phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 10:28 am LOL:

"...I think Cambodia offers more bang for the buck."

NOPE<
i see no changes coming for those on Retirement extensions.
no increase in needed amount in Bank ( 800,000) or cracking down on agents offering to sidestep this for you
or making a requirement for insurance other than the same it has been for those on O-A visas which requires any insurance not thai>

You are right about any medical insurance being accepted. I just think it would be difficult for my insurance company back home to fill out the necessary paperwork. But I will look into it if necessary. Thanks

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 10:22 am

rangers24 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:27 pm Greetings all,
I'm an American expat living in Bangkok for the last 10+ years.
As many of you might know, rumor has it that they might be requiring all retirees to purchase Thai medical insurance. Since I have had international health insurance since the time I retired and am over 65, it would be a deal breaker for me.
As such, I have been researching Cambodia, specifically PP, as a place of interest for me to live.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Regards,
Tommy

unfounded rumor
ignore
if ur happy in Bangkok, Cambodia wont cut it for you

That's a sweeping statement, I think it really depends on the person. I've lived in Bangkok for 17 years and I'm happy here, BUT I know that I'd be happy in Phnom Penh, too. I'd just visit Bangkok for a week whenever I miss it, same as I frequently visit Phnom Penh now.

None of those cities would be my first choice for retirement though, once I'm retired I'll reconsider my options. If Vietnam had a retirement visa, it would be Da Nang hands down.

What I agree with you on is that it's a myth that Cambodia is cheaper - I spend more in Cambodia than I do in Thailand, and by quite a margin.

I like driving on the “ right “ side of the road and using an american $ $ credit card saves heaps of ATM fees

i can’t comment anything about Pp except it freaks me out

พิซออนเดอรูฟ ®
[/quote]

Thanks for your reply

The required (Thai only) medical insurance has not been implemented yet for my type of visa, but if it does I will look to live elsewhere and PP is on my radar. Not sure of the cost but it would probably be prohibitively expensive because of my age.
Also, another burden that is expected to increase is the 25k US that must be deposited in a Thai bank to get a yearly extension of stay and basically cannot be touched.

Can you explain why PP freaks you out?
[/quote]

i have schizophrenia ..

Alex wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 12:05 pm

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 10:22 am

rangers24 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:27 pm Greetings all,
I'm an American expat living in Bangkok for the last 10+ years.
As many of you might know, rumor has it that they might be requiring all retirees to purchase Thai medical insurance. Since I have had international health insurance since the time I retired and am over 65, it would be a deal breaker for me.
As such, I have been researching Cambodia, specifically PP, as a place of interest for me to live.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Regards,
Tommy

unfounded rumor
ignore
if ur happy in Bangkok, Cambodia wont cut it for you

That's a sweeping statement, I think it really depends on the person. I've lived in Bangkok for 17 years and I'm happy here, BUT I know that I'd be happy in Phnom Penh, too. I'd just visit Bangkok for a week whenever I miss it, same as I frequently visit Phnom Penh now.

None of those cities would be my first choice for retirement though, once I'm retired I'll reconsider my options. If Vietnam had a retirement visa, it would be Da Nang hands down.

What I agree with you on is that it's a myth that Cambodia is cheaper - I spend more in Cambodia than I do in Thailand, and by quite a margin.

Out of interest, what areas of spending are much higher in PP?

I know that quality accommodation is hard to find in PP and when you do it is grossly overpriced, whereas BK has decent condo buildings everywhere and you are spoilt for choice.

As for retirement, and when decent healthcare rises up the priority list, PP falls off the charts compared to Thailand.

Doc67 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 3:11 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 12:05 pm

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 10:22 am

rangers24 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:27 pm Greetings all,
I'm an American expat living in Bangkok for the last 10+ years.
As many of you might know, rumor has it that they might be requiring all retirees to purchase Thai medical insurance. Since I have had international health insurance since the time I retired and am over 65, it would be a deal breaker for me.
As such, I have been researching Cambodia, specifically PP, as a place of interest for me to live.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Regards,
Tommy

unfounded rumor
ignore
if ur happy in Bangkok, Cambodia wont cut it for you

That's a sweeping statement, I think it really depends on the person. I've lived in Bangkok for 17 years and I'm happy here, BUT I know that I'd be happy in Phnom Penh, too. I'd just visit Bangkok for a week whenever I miss it, same as I frequently visit Phnom Penh now.

None of those cities would be my first choice for retirement though, once I'm retired I'll reconsider my options. If Vietnam had a retirement visa, it would be Da Nang hands down.

What I agree with you on is that it's a myth that Cambodia is cheaper - I spend more in Cambodia than I do in Thailand, and by quite a margin.

Out of interest, what areas of spending are much higher in PP?

I know that quality accommodation is hard to find in PP and when you do it is grossly overpriced, whereas BK has decent condo buildings everywhere and you are spoilt for choice.

As for retirement, and when decent healthcare rises up the priority list, PP falls off the charts compared to Thailand.

Here in Bangkok, I eat a lot more local food than I do in Phnom Penh. That in itself costs me at least $20 more per day in average when I'm in Phnom Penh. In Bangkok, I often go to a Thai hole-in-the wall lunchtime restaurant nearby my office or to a food court at a shopping center and they are all great. Great food and great value, that is. In the evening, I have a nice selection of fresh street food from busy/popular vendors within a 5 minute walk from my condo. All that means that I eat Thai food more often than not.

Food courts I've tried in Phnom Penh don't even come close. Even if I go to let's say a Korean style BBQ restaurant, what you get for 350 baht ($10) here in Bangkok is so much better than the same kind of place in Phnom Penh that charges $20. I like Phnom Penh's selection of Italian, French and Greek restaurants. And now I even like a Japanese restaurant there, too. It just means that I spend a lot more than here.

