Hi guys

I'm currently in Cambodia on a short holiday/scouting mission. I'm quitting Australia and will be coming back here in a few months once I have tied up my loose ends there.

I looked at a couple of flats to rent in PP (admittedly not enough), and have seen a few more in SR. My feeling is that SR is a bit more relaxed and the rents are a lot cheaper (also the food and choice here seems infinite). But I have a niggling feeling that maybe I should give PP another look.

I'll have a limited income so I don't want to pay more than $250/month, but still want a furnished place with hot water, cable and internet. That seems quite achievable in SR... not so much in PP unless it's out near the airport or something. Or am I wrong?

I'd appreciate any advice on the pros and cons of both cities.

Thanks in advance.

Plenty of places in your budget range in both.

SR is more relaxed and I'd say there is a wider-range of choice within a confined area than in PP. But if you're mobile - there's way more choice (of everything) in PP.

PP is more crime ridden than SR. PP has more girly bars than SR (to be honest everywhere has more girly bars than SR). PP has more to do than SR but SR has more attractions than PP. SR has a small tight-knit expat community, PP has many expat communities... some small and tight-knit others not so much. Drinking in PP is cheaper than in SR.

SR has more attractions than PP

unfortunately they all cost ( when will they give an SR expat discount for Angkor?)

Do agree sr is more laid back and if u have a moto/car an go 10 minutes outside town u can find some great choices for accommodation can actually feel like ur living in Cambodia, IE u wont have all the westerns stiff unless you put them in but.....

BUT $250 is low end for something nice, If ur looking for cheap living in town head to Battambang

but negatives,
gets tons of tourists
gets dam hot /dry

phuketrichard wrote:

SR has more attractions than PP

unfortunately they all cost ( when will they give an SR expat discount for Angkor?)

Do agree sr is more laid back
but negatives,
gets tons of tourists
gets dam hot in the summer

I've never been in support of an expat discount for Angkor; I am in support of a longer validity multi-entry pass though... so say 30 days access in a year for $150... which if expats are truly passionate about Angkor; they'd buy. Though they won't. I know a ton of expats in SR who have never even bothered to go and have a look at the temples once. Which is ****ing unbelievable but true all the same.

$20 to see what CNN called the Number 1 bucket list item in the world and which the BBC included in the Top 3 places to visit in the world... is cheap enough. If an expat can't afford $20, they should have stayed at home.

30 days for $150 s a HUGE discount

i know a few photographers that live in sr an work, each time they visit Angkor they need shell out $20

phuketrichard wrote:30 days for $150 s a HUGE discount

Yes, but in practice most people would never use the days. So, the discount would be minimal but it would make people who live locally feel like they were getting a discount...

phuketrichard wrote:

Do agree sr is more laid back
but negatives,
gets tons of tourists
gets dam hot in the summer

Yeah I noticed that!

Just went out for beer and spotted a brand new apartment across the road, asked and got shown around. It was $200 and would have been perfect if only I was ready to move in! But it gives me hope.

I'm thinking I might give PP another look when I return for good, but if I can't find somewhere I like in a week or so, I'll definitely return to SR because I can see for sure that accommodation will be easy to find. I still have a niggly feeling in my gut that I should live in PP but I can't put my finger on why. Maybe it's just because I have really not looked around it enough and need to give it a better shot.

if u need work PP is the place u need be

If not the world is your oyster

I'd use 30 days in a year and I dont even live there LOL

phuketrichard wrote:if u need work PP is the place u need be

If not the world is your oyster

Cheers. I may not need to work, but I'm at the mercy of the Australian dollar which is currently worth USD$0.75 so I would hate to overcommit myself on rent in the event it drops much further (entirely possible). So that's why I am setting my sights kinda low (still want champagne on a beer budget ofc)

But as I always say: The world is my lobster (sometimes it bites)

timmydownawell wrote:

phuketrichard wrote:if u need work PP is the place u need be

If not the world is your oyster

Cheers. I may not need to work, but I'm at the mercy of the Australian dollar which is currently worth USD$0.75 so I would hate to overcommit myself on rent in the event it drops much further (entirely possible). So that's why I am setting my sights kinda low (still want champagne on a beer budget ofc)

But as I always say: The world is my lobster (sometimes it bites)

It all depends on what you're looking for from a city. Phnom Penh is nightlife, ladies of the night and general stuff to do. Siem Reap is restaurants (which it beats PP on hands down), expat bars (much better than PP) and community (if you fit in - though the bar is set pretty low in that respect, I managed it) and sight seeing.

In terms of escaping either one - Saigon is on the doorstep of PP and Kampot/Kep and Snookie aren't far off. Bangkok is within spitting distance of Siem Reap and Battambang and Pailin are more easily accessible. And yes... whichever one you choose, you'll want to escape at some point.

I've lived in both. Would never live in PP again unless there was a huge cash incentive to do so. Would live in SR again but it would take a lot to pry me out of Thailand now.