the money question, answered
the short answer
Cambodia is dollarised, so most rent, salaries and daily prices are quoted directly in US dollars, which makes budgeting simpler than in neighbouring countries. On a typical $700-$1,200 language-school salary, a modest lifestyle in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap leaves some room to save, though the range is genuinely tighter than in Vietnam or Thailand. Confirm current rent for your specific neighbourhood before committing, since Phnom Penh and Siem Reap prices differ.
| Currency | US dollar used for rent, salaries, most daily prices |
|---|---|
| Phnom Penh shared room | $150-$300/month |
| Siem Reap studio | $120-$250/month, cheaper than Phnom Penh |
| Utilities + internet | $30-$60/month |
| Food (mixed local/western) | $100-$250/month |
| Typical pay | $700-$1,200/month, language-school range |
| Typical monthly savings | $100-$350, tighter than Vietnam or Thailand |
step one, always
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typical, not guaranteed
Guesthouses in BKK1 (Phnom Penh) or near the Old Market (Siem Reap) work well while you view rooms.
Expect one month's deposit plus first month's rent; agent fees are less common here than in Vietnam.
A local SIM with data is cheap; many teachers buy or rent a motorbike for daily transport.
Pay schedules and reliability vary by school; confirm the exact pay date and ask current teachers about it.
A small market and food scene means costs stabilise quickly once you find regular spots.
Confirm current business visa extension costs and process directly with your employer, since this is often informal.
Unlike Vietnam, Thailand or Japan, most everyday transactions in Cambodia — rent, salaries, many restaurant menus — are priced in US dollars rather than the local riel, which makes it easy to compare costs directly without worrying about exchange-rate swings. Small change is still often given in riel, but the big numbers in your budget are dollar figures from day one.
Phnom Penh has more schools and job variety, with BKK1 as the main expat hub, but rent there runs higher than in Siem Reap, a smaller tourist town near Angkor Wat with a much smaller job market. Siem Reap teachers generally have lower living costs but fewer job openings and less negotiating power on pay, so the cheaper cost of living doesn't always translate into better net savings.
Cambodia has the lowest typical teacher pay of the major Southeast Asian markets, and while costs are correspondingly low, they aren't proportionally lower than pay in the same way Vietnam's cheaper cities are relative to Vietnamese salaries. That means the realistic savings range is genuinely smaller — this market suits people testing out teaching abroad or wanting a very low-cost lifestyle more than people chasing significant savings.
On a typical $700-$1,200 salary, a modest lifestyle (shared or budget room, mostly local food, motorbike transport) often costs $400-$700 a month in Phnom Penh and somewhat less in Siem Reap. That leaves a typical savings range of roughly $100-$350 a month for many first-year teachers — real, but noticeably tighter than Vietnam or Thailand.
Treat this as a planning range: pay reliability varies more by school here than in bigger markets, so ask current teachers about actual pay dates and take-home amounts before treating any number as fixed.
what people actually ask
It depends on your goal — Cambodia suits teachers testing whether teaching abroad suits them, wanting a low barrier to entry, or drawn to a very low-cost lifestyle. If maximising savings is the priority, Vietnam or Thailand typically offer a wider realistic savings range.
Cambodia's economy is heavily dollarised, so rent, salaries and many restaurant prices are set directly in USD rather than the local riel. This makes budgeting simpler and avoids exchange-rate guesswork, though small change is often given in riel.
Generally yes, particularly for rent, but Siem Reap also has a much smaller job market and less pay negotiating power. Lower living costs there don't always translate into better net savings once you account for fewer and lower-paying openings.
Many teachers report saving $100-$350 a month once settled, a real but tighter range than Vietnam or Thailand. This depends heavily on which school you work for and personal spending habits, so treat it as typical rather than guaranteed.
Most teachers extend a business visa through their employer, but the process and cost aren't always formalised and vary by school. Confirm the current steps and cost directly with your employer before assuming an old blog post still applies.