Supermarket prices for groceries, snacks and household stuff, pretty much everything is cheaper in Bangkok (like for like, the same international brands).

Housing, you've summed it up perfectly. In Phnom Penh I have to settle for less or spend more. I've yet to find a condo in Phnom Penh that doesn't suck.

I wouldn't trust a Thai doctor with my life if I have a choice, so I'd keep going to Singapore either way. But I get your point, in a life-threatening emergency or whenever you just need a well-stocked pharmacy, Bangkok is way better than Phnom Penh obviously.

Alex wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 4:47 pm

Doc67 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 3:11 pm

Alex wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 12:05 pm

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2023 10:22 am

rangers24 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 16, 2023 1:27 pm Greetings all,
I'm an American expat living in Bangkok for the last 10+ years.
As many of you might know, rumor has it that they might be requiring all retirees to purchase Thai medical insurance. Since I have had international health insurance since the time I retired and am over 65, it would be a deal breaker for me.
As such, I have been researching Cambodia, specifically PP, as a place of interest for me to live.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Regards,
Tommy

unfounded rumor
ignore
if ur happy in Bangkok, Cambodia wont cut it for you

That's a sweeping statement, I think it really depends on the person. I've lived in Bangkok for 17 years and I'm happy here, BUT I know that I'd be happy in Phnom Penh, too. I'd just visit Bangkok for a week whenever I miss it, same as I frequently visit Phnom Penh now.

None of those cities would be my first choice for retirement though, once I'm retired I'll reconsider my options. If Vietnam had a retirement visa, it would be Da Nang hands down.

What I agree with you on is that it's a myth that Cambodia is cheaper - I spend more in Cambodia than I do in Thailand, and by quite a margin.

Out of interest, what areas of spending are much higher in PP?

I know that quality accommodation is hard to find in PP and when you do it is grossly overpriced, whereas BK has decent condo buildings everywhere and you are spoilt for choice.

As for retirement, and when decent healthcare rises up the priority list, PP falls off the charts compared to Thailand.

Here in Bangkok, I eat a lot more local food than I do in Phnom Penh. That in itself costs me at least $20 more per day in average when I'm in Phnom Penh. In Bangkok, I often go to a Thai hole-in-the wall lunchtime restaurant nearby my office or to a food court at a shopping center and they are all great. Great food and great value, that is. In the evening, I have a nice selection of fresh street food from busy/popular vendors within a 5 minute walk from my condo. All that means that I eat Thai food more often than not.

Food courts I've tried in Phnom Penh don't even come close. Even if I go to let's say a Korean style BBQ restaurant, what you get for 350 baht ($10) here in Bangkok is so much better than the same kind of place in Phnom Penh that charges $20. I like Phnom Penh's selection of Italian, French and Greek restaurants. And now I even like a Japanese restaurant there, too. It just means that I spend a lot more than here.

Supermarket prices for groceries, snacks and household stuff, pretty much everything is cheaper in Bangkok (like for like, the same international brands).

Housing, you've summed it up perfectly. In Phnom Penh I have to settle for less or spend more. I've yet to find a condo in Phnom Penh that doesn't suck.

I wouldn't trust a Thai doctor with my life if I have a choice, so I'd keep going to Singapore either way. But I get your point, in a life-threatening emergency or whenever you just need a well-stocked pharmacy, Bangkok is way better than Phnom Penh obviously.

Yes, of course, local food. I was converted last year when I had some Khao Kha Moo and I have eaten other street food in Thailand and enjoyed it. In Cambodia, I don't give local food a second thought. (And yes, I tried it when I first arrived and found it disgusting). EDIT: Here you go...the-barnyard/topic56398.html

But for good French bistros and restaurants, Phnom Penh is better than BKK, I have 4 excellent places within a 5-minute walk from where I live.

The price of imported foodstuffs in PP, especially western products, is very high, but added to that the selection and consistency of supply is pathetic. Just because you find it once, don't assume you will find in on the shelf next month. The amount of products that appear, then disappear for months, tells me their purchasing is amateurish. Getting everything you need requires corralling it from at least 4 outlets, and as for meat, there isn't a decent butcher anywhere - it's all frozen and quality is a coin toss.

Well about myself: mid-late 20s, I am ethnically a "Barang" though I have spent most of my life in Asia and the "Developing World": I graduated from secondary in Cambodia (my Khmer is still rusty since it was an international school, but am conversational and improving every day) finished university in Japan, previously lived in India and was last working in Mainland China prior to COVID mass hysteria; This is my second stint living in Cambodia, have been here since the latter end of 2022, and am happy with my life here. I see myself staying here for the forseeable future to share in the successes and growing pains the ancient people yet young state of Cambodia will undergo in the coming decades.

As a permanent resident, I consider myself "of Cambodia", and though I wouldn't call myself Cambodian, I consider Cambodia my home and to be more comfortable here than anywhere else I've lived, for personal, nostalgic reasons, especially since all of my friends in this country are ethnic Khmer (save a few Japanese colleagues and schoolmates from Hong Kong). I feel a lot of my comfort here is that this place is as strange and unfamiliar as any other I've lived in my entire life (including the West), so it isn't differentiated in that manner. I currently live in rural Siem Reap, about 10 minutes north of Krong Siem Reap, but will be moving to Phnom Penh towards the end of the year.

Past times? Gardening, skateboarding, reading and writing, as well as cooking elaborate dinners or attempting to emulate Western style comfort food with my girlfriend, are things I all enjoy.