Is USD$800 enough?
Yes, long overdue, I love this practical information formated examples by
Laudjohn and mezmo and the rest of khmer440members, good info
thanks
Laudjohn and mezmo and the rest of khmer440members, good info
thanks
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Thanks so much for the breakdown on what I can expect for USD$800. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into writing that.
tamagawa85 wrote:Hello. I'm thinking of spending some time in Phnom Penh. I have some money saved up and my budget is USD$800 per month. Now factoring in rent, utilities, food, etc., will that be enough to live on? I'm not looking to live a lavish lifestyle. Any comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Billy
No.
Yes, you can do it, but I would not want to. I had a friend who lived here for a few years on $800 per month. He had cash to buy furniture and appliances when he arrived, so he only paid $150 a month in rent and had a pretty decent place, even though he spent 90% of his time in his tiny bedroom, because that was the only room with AC. He almost never went out anywhere, even to eat, but did mostly eat western food. He did not drink much. I would have considered his life boring as hell, but it suited him. Here is my breakdown of how I think the average person on a really low budget would spend his money in Phnom Penh:
Rent: $200 per month (furnished studio or one bedroom, not near the riverside. This could be as low as $60-$80 if you can put up with a really small room with really basic furnishings, and can make friends with someone who can help you find such a place. It will NOT include aircon.)
Utilities: $30 without aircon, $80 with, $120 if run full time (cheap apartments usually have old, inefficient aircon units)
Internet: $5 for a Mobitel SIM if you have a smartphone and are a really light user, or $20 for a Metphone dongle if you want to download or stream occasionally
(You could also live in a really cheap guesthouse for $150 - $300 per month and have some or all of the utilities and Internet included. Probably the best option for at least the first month.)
Phone service $5
Food: $250 (this assumes eating at home and/or cheap Khmer food most of the time, with the occasional pizza, burger, fish and chips, etc. I find that most people significantly underestimate how much they really spend on food, until they spend some time actually tracking and categorizing their expenses. Yes, you can do it cheaper if you eat predominantly cheap Khmer food, but I know few people who are willing to do that long term, unless they have a Khmer wife/girlfriend to do the cooking and cater it to their tastes.)
Transportation: $20 - $50 per month (This really varies by lifestyle and where you live. Figure on 200 riel to 1$ per moto ride each way, or renting a cheap moto. If you like to ride a bicycle and feel safe doing it in Phnom Penh traffic, you can save significantly.)
Toiletries and incidentals $20.
Insurance: ??? (Many here don't have it, but if you are on a limited budget and get sick or injured, you can really be screwed.)
Entertainment and other- $50 - $5000 (Only you can really figure this one. Do you smoke (cigarettes or other)? Do you drink, and if so will you be doing it at home, in front of a mini-mart, or at a bar? Do you go with hookers? Do you want a live in girlfriend/boyfriend? Do you like to go to movie theaters frequently? Do you want to travel? All these will cost at least some money. Alternatively, if your idea of fun is sitting at home or exploring on foot or bicycle, you can get off very cheaply.)
One thing that most people forget is that anything that involves human companionship usually costs money, unless you have friends who also like to just hang out around the house. It doesn't have to be super expensive--sitting in front of a mini-mart nursing a beer does not cost much, but it should be kept in mind.)
You might also consider Siem Reap or Sihanoukville as either is cheaper to live in, and on a low budget they might be just as enjoyable as Phnom Penh. Of the two, I'd take Sihanoukville.
Rent: $200 per month (furnished studio or one bedroom, not near the riverside. This could be as low as $60-$80 if you can put up with a really small room with really basic furnishings, and can make friends with someone who can help you find such a place. It will NOT include aircon.)
Utilities: $30 without aircon, $80 with, $120 if run full time (cheap apartments usually have old, inefficient aircon units)
Internet: $5 for a Mobitel SIM if you have a smartphone and are a really light user, or $20 for a Metphone dongle if you want to download or stream occasionally
(You could also live in a really cheap guesthouse for $150 - $300 per month and have some or all of the utilities and Internet included. Probably the best option for at least the first month.)
Phone service $5
Food: $250 (this assumes eating at home and/or cheap Khmer food most of the time, with the occasional pizza, burger, fish and chips, etc. I find that most people significantly underestimate how much they really spend on food, until they spend some time actually tracking and categorizing their expenses. Yes, you can do it cheaper if you eat predominantly cheap Khmer food, but I know few people who are willing to do that long term, unless they have a Khmer wife/girlfriend to do the cooking and cater it to their tastes.)
Transportation: $20 - $50 per month (This really varies by lifestyle and where you live. Figure on 200 riel to 1$ per moto ride each way, or renting a cheap moto. If you like to ride a bicycle and feel safe doing it in Phnom Penh traffic, you can save significantly.)
Toiletries and incidentals $20.
Insurance: ??? (Many here don't have it, but if you are on a limited budget and get sick or injured, you can really be screwed.)
Entertainment and other- $50 - $5000 (Only you can really figure this one. Do you smoke (cigarettes or other)? Do you drink, and if so will you be doing it at home, in front of a mini-mart, or at a bar? Do you go with hookers? Do you want a live in girlfriend/boyfriend? Do you like to go to movie theaters frequently? Do you want to travel? All these will cost at least some money. Alternatively, if your idea of fun is sitting at home or exploring on foot or bicycle, you can get off very cheaply.)
One thing that most people forget is that anything that involves human companionship usually costs money, unless you have friends who also like to just hang out around the house. It doesn't have to be super expensive--sitting in front of a mini-mart nursing a beer does not cost much, but it should be kept in mind.)
You might also consider Siem Reap or Sihanoukville as either is cheaper to live in, and on a low budget they might be just as enjoyable as Phnom Penh. Of the two, I'd take Sihanoukville.