Retirement With Life’s Little Luxuries in Cambodia for $1,000 a Month

[geovalin]

“I was a workaholic,” Bob Coleman says. “Then one day I thought of all the places I hadn’t seen and I decided right there and then that something had to change.” At age 55, Bob started his international travels by taking vacations to popular destinations in Southeast Asia, including Penang, Malaysia and the Thai capital, Bangkok. “After a few trips I realized retirement could set me free; that I didn’t have to limit myself to one location for the rest of my life.”

With this in mind, he began looking at which countries offered the best options for a retiree. “If you research the countries in Southeast Asia, you figure out pretty quickly Cambodia offers a great cost of living combined with really simple visa rules. You just turn up at the airport and pay for a one-month visa. Then you can renew it for up to a year at a time for $285.”

Phnom Penh is conveniently located in the center of Southeast Asia, with a busy international airport connected to the top regional destinations, which makes it a hub for tourists, businessmen and intrepid explorers. But it was more than convenience that attracted Bob to Phnom Penh. “On my first visit to the city I was so impressed by the mixture of old and new. On one street you will see colonial buildings that are hundreds of years old, on the next street there will be a traditional Khmer market and then round the corner there will be a brand-new skyscraper. The city is developing fast but still has a uniquely Asian atmosphere.

“More importantly, the Khmer people are a really friendly bunch and you can’t walk down the street without somebody saying hello or giving you a big smile. I have never felt so welcome in a foreign country.” “When it comes to the cost of living, Cambodia is cheap and I get by on under $1,000 per month. I could spend less than that but I like to eat out at nice restaurants and socialize a fair bit.

read more: http://internationalliving.com/2015/12/retirement-with-lifes-little-luxuries-in-cambodia-for-1000-a-month/

[oneday]

Sounds good, but I can't trust a report that has zero negative comments. There are always negatives.

[4737 Carlin]

Rental properties are expensive and poor quality in Phnom Penh. Most of the cheap food is inedible and dangerous. Supermarkets, if you can find one, are poorly stocked and way overpriced. There are no sidewalks, parks, public swimming pools - basically nowhere to exercise. Its also very dirty and polluted - but yeah, you can get by on $1000 a month.

[Kiwisailor]

Not sure that I would want to live in Phnom Penh, but Kampot is a nice laid back area with a number of good eating and drinking spots. On a river but there is a reasonable beach about an hour away at Kep. Brand new 1 B/R A/C apartments (56 sq m) on the road to Kep were advertised at $300 US/month earlier this year. Beer was about 70c a pint.

http://www.kampotsurvivalguide.com/

Edited December 24, 2015 by Kiwisailor

[Jeffrey346]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

[soalbundy]

Sounds good, but I can't trust a report that has zero negative comments. There are always negatives.

like poor medical facilities, even the Cambodians come to Thailand for medical treatment.

[alfalfa19]

It does sound a little bit too rosy, a bit like an advertisement.

[thailandstupidlife]

Life really suxx there if you live like a beggar...

[Fookhaht]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Cambodia is not a communist country. At least check Wikipedia before posting.

[buji]

Cambodia is one big dust bowl with very easy to get bored of food, absolutely garbage international food, horrible accommodations & (apologize) the ugliest women in S.E. Asia.

[F4UCorsair]

Then there's Sharky's Bar!! What a place that was back about 2003.

I loved my time there, but I don't think I'd want to retire there.

Edited December 24, 2015 by F4UCorsair

[Gillyflower]

A few days ago I caught up with an old friend. He said that he had decided to go and live in Cambodia but after two months shot back to CM. 'orrible, 'orrible place, he said.

[dirtycash]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Cambodia is not a communist country. At least check Wikipedia before posting.

it is no more dirty than bkk , thailand . i doubt that this person has even been to cambodia. sihanoukville would be my choice anyday, been there a few times and loved it. i also think dark skinned khmer woman are very beautifull .

why stay in thailand when all they do is f*@* k us over again and again.

Edited December 24, 2015 by dirtycash

[khunano]

Sounds good, but I can't trust a report that has zero negative comments. There are always negatives.

Not if the guys over at International Living write their reports....

[sawadee1947]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Cambodia is not a communist country. At least check Wikipedia before posting.

yeah, you are right....You can even pay in USD...That's the proof, isn't it?

