Questions from a Newbie
Questions from a Newbie
First of all, I realize here be dragons, so I will ignore the unhelpful and sarcastic comments my questions will doubtless generate--so I'm not bothered, and those likely suspects shouldn't bother either.
Here goes:
After a long teaching career in the US I moved to South Korea in 2008 to teach English in the public school system. It's fair to say I took every opportunity to travel around SE Asia. I'm now in my mid-fifties and may have a chance to "work from anywhere" at a rate of pay such that I think I can feasibly afford to live in a country like Cambodia.
I visited Cambodia back in 1970 as a child, then while living in Korea came on vacation twice, and really enjoyed my visits.
Before I can consider "chucking it all away" in Korea (which is a pretty good gig, but it is a "nine-to-five" regular teaching job), I really need up-to-date info on the Cambodian situation. Visas in ROK are sponsor-dependent, and have gotten stricter as the years go by--my visit to Immi was dependent on literally 8 documents last year.
1) Am I correct in understanding I can get a "normal" visa, first for a month, then extended for one year, without sponsor verification or business plan or med check or criminal background or copy of my lease? For under $300? Precisely what documents do I need?
2) A part of why they have all these hoops in Korea is the national health care program. I realize this doesn't exist in Cambodia, so what are the best healthcare insurance programs for Cambodian expats?
3) Assuming I work for a US company, what are the tax requirements in Cambodia (and the US for that matter)? Is the Foreign Earned Income exclusion the same? What banks have the lowest transfer rates, etc?
4) In addition to the "work from anywhere" job, I would consider tutoring work, but not an actual teaching job. What kind of pay can I expect from tutoring adults to improve their English--or does that work exist at all?
Keep in mind with the above that I do not intend to live in a city (SR or PP), but a lower key town like Kampot/Kep. I realize that regular visits to PP are necessary for financial/civil tasks.
5) Here is a ballpark assessment of what I think the basic costs might be:
rent 300
utilites 100
internet/phone 50
health ins 200
meals 250
What do you think? Obviously "meals" is a variable cost--which I am taking to include two meals a day, breakfast mainly consisting of fresh fruit, and coffee. It does not include beer, cigs, steaks, splurges, disco nights. Other additional costs include transportation, taxes, laundry, tips, clothes, depreciation, etc.
6) I know lots of barang ride motorbikes. A few months ago I would never have considered it, but after cataract surgery I see better than you do, probably! Nonetheless, my (US) driver's license has expired. If I come to Cambodia, should I consider getting a 125cc bike?
Here goes:
After a long teaching career in the US I moved to South Korea in 2008 to teach English in the public school system. It's fair to say I took every opportunity to travel around SE Asia. I'm now in my mid-fifties and may have a chance to "work from anywhere" at a rate of pay such that I think I can feasibly afford to live in a country like Cambodia.
I visited Cambodia back in 1970 as a child, then while living in Korea came on vacation twice, and really enjoyed my visits.
Before I can consider "chucking it all away" in Korea (which is a pretty good gig, but it is a "nine-to-five" regular teaching job), I really need up-to-date info on the Cambodian situation. Visas in ROK are sponsor-dependent, and have gotten stricter as the years go by--my visit to Immi was dependent on literally 8 documents last year.
1) Am I correct in understanding I can get a "normal" visa, first for a month, then extended for one year, without sponsor verification or business plan or med check or criminal background or copy of my lease? For under $300? Precisely what documents do I need?
2) A part of why they have all these hoops in Korea is the national health care program. I realize this doesn't exist in Cambodia, so what are the best healthcare insurance programs for Cambodian expats?
3) Assuming I work for a US company, what are the tax requirements in Cambodia (and the US for that matter)? Is the Foreign Earned Income exclusion the same? What banks have the lowest transfer rates, etc?
4) In addition to the "work from anywhere" job, I would consider tutoring work, but not an actual teaching job. What kind of pay can I expect from tutoring adults to improve their English--or does that work exist at all?
Keep in mind with the above that I do not intend to live in a city (SR or PP), but a lower key town like Kampot/Kep. I realize that regular visits to PP are necessary for financial/civil tasks.
