Living in Cambodia
Cambodia is bordered by Thailand, Vietnam and Laos and its coastline stretches along the Gulf of Thailand. It is hot all year round, with a monsoon season between June and October. The capital, Phnom Penh is a busy city, although relatively small, with a thriving expat community and lively social scene. Away from the capital to the north lies Siem Reap, home of the impressive temples of Bayon and Angkor Wat. To the south is Sihanoukville, a popular beach resort where onward travel can be arranged to Cambodia's beautiful islands. Cambodia's natural diversity will impress you, and a huge range of activities are on offer to keep you occupied in your free time, from snorkelling off the coast of Koh Rong, trekking through the Cardamom Mountains and riding an elephant through the hills of Mondulkiri. City life can be chaotic; Phnom Penh is a noisy, shabby city swarming with motos carrying whole families at a time or burdened with all manner of cargo including live animals and the kitchen sink. It is, however, very easy to make your escape with transport being very cheap and easy to arrange. Some great weekend getaways include the charming seaside town of Kep where you can feast on fresh crab at the market while watching the sun set over the ocean, or the popular riverside town of Kampot where you can Kayak along the river or just sit at one of the riverside bars savouring a cold beer.
For most visitors to Cambodia, it is its inhabitants that leave the most lasting impression; the people of Cambodia are known for their friendliness, infectious smiles and wicked sense of humour. Many Cambodians - particularly the younger generation - will speak at least a little English and will be keen to practice their conversation skills with willing foreigners. The Cambodian people have, in recent history, been to hell and back. After years of political turmoil and civil war the country is on the road to recovery. Whilst the political situation in Cambodia is still fraught with problems, affecting issues such as freedom of expression and the rule of law, the country is stable and is safe for visitors. Cambodia is a rough diamond, much less developed than neighbouring Thailand, and all the more captivating for it. Cambodia is an easy country to fall in love with; despite the noise and the dust and the frequent power cuts, it gets under your skin.
For most visitors to Cambodia, it is its inhabitants that leave the most lasting impression; the people of Cambodia are known for their friendliness, infectious smiles and wicked sense of humour. Many Cambodians - particularly the younger generation - will speak at least a little English and will be keen to practice their conversation skills with willing foreigners. The Cambodian people have, in recent history, been to hell and back. After years of political turmoil and civil war the country is on the road to recovery. Whilst the political situation in Cambodia is still fraught with problems, affecting issues such as freedom of expression and the rule of law, the country is stable and is safe for visitors. Cambodia is a rough diamond, much less developed than neighbouring Thailand, and all the more captivating for it. Cambodia is an easy country to fall in love with; despite the noise and the dust and the frequent power cuts, it gets under your skin.
Accommodation and Living Expenses
Finding accommodation in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is relatively easy and guesthouses and hotels can be booked in advance; many will offer a discount for extended stays and we may be able to negotiate an additional discount for our long term volunteers. It may be more economical to rent an apartment if your placement is for three months or more; Volunteer Cambodia! can provide contact details of real estate agents either before you depart or on arrival.
Accommodation options may be more limited in the provinces but we will ensure that you are provided with accommodation options for the duration of your stay. In some circumstances, host organisations may be able to assist volunteers in finding accommodation or it may be possible to share accommodation with other volunteers. It is unlikely that the host organisation will be able to assist financially in terms of your accommodation so please factor this expense into your budget when planning your trip. There is a wide variation in terms of available accommodation and rentals range from around $150 per month for something fairly basic to in excess of $600 per month for luxury rentals.
It is possible to get by comfortably in Cambodia on a modest budget. Below is a guide for some of the most common areas of expenditure:
- Soft drink (in bar): 75c - $1.50
- Coffee: 35c (local iced coffee) - $2.00 (western style coffee shop)
- Draft beer: 50c - $1.25
- Glass of wine: - $1.50 - $3.00
- Meal in local restaurant: $1.50 - $3.00
- Meal in western restaurant: $3.00 - $10.00
- Tuk-tuk ride: $1.50 - $3.00
- Moto ride: 50c - $1.00
- Cinema ticket: $3.00
Accommodation options may be more limited in the provinces but we will ensure that you are provided with accommodation options for the duration of your stay. In some circumstances, host organisations may be able to assist volunteers in finding accommodation or it may be possible to share accommodation with other volunteers. It is unlikely that the host organisation will be able to assist financially in terms of your accommodation so please factor this expense into your budget when planning your trip. There is a wide variation in terms of available accommodation and rentals range from around $150 per month for something fairly basic to in excess of $600 per month for luxury rentals.
It is possible to get by comfortably in Cambodia on a modest budget. Below is a guide for some of the most common areas of expenditure:
- Soft drink (in bar): 75c - $1.50
- Coffee: 35c (local iced coffee) - $2.00 (western style coffee shop)
- Draft beer: 50c - $1.25
- Glass of wine: - $1.50 - $3.00
- Meal in local restaurant: $1.50 - $3.00
- Meal in western restaurant: $3.00 - $10.00
- Tuk-tuk ride: $1.50 - $3.00
- Moto ride: 50c - $1.00
- Cinema ticket: $3.00