez so many great girls.  What else would an active healthy man want?

Get real, SR is not even close to the lifestyle of many places in Thailand.

If a persons life focus is cheap beer, I feel sorry for them.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, drbeach said:

Alcohol - as you say, this is about the only thing definitely cheaper in Cambodia than Thailand. Proprietors are losing money on beer with their 50-75 cent deals, so people come in to eat. In Thailand, any beer sold at a restaurant will probably cost twice as much, at the very least, but depends on the type of restaurant.

Just not true ....... they're making money on the beer.

My pals and I went into a restaurant for our usual 'happy hour' 75c beers on Songkran last year (about 10 of us).

We pulled two tables together, put the chairs all around, and sat down, waiter walked over said 'sorry no happy hour on Songkran'

So as we all stood up to leave the manager rushes over and says, 'special happy hour price just for this table' 75c.

He knows we'll just drink 5 or 6 beers (or 10) each in an hour or two then leave, because that's what we do every evening.

If there wasn't a profit in that for him, I don't think he wouldn't have done it.

But you may be right, he might just like a crowd of fat, bald old drunks hanging out at his place every evening.

Edited March 11, 2020 by BritManToo

[Burma Bill]

53 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

LOL:
ones the capital of the country, the other a provincial town

you cant compare.

why?  we found we both have a better live in Phuket than anywhere in Cambodia and my gf is treated better here and has a better job than in her own country

 

visiting her family in Kep and our house there 1-2/x/year is enough

 

10 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Geez, I know of many many places in Pattaya for $200 a month that look as good as that. With the same or better amenities.  Surrounded by a more modern environment, not 3rd world.

By the way, what do you do all day?

In Thailand you can play golf with many course options, go to a modern mall with food and movie options, many gyms, restaurants, walk on the beach Naklua is very nice, and geez so many great girls.  What else would an active healthy man want?

Get real, SR is not even close to the lifestyle of many places in Thailand.

If a persons life focus is cheap beer, I feel sorry for them.

Every one to their own liking and cheap beer is definitely not a requirement for me. As for living at the seaside, I personally find it a complete bore. I have always lived in the scenic North Thailand mountains and hills, with rivers and lakes, for almost 20 years and now in Siem Reap, a place I have visited on many occasions where I have good Khmer friends. Ex-pat bar stool pundits can be a pain in the neck. 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, phuketrichard said:

Britman has spent, what 2 weeks there, an thinks he knows it all. gong to sr and saying it was to expensive to visit angkor wat LOL

I'll be in PP for another week next month Corona Virus allowing.

(Lucky I didn't book flights for Vietnam)

 

I don't need shopping malls, golf, gyms or cinemas.

Beer, hookers and cannabis ......... and a pool to lie beside with a pot of tea (or more beer) while recovering is all I want.

A Curry house for a meal as I stagger home is a bonus, SR and PP seem to have plenty.

 

As for only being there a week, I probably live more in a week than you live in a year.

Edited March 11, 2020 by BritManToo

[phuketrichard]

FYI; a quarter barrel keg costs ( in PP) around $35   u get around 82 12 oz glasses, if there is NO spoilage

you do the math

now take off part $$ for rent, part for staff, part for supplies, part for electricity.