John
Working in Phnom Penh
Monthly Earnings 52,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at a small international school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I earn 52,000 baht a month. I previously taught a couple evenings a week and could earn 700 baht an hour.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I try to save about 17,000 per month (one-third of my salary) but frequent holidays eat into my savings.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay about 8,500 baht for a one bedroom apartment near the riverside.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I have a motorcycle that I bought for 14,000 a few years ago and put two liters in it each week (about 60 baht). I rarely take tuk-tuks or motos. Maybe 200-300 baht per month
Utility bills
Electricity is expensive in Cambodia because it comes from Thailand and Vietnam. I use my AC every day of the year. My bill is usually between 1,500-2,500 baht. Water is 150 baht and wifi is free
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I usually eat local food for breakfast near school, which is cheap. For dinner I generally eat more expensive food and eat Western quite a bit. On average, I would say I spend 15,000 baht a month on food
Nightlife and drinking
Alcohol is very cheap in Cambodia. Most happy hour places have 50 cent draft beer (about 17 baht). I try not to drink too much. I might go out once a week and spend a little more. Maybe 5,000 a month
Books, computers
I read a lot, but I generally read used or fake books. Maybe 700 baht a month.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I have a great standard of living in Cambodia. Much better than I would teaching in the US. A good international school gives students a lot of freedom and the students are much better than those I taught in the US. Cambodian food is not the best, but you find places that are good. Phnom Penh does have some great western food places, so I am able to eat out three times a day.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Alcohol is extremely cheap here. Western food is also often a good deal.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
People can survive on about 30,000 baht a month, but this would make it very difficult to save or travel. I make significantly more than this and some months it is difficult for me to save when you need to by a new computer, travel, or buy a flight home
Phil's analysis and comment
Thank you John! Always good to get these cost of living surveys from those teachers working in neighboring countries as well as from chalkies in Thailand.
17 baht for a draft beer! That can't be bad. And if Western food can be had at a good price, then those are two major things in Cambodia's favour.
I would be interested to know if John has ever worked in Thailand and which country he prefers.
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