5) Here is a ballpark assessment of what I think the basic costs might be:
rent 300
utilites 100
internet/phone 50
health ins 200
meals 250
What do you think? Obviously "meals" is a variable cost--which I am taking to include two meals a day, breakfast mainly consisting of fresh fruit, and coffee. It does not include beer, cigs, steaks, splurges, disco nights. Other additional costs include transportation, taxes, laundry, tips, clothes, depreciation, etc.
6) I know lots of barang ride motorbikes. A few months ago I would never have considered it, but after cataract surgery I see better than you do, probably! Nonetheless, my (US) driver's license has expired. If I come to Cambodia, should I consider getting a 125cc bike?
1. You can get a normal visa upon arrival for one month. You can then extend it for around 300.00 per year with no sponsor or docs required.
2. Health care is cheap enough to pay for out of pocket. There are some private insurance companies where you can buy accident insurance.
3. Your employer may withhold VAT from your check...otherwise, U.S. tax requirements are the same.
4. You can find tutoring work....but others here would have more knowledge of what that pays than I do.
5. IMO, you need about 2k a month to live here....and have a bit left over for an emergency, occasional holiday...etc. etc. You can probably expect to earn 1000-1500 per month teaching.
6. Riding a moto is economical.....but you are very likely to have an accident at some point.
I would imagine that teaching English is more lucrative in Korea. Here it is not hard to survive....but it is typically a bare bones lifestyle.
2. Health care is cheap enough to pay for out of pocket. There are some private insurance companies where you can buy accident insurance.
3. Your employer may withhold VAT from your check...otherwise, U.S. tax requirements are the same.
4. You can find tutoring work....but others here would have more knowledge of what that pays than I do.
5. IMO, you need about 2k a month to live here....and have a bit left over for an emergency, occasional holiday...etc. etc. You can probably expect to earn 1000-1500 per month teaching.
6. Riding a moto is economical.....but you are very likely to have an accident at some point.
I would imagine that teaching English is more lucrative in Korea. Here it is not hard to survive....but it is typically a bare bones lifestyle.
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Yes. Yes. None.MrC wrote: 1) Am I correct in understanding I can get a "normal" visa, first for a month, then extended for one year, without sponsor verification or business plan or med check or criminal background or copy of my lease? For under $300? Precisely what documents do I need?
The best insurance program for expats in Cambodia is the "whip around" program. You don't pay any insurance premiums. You take no financial responsibility for your own well being. Just spend all your money on beer and women. Then when you have serious accident or illness, hope that other expats will arrange a whip around and raise money to pay your hospital bill. It will help greatly to raise funds if you have established yourself in the expat community as a "top bloke."MrC wrote: 2) A part of why they have all these hoops in Korea is the national health care program. I realize this doesn't exist in Cambodia, so what are the best healthcare insurance programs for Cambodian expats?
Health insurance is for suckers and living on $900 a month won't be very fun.MrC wrote:5) Here is a ballpark assessment of what I think the basic costs might be:
rent 300
utilites 100
internet/phone 50
health ins 200
meals 250
What do you think?
Regardless of how good your eyesight is, Phnom Penh is not a good place to learn to ride a motorbike. You're old, you're going to break a hip.MrC wrote: 6) I know lots of barang ride motorbikes. A few months ago I would never have considered it, but after cataract surgery I see better than you do, probably! Nonetheless, my (US) driver's license has expired. If I come to Cambodia, should I consider getting a 125cc bike?
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I think OP clarified that these were for the basic costs. I think he has more cash for non-basic costs.gavinmac wrote:Health insurance is for suckers and living on $900 a month won't be very fun.MrC wrote:5) Here is a ballpark assessment of what I think the basic costs might be:
rent 300
utilites 100
internet/phone 50
health ins 200
meals 250
What do you think?
Agree with that. OP will get in an accident or getting robbed at some point.gavinmac wrote:Regardless of how good your eyesight is, Phnom Penh is not a good place to learn to ride a motorbike. You're old, you're going to break a hip.MrC wrote: 6) I know lots of barang ride motorbikes. A few months ago I would never have considered it, but after cataract surgery I see better than you do, probably! Nonetheless, my (US) driver's license has expired. If I come to Cambodia, should I consider getting a 125cc bike?
Come on, the OP will be fine.. OP, the problem is not your eyesight, but the behavior of others on the road. The ignorance of Khmer drivers is really unbelievable and the longer I stay here the more frightened I get....