[sawadee1947]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Cambodia is not a communist country. At least check Wikipedia before posting.

it is no more dirty than bkk , thailand . i doubt that this person has even been to cambodia. sihanoukville would be my choice anyday, been there a few times and loved it. i also think dark skinned khmer woman are very beautifull .

why stay in thailand when all they do is f*@* k us over again and again.

...probably we will get a police escort up to the border if we decide to leave the country

[Tony125]

A few days ago I caught up with an old friend. He said that he had decided to go and live in Cambodia but after two months shot back to CM. 'orrible, 'orrible place, he said.

Maybe you guys have not been up there lately check out this resent news article http://news.yahoo.com/ghost-city-boomtown-phnom-penh-soars-high-054223015.html

[AlQaholic]

What about that town on the south coast where the Frenchies built up a villa resort area?

[steven100]

I just drink as much piss as I can and bang anything and that's it so Cambo or Thai don't matter

[NickJ]

I prefer Thailand. It's the best hub if you want to travel around SEA. I like seeing movies. Being able to buy pretty much anything I need. I have been all over Cambodia on the back of a motorcycle and I very much prefer getting lost in Issan then lost in the backwoods of Cambodia. I like Cambodia for about a week. Then happy to come back here.

[Catoni]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Yours won't ? ? What country would that be ? ?

[honcho]

Rental properties are expensive and poor quality in Phnom Penh. Most of the cheap food is inedible and dangerous. Supermarkets, if you can find one, are poorly stocked and way overpriced. There are no sidewalks, parks, public swimming pools - basically nowhere to exercise. Its also very dirty and polluted - but yeah, you can get by on $1000 a month.

I find most food not only edible, but nicer than traditional thai food.... not as spicey. plenty of well stocked reasonably priced supermarkets.. cheap as spirits. don't need to rent a house when you can stay in nice hotel for !5.00 per night. are we talking about the same pnohm pehn?

[TheRascal]

it is no more dirty than bkk , thailand

Bangkok isn't a clean city but Phnom Penh is filthy.

[Benmart]

I just drink as much piss as I can and bang anything and that's it so Cambo or Thai don't matter

Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners.

- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

[smotherb]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Well, you have just read several positive accounts of Cambodia. Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with an elected bicameral parliament. ATMs dispense USD and are available anywhere. Why don't you just have your pension sent to a recognized financial institution? And, dirty, well that is like beauty.

[Dtaw]

There is a large (block up block upon block) attractive, grassy park that leads up to Independence Monument (I forget the name of the road). Furthermore, the riverside promenade is used as a tai chi and various other exercise spot for many. Phnom Penh has some excellent international cuisine (BKK1 area, among others). Those calling it "filthy" probably haven't been there in quite some time.

[TheRascal]

There is a large (block up block upon block) attractive, grassy park that leads up to Independence Monument (I forget the name of the road). Furthermore, the riverside promenade is used as a tai chi and various other exercise spot for many. Phnom Penh has some excellent international cuisine (BKK1 area, among others). Those calling it "filthy" probably haven't been there in quite some time.

I went 2 years ago, I really like it but I stand by the comment that it's filthy!

[Jeffrey346]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Cambodia is not a communist country. At least check Wikipedia before posting.

Excuse me, I should have said Socialist... Any country where the person in charge is appointed is far less than Democratic..

[louse1953]

Sounds more like an advertisement for Cambodia.. I never heard anything positive about living in Cambodia. I have found it to be a filthy country. In addition, if you are retired and have a government pension, will your country pay you your pension [direct deposit] while living in a communist country. Mine won't.

Cambodia is not a communist country. At least check Wikipedia before posting.

Excuse me, I should have said Socialist.. Any country where the leader is appointed is not Democratic.

You still haven't said what backward country wont send money to a Socialist country.Plenty of ways around that problem,if it exists.

[perdido]

Rental properties are expensive and poor quality in Phnom Penh. Most of the cheap food is inedible and dangerous. Supermarkets, if you can find one, are poorly stocked and way overpriced. There are no sidewalks, parks, public swimming pools - basically nowhere to exercise. Its also very dirty and polluted - but yeah, you can get by on $1000 a month.

I find most food not only edible, but nicer than traditional thai food.... not as spicey. plenty of well stocked reasonably priced supermarkets.. cheap as spirits. don't need to rent a house when you can stay in nice hotel for !5.00 per night. are we talking about the same pnohm pehn?

...is that $15 (American), you are referring to , please ?