Cambodia ranks tops in affordability for expat retirees for fifth year

[geovalin]

A healthy group of retirees regularly hold court on St 172. They are among a growing group of western expats who call Phnom Penh home in their golden years. Cambodia was ranked first in affordability for expat retirees for the fifth consecutive year by International Living magazine.

 

The magazine’s Annual Global Retirement Index, curated by US expats, has been published for 30 years. A 74-year-old American expat,  who asked to be identified only as Phil told Khmer Times that the visa requirement was a critical factor in his decision to retire in Cambodia.

 

Cambodia introduced its ER Retirement Visa in 2016. The visa is issued initially for one month but can be extended easily through a broker at a cost of $275 yearly. Phil, a retired hospital manager, has lived a well-seasoned life. The New Hampshire native arrived in Cambodia in 2019 and has no intention of leaving.

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/820556/cambodia-ranks-tops-in-affordability-for-expat-retirees-for-fifth-year/

[ChrisY1]

It's cheapest for a reason....it's a grubby place.....

[madmen]

I know 2 guys relocated from Thailand mostly for the availability of pot and coke. Both were heavy users 

[Pilotman]

The place is a tip with no western level services to be found, nobody with half a brain would relocate there from LOS. If you think Thailand corrupt, that place is ten times worse in every part of government, police and daily life. 

[topt]

Considering the guy quoted in the article lived in Thailand for a while I was a little surprised at this - 

Quote

Phil made a point of stressing that Phnom Penh was generally “unkempt”.

Pointing to a pile of rubbish on St 172, he said that such a sight would be completely unacceptable in Thailand.

or maybe it was because it was on a main street........

[Destiny1990]

This guy is a Cambodian Expat in PP has he been interviewed? Personally i do not find the place more affordable then Thailand just it offers easier visa options.

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, Pilotman said:

The place is a tip with no western level services to be found, nobody with half a brain would relocate there from LOS. If you think Thailand corrupt, that place is ten times worse in every part of government, police and daily life. 

 With respect, have you lived in Cambodia?? Please supply evidence to back up your "anti" claims. I have now been happily retired, living one year  in Siem Reap after 20 years in Thailand. You quote "no western level services to be found" however in my penthouse apartment for starters, I have mains water, sewerage and electricity, a bathroom with flushing western toilet, air conditioning units, ceiling fans, flat screen wall fitted digital TV's in both bedroom and lounge, internet and a kitchen which includes a fridge-freezer, microwave oven and an electric hotplate. In Siem Reap we have access to many modern banks, supermarkets (including a new MAKRO), pharmacies and clinics. Because of the cost of electricity, solar panel systems are being widely installed in domestic and industrial premises. In fact, my landlord has solar powered security lights for night use. Currently in Siem Reap, there is a vast on-going road improvement project which also includes the re-laying of new water and sewerage pipes. 5G is currently being trialed by the major telecom companies. 

I quote from the OP (and the main reason I left LOS, having done my homework, just before the borders closed using my 100% complete brain):-

 

"Cambodia introduced its ER Retirement Visa in 2016. The visa is issued initially for one month but can be extended easily through a broker at a cost of $275 yearly"

 

Mine cost me 289$. Once registered on FPCS (Foreign Persons in Cambodia System) one can easily apply for a retirement visa by completing an application form at a registered agent presenting your passport and payment - so simple! No bureaucratic financial or proof of income requirements, no cash in bank BS, no health insurance, no 90 day reports etc. Once you get your visa, no further involvement with Immigration for a year. 

[Sujo]

I do like cambodia. Only been to pp and siem reap. Exactly as expected. I enjoyed it there.

[onebir]

Seems difficult to marry a local though?

[AlexRich]

I’ve only been to Phnom Penh and it was pretty grubby, with people openly urinating in the streets. However they do have a pretty decent mall and an area with pretty nice cafes. I felt pretty safe there. However, I didn’t find it any cheaper than Thailand, so I’m surprised by the article. On balance I prefer Thailand and Vietnam.

[AlexRich]

13 minutes ago, onebir said:

Seems difficult to marry a local though?

A definite plus if true.

[Pilotman]

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 With respect, have you lived in Cambodia?? Please supply evidence to back up your "anti" claims. I have now been happily retired, living one year  in Siem Reap after 20 years in Thailand. You quote "no western level services to be found" however in my penthouse apartment for starters, I have mains water, sewerage and electricity, a bathroom with flushing western toilet, air conditioning units, ceiling fans, flat screen wall fitted digital TV's in both bedroom and lounge, internet and a kitchen which includes a fridge-freezer, microwave oven and an electric hotplate. In Siem Reap we have access to many modern banks, supermarkets (including a new MAKRO), pharmacies and clinics. Because of the cost of electricity, solar panel systems are being widely installed in domestic and industrial premises. In fact, my landlord has solar powered security lights for night use. Currently in Siem Reap, there is a vast on-going road improvement project which also includes the re-laying of new water and sewerage pipes. 5G is currently being trialed by the major telecom companies. 

I quote from the OP (and the main reason I left LOS, having done my homework, just before the borders closed using my 100% complete brain):-

 

"Cambodia introduced its ER Retirement Visa in 2016. The visa is issued initially for one month but can be extended easily through a broker at a cost of $275 yearly"

 

Mine cost me 289$. Once registered on FPCS (Foreign Persons in Cambodia System) one can easily apply for a retirement visa by completing an application form at a registered agent presenting your passport and payment - so simple! No bureaucratic financial or proof of income requirements, no cash in bank BS, no health insurance, no 90 day reports etc. Once you get your visa, no further involvement with Immigration for a year. 

You are one entitled foreigner living in a country that does nothing for its millions in abject poverty. Good for you if you can live with that. 

[Dibbler]

There are many differences between Thailand and Cambodia for the retiring expat.  The widespread use of reasonable to good spoken English is a plus in Cambodia as is the ease of opening bank accounts, sending and receiving money, obtaining long term visas, opening a 4G SIM, good range of supermarkets, restaurants and bars, great options for ordering food (Nham24 is the best delivery service I've used anywhere in Asia), relative ease of finding a good range of high quality and accessible rental accommodation.  Moving around inside Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is easy, they are much more manageable cities than Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Possibly the most important thing is the almost complete lack of discrimination towards Westerners which we find on a daily basis in Thailand. Absolutely everyone is acceptable to the Khmers. As long as you're happy to mind your own business, there are many reasons to consider retiring to Cambodia or at least a long stay.

Edited March 4, 2021 by Dibbler

[gargamon]

3 hours ago, Destiny1990 said:

This guy is a Cambodian Expat in PP has he been interviewed? Personally i do not find the place more affordable then Thailand just it offers easier visa options.

I lived in Cambodia for a number of years. One thing I often pointed out to people is that there are "no brakes". You can run around in your underwear (or worse) and there's nobody there to look after you. You need to take care of yourself. If you can't do that, then it isn't the place for you. 

As for affordability, it takes some looking around to find reasonable accommadations. If you insist on eating and living on the tourist trap Mekong river area(Phnom Penh) you will be paying top dollar, easily comparable to BKK.   

[Burma Bill]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

a country that does nothing for its millions in abject poverty

 For reference (Open Development Cambodia):-

 

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has announced that the government has so far distributed $78 million to poor families suffering from the pandemic. (September 2020)

 

 

Over 10,000 quarantined in capital, government allowance for the poor (March 2021).