OP, you don't want to live in the big city - that's a great idea, but... Most of the available work for you will be in the big city. I can not imagine schools in Kampot / Kep are desperately seeking English teachers. Besides that the question will be if the internet connection there will be good enough for you online work. If I work all my work's online, and I've adapted my work to the possibilities, but for instance a Skype call is impossible 90% of the time, video-conferencing is always impossible. I use 3G because I'm too far out of town for another connection (Those suck as well in this part of the country by the way). My advise is to check the 'online' possibilities for your situation before you decide on settling down somewhere if you need to rely on fast internet.
Your 200 USD / month for medical insurance seems rather low. At your age (51), being new (so no 'no claim' discounts for you), I imagine the price being much higher, or there will be major deductible. Besides that the insurance company will of course exclude any 'existing situation' from coverage for at least the first few years. For day to day healthcare you're fine here and can rely on some reputable pharmacies and GP's, but if shit hits the fan (and you break a hip for instance) you'd better get your ass to a good expensive doc elsewhere or you might end up in serious trouble. That's when you need either good insurance or big money in the bank.
I live in the Northeast, in the boonies, have my own house, and this is what I spend a month for three people on the basics:
Food: 200 USD
Medical insurance: 350 USD
Electricity: 25 USD
Transport (around town, kid to school by bus) / motorbike (we have 3) maintenance / saving for new one / spares: 100 USD
Clothes / shoes / stuff like that: 100 USD
Medication (health insurance only covers hospitalization): 10-100 USD / month depending on whom gets what disease
Phone / internet (service OK for e-mail, SKYPE: NO WAY): 20 USD
Visa / driving license / other tea money: 30 USD
At the end of the month I always have spent more than that, so there's some 'uncatalogued spending' too....
This doesn't include trips to Phnom Penh (on average one monthly), staying there, having a good meal there, having a night out there, etc. Living on 900 USD with medical insurance doesn't seem fun to me. If I would have to do that I'd probably return home tomorrow.
OP, you don't want to live in the big city - that's a great idea, but... Most of the available work for you will be in the big city. I can not imagine schools in Kampot / Kep are desperately seeking English teachers. Besides that the question will be if the internet connection there will be good enough for you online work. If I work all my work's online, and I've adapted my work to the possibilities, but for instance a Skype call is impossible 90% of the time, video-conferencing is always impossible. I use 3G because I'm too far out of town for another connection (Those suck as well in this part of the country by the way). My advise is to check the 'online' possibilities for your situation before you decide on settling down somewhere if you need to rely on fast internet.
Your 200 USD / month for medical insurance seems rather low. At your age (51), being new (so no 'no claim' discounts for you), I imagine the price being much higher, or there will be major deductible. Besides that the insurance company will of course exclude any 'existing situation' from coverage for at least the first few years. For day to day healthcare you're fine here and can rely on some reputable pharmacies and GP's, but if shit hits the fan (and you break a hip for instance) you'd better get your ass to a good expensive doc elsewhere or you might end up in serious trouble. That's when you need either good insurance or big money in the bank.
I live in the Northeast, in the boonies, have my own house, and this is what I spend a month for three people on the basics:
Food: 200 USD
Medical insurance: 350 USD
Electricity: 25 USD
Transport (around town, kid to school by bus) / motorbike (we have 3) maintenance / saving for new one / spares: 100 USD
Clothes / shoes / stuff like that: 100 USD
Medication (health insurance only covers hospitalization): 10-100 USD / month depending on whom gets what disease
Phone / internet (service OK for e-mail, SKYPE: NO WAY): 20 USD
Visa / driving license / other tea money: 30 USD
At the end of the month I always have spent more than that, so there's some 'uncatalogued spending' too....
This doesn't include trips to Phnom Penh (on average one monthly), staying there, having a good meal there, having a night out there, etc. Living on 900 USD with medical insurance doesn't seem fun to me. If I would have to do that I'd probably return home tomorrow.
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Forte is only company where you maybe can get insurance with that money, Forte: http://www.forteinsurance.com/DefaultKachang wrote:Your 200 USD / month for medical insurance seems rather low. At your age (51)
Pardon my engrish, thanks you.
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Allow me to interject a question here. What percent of expats have health insurance, and what is the average cost? Perhaps I am biased with my perception of the large numbers of GSM bottom feeders, but my guess would have been that half of the expats or more don't have health insurance and just pay out of pocket when things come up since medical costs are so low.
