Oxstones Investment Club™“I Can Afford Luxuries I’d Never Allow Myself at Home”
By Lina Goldberg
Like many expats in Cambodia, I ended up in “the Kingdom of Wonder” completely by accident. But living in the capital Phnom Penh, I feel like I have discovered the secret to a laid-back lifestyle.
Life here is almost entirely devoid of the high-pressure stress I endured when I worked in a cubicle in New York.
In that past life I worked in advertising…but I quit my job to travel around Asia and South America—and 10 months later, I applied for a fellowship with an American non-profit in Cambodia. In three short months I fell in love with Phnom Penh and the expat lifestyle there, and once my fellowship concluded, I never left.
Phnom Penh feels untamed and full of potential, and the locals are friendly and happy to have a laugh with anyone, be they Khmer or expat. It’s in the midst of massive development, but there is still plenty of Asian small-town feel, such as the farmers who sell ripe, juicy mangos for 25 cents apiece on the side of the road, or the stalls serving strong, sweet, iced coffee that’s the perfect antidote to Cambodia’s tropical heat.
I’ve been in Cambodia for three years now, and that has allowed me to pursue a career that I love. I’m a freelance writer, publishing articles about food and travel for local and international newspapers and magazines. Recently I even wrote a book.
I love the freedom that being a freelancer affords me. And making my base in Cambodia, where the cost of living is so low, allows me to have the lifestyle I’d always dreamed about but never thought possible.
In Phnom Penh a one-bedroom apartment can be had for between $150 and $500 per month, depending on what level of luxury you require. If you’re frugal, you can live here on less than $1,000 per month, although most expats prefer to budget a bit more.
Luxuries that I’d never allow myself at home are easily affordable. I can have a pair of leather shoes made to order for $22, a dress tailored for not much more than that, and a weekly manicure for $6. For transport I take tuk-tuks, which get me anywhere in Phnom Penh for between $1 and $3.
And Phnom Penh has a wealth of fantastic international restaurants, wine bars and a vibrant nightlife and live music scene. It has western-style gyms and grocery stores that stock American, British and French brands—these days you can get nearly anything you want, from chorizo to cocoa powder.
The expatriate population in Phnom Penh is large—although Cambodia’s laxity about gathering statistics means no one is quite sure how large—and very diverse. Cambodia offers a readily attainable long-stay visa, with a year-long visa available to most nationalities for just under $300. The expat social scene is friendly and it’s easy to meet other foreigners who have made a home here.
Cambodia is one of the easiest countries in the world to move to. Since I left the States, this is the third country I’ve relocated to, and although it’s the most “foreign” it was also the most painless one to settle in. The commitment level is low, apartment leases can be had for as little as three months’ rent with a month’s deposit, the visa is easy and anything you need can be found in Phnom Penh. For those thinking of coming, I would suggest not wasting any time…
When I compare my life now—wearing flip flops every day and doing work that I love—to my high-anxiety existence working at a corporate job, I can’t believe how lucky I am. I have so much more time to do the things that I enjoy, like traveling, cooking and reading, and the things that were so important before, like owning an expensive handbag or the latest gadget, now seem ridiculous. When I walked away from my old life to go traveling I was not sure exactly what I was looking for. But whatever it was, I found it in Phnom Penh.
Editor’s note: A luxurious lifestyle isn’t just the preserve of the wealthy. You too could live like a millionaire—with your own cook and maid…the finest foods…the freedom to travel often to the most beautiful places you can imagine…and more.
Tags: being a freelancer, Cambodia, cost of living, expat lifestyle, living abroad, luxury, Phnom Penh