hanno wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:39 pm I am still a little shell shocked. I arrived in PP four weeks ago and find it very (unreasonably) expensive. Rents are a joke, restaurants are generally exorbitant, shopping is crazy. I spent the last few years in Vietnam and pretty much everything was cheaper there apart from cars.

I agree, it feels the same for me compared with Bangkok. I don't mind spending a bit more in Phnom Penh, but in sone cases (rent in particular) the differences are really crazy. On food, you can spend pretty much any amount in both places, from very cheap food to very expensive, but the big difference is that cheap food in Phnom Penh is often inedible.

Alex wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:31 pm

hanno wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 9:39 pm I am still a little shell shocked. I arrived in PP four weeks ago and find it very (unreasonably) expensive. Rents are a joke, restaurants are generally exorbitant, shopping is crazy. I spent the last few years in Vietnam and pretty much everything was cheaper there apart from cars.

I agree, it feels the same for me compared with Bangkok. I don't mind spending a bit more in Phnom Penh, but in sone cases (rent in particular) the differences are really crazy. On food, you can spend pretty much any amount in both places, from very cheap food to very expensive, but the big difference is that cheap food in Phnom Penh is often inedible.

I looked at two apartments today, just a walk-in to a building off Riverside that has been recommended. It is an 8 storey purpose-built block, 10 years old. It looked promising.

The 1 bedroom was in fact a bedroom with a small sofa and TV in it, a big bathroom with a bath/shower and lots of wasted space, a tiny kitchen with a table in it and a foyer connected them all - $550pm 7th floor, and of course no doors on the staircase, so another chimney waiting for a fire.

The other was a 2 bedroom which was jaw-droppingly designed. Two huge bedrooms, both with large ensuites, a further toilet with the washing machine in it, a smallish kitchen with minimal counter space, a tiny living room about the same size as the en-suites and a huge windowless foyer connecting all rooms. It must be 90sqm, with about 40sqm that I would use. If you tried to win a bad design award, this would be right up there. $750pm.

They both suffered from a serious lack of natural light and this was exacerbated by dark wood everywhere and the living rooms in darkness and all the natural light going into both bedrooms. Unbelievably depressing.

What does $750 get you in Bangkok?

I said 750-1000, but I think I am in the lower group most of the time, with a few expensive months a year averaging to about 800 per month

If I wanted to I’m sure I could live in less than 500, but have the advantage of no rent which helps.

And I am sure I could spend a lot more if I wanted to, but I don’t see the need and enjoy cooking and eating at home

Doc67 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:59 pm What does $750 get you in Bangkok?

A very decent condo. Size and specs would obviously depend on the location, as Bangkok is huge, but you'd be spoiled for choice.

Alex wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 3:47 pm

Doc67 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 1:59 pm What does $750 get you in Bangkok?

A very decent condo. Size and specs would obviously depend on the location, as Bangkok is huge, but you'd be spoiled for choice.

Yes indeed, US$750/26,000 baht would be a nice start toward a nice condo place out along Sukhumvit. The farther out, say past On Nut to Bang Chak/Punnawithi/Udom Suk, would get you more, as reported by acquaintances. Also, there are more farang pubs/shops out that way now, too. But it's not at all far to the likes of Soi Cowboy at Asok or Nana Plaza at Nana BTS. Me, I'd stay away from anywhere inbound from Asok, actually Phrom Phong, in fact. That be infested with dirty farang tourists. I'm at Phra Khanong, which is just far enough away from said tourists and close enough to Asok -- though I rarely leave my village.

I'd love to hear from the 1 that lives on $10,000+ a month

to bad he cant post anonymously

I spend less than pre 2020 because I am not earning quite as much

Rent, utilities, transport, food, kids school, pets and sundry costs like beer and pot runs us a minimum of $2500 per month without being in any way extravagant

I could easily spend twice that much though

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sat Jan 28, 2023 5:45 pm I'd love to hear from the 1 that lives on $10,000+ a month

to bad he cant post anonymously

Plenty like that around, good folks to be on friendly terms with lol