I pay under $300 a month for Obamacare in the US and costs are much higher here of course.
I pay under $300 a month for Obamacare in the US and costs are much higher here of course.
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I do not want to completely derail the thread, but a quick answer to GavinMac.
The bottom end of expats - TEFL Jobbers and Bar Owners, will have no insurance as you surmise, however those employed by larger companies, or NGOs, will get health insurance as part of the package.
Those in the middle, who work for medium sized companies, or run their own businesses will have their own insurances.
... as a rough estimate / example
The bottom end of expats - TEFL Jobbers and Bar Owners, will have no insurance as you surmise, however those employed by larger companies, or NGOs, will get health insurance as part of the package.
Those in the middle, who work for medium sized companies, or run their own businesses will have their own insurances.
... as a rough estimate / example
"We, the sons of John Company, have arrived"
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After living here for 6 years this image is really convincing. Hmmmm...raendi wrote:Forte is only company where you maybe can get insurance with that money, Forte: http://www.forteinsurance.com/DefaultKachang wrote:Your 200 USD / month for medical insurance seems rather low. At your age (51)
What are the special benefits of insuring with Forte?
At Forte, we think of your convenience first. You can benefit from the close relationships we have with 9 leading hospitals in country - assuring you of quality health services. Forte's policy additionally gives you:
Convenient Access to Hospitals
Cash Disbursements for Room and Board Costs
Dental Coverage
Emergency Treatment
Last edited by Mr Lovejuice on Mon May 16, 2016 12:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks very much to everyone that has responded to my questions--your answers are helpful.
Just for the record, if I make this move, it won't be as a teacher, and I won't try to live on $1000 /month.
I was wondering though about supplementing my income by tutoring adults.
Just for the record, if I make this move, it won't be as a teacher, and I won't try to live on $1000 /month.
I was wondering though about supplementing my income by tutoring adults.
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I'm intrigued, what was a child doing visiting Cambodia in 1970? Wasn't there a coup and a big war going on? I'd love to hear what your experiences were.MrC wrote: I visited Cambodia back in 1970 as a child, then while living in Korea came on vacation twice, and really enjoyed my visits.
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I don't know why so many posters think living on a grand a month would be no fun. I'm living on that amount at the moment in Phnom Penh and I am throughly enjoying myself. I have a Khmer breakfast everyday rice n pork, noodle soup, beefcurry,etc, go to the Place gym for a couple of hours every morning or cycle out into the countryside, cook/make lunch at home usually a salad or a sandwich. Go to Larry's at four to drink,play chess and have a chat with mates before moving on to another bar for a few more beers, then a six pack for home and more cooking.
I don't need any more than that.
So to the OP it can be done.
I don't need any more than that.
So to the OP it can be done.
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
[quote="gavinmac"][quote="MrC"]
I visited Cambodia back in 1970 as a child, then while living in Korea came on vacation twice, and really enjoyed my visits.
[/quote]
I'm intrigued, what was a child doing visiting Cambodia in 1970? Wasn't there a coup and a big war going on? I'd love to hear what your experiences were.[/quote]
I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you. My family were Baptist missionaries living in Bangkok. We would periodically pile into the station wagon, probably join up with another family, and go see some sites. Mostly what I remember of that trip was a long hot dusty road.
I visited Cambodia back in 1970 as a child, then while living in Korea came on vacation twice, and really enjoyed my visits.
[/quote]
I'm intrigued, what was a child doing visiting Cambodia in 1970? Wasn't there a coup and a big war going on? I'd love to hear what your experiences were.[/quote]
I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you. My family were Baptist missionaries living in Bangkok. We would periodically pile into the station wagon, probably join up with another family, and go see some sites. Mostly what I remember of that trip was a long hot dusty road.
Mrc.
Good health insurance with medevac should be about US1500 for your age as long as you're not overweight. That seems to be about all they care about, not any vices you might have.
I'm with a company called A+. Only covers tests and routine visits if these lead to inpatient treatment but tests etc. are dirt cheap anyway. It's the evacuation and hospitalisation bit you want.
Good health insurance with medevac should be about US1500 for your age as long as you're not overweight. That seems to be about all they care about, not any vices you might have.
I'm with a company called A+. Only covers tests and routine visits if these lead to inpatient treatment but tests etc. are dirt cheap anyway. It's the evacuation and hospitalisation bit you want.
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