Southeast Asia has become somewhat a hotspot for young expats and travellers alike. The vibrant culture, diversity and low cost of living are just a few things that entice people to move here.
Southeast Asia is composed of eleven countries; Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. This part of the world is known and loved for the vibrant and rich culture, diversity and the contrast of how to live in comparison to Western society. Although the cost of living is low across the region, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam are among the cheapest to move to. Locals that live in these countries are very welcoming and are willing to help you settle in to their community.
Below is the in-depth research we have conducted into moving to Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Showing the comparisons between each country based on; renting, finding work and visas. We have our outcome of where would be most logically to move to, but I’ll reveal this at the end of the post.
First of all, below is a chart that I put together to compare the cost of living between the 3 countries. 
- Monthly rent is fairly similar across the chart, and obviously these prices will vary depending on what you are looking for. Whether you want to live in luxury or if you’re budgeting. The prices range from £90-£120 per month which is over half what we pay in the UK.
- Weekly costs include anything from daily items you buy to day trips out. These costs cover you for food, activities, souvenirs etc. I personally would disagree with the chart and dispute that you would spend more weekly in Thailand than in Cambodia because there are more activities to engage in.
- Utility Bills cover what your rent doesn’t cover. Electricity, gas, internet (usually included in your rent in Cambodia). Fairly similar across the board, just slightly cheaper in Vietnam.
- Transport is cheaper than £20 for the month, in Vietnam it is as little as £5!
CAMBODIA
Known to the world as Kingdom of Wonder.
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and has a bustling population of over 2 million people. The city is a major hotspot for expats as this is where job opportunities are booming in comparison to the rest of the country. Over 200,000 expats currently live in Cambodia. The official language spoken in Cambodia is Khmer, but French and English are commonly spoken too. Cambodia is a very religious country, it is home to the world’s largest temple – Angkor Wat. The main religion followed here is Theravada Buddhist. The currency used is called Riel, the exchange rate is as follows – £1 – 4970 Riel. Due to being a less economically developed currently, the life expectancy is significantly low at just 56.
Renting
Most expats choose to live in the capital, Phnom Penh. Mainly due to job opportunities and development in comparison to the rest of Cambodia. You can rent a one-bedroom apartment in city for as little as £90 per month, with the excess of approx. £50/60 for bills. Many rental agreements can be signed for as little as a month to a year, giving you the opportunity to move around freely without prior commitments. You can view properties to rent here and here. Wifi is often included in the rental agreement price.
Finding Work
Finding a job once you are already on the ground in Cambodia is much easier than securing one before you arrive, especially if you’re looking for casual work i.e working in a cafe or a bar*. Many companies won’t respond to CVs from outside of the country. Although speaking English is a desirable skill for all workers in Cambodia, learning a few phrases of the local language (Khmer) can be invaluable when looking for work. *Seeking informal employment in hospitality can found in the classified pages of the Cambodia Daily and Phnom Penh Post newspapers. It is also common to see vacancies posted on noticeboards in guesthouses and restaurants in Phnom Penh. There are a few online job sites that can help you with your search if you want to look before you go.
Visa
Cambodia is one of the easiest counries in the world to stay long term. On arrival just apply for a ordinary visa rather than a tourist visa. You will get a one month visa that can be extended for 3, 6 or 12 months. Cost – Initially the ordinary visa is £35 for single-entry. You can extend your visa within the country. 6 month visa extension; £130 1 year visa; £235. It’s advisable to extend it for 6 or 12 months, as these visa types are multiple-entry.
Need another reason to move to Cambodia? Check out this website.
Thailand
Known as “The Land of Smiles“
The capital of Thailand is Bangkok, there is a population of over 7 million people in the city. The most widespread language spoken is Thai, however, English is used as a “working language” and is spoken across the country. The top 5 places for expats to live in Thailand are as follows;
- Chiang Mai: Mountain Views and a Slower Pace of Life
- Koh Samui: A Tropical Island Haven
- Bangkok: Modern and Affordable
- Hua Hin: Relaxed Seaside Retreat
-
Phuket: A Beach Lifestyle with all the amenities
The currency used is Thai Baht. The exchange rate is as follows – £1 – 42 Baht. The official religion to follow is Thai Buddhism, there are many symbols and landmarks throughout Thailand that shows how religious the people are in this country. The life expectancy here is much higher than in Cambodia, at 74 years old.
Did you know that Thailand is the 13th most friendly country in the world?
Renting
In order to rent an apartment or flat in Thailand you will need to have your passport. Rental agreements are from 3 months to 1 year. Make sure you are willing to commit to them. There will normally be a 2 month deposit required in order to move in. The best way to find an apartment in Thailand is by reference from someone who has already stayed there. Alternatively, if you don’t know anyone that has lived in Thailand, you can search for available apartments on classifieds sites. This site offers a large number of apartments for rent, mostly in large apartment complexes. You can rent a one-bedroom apartment from as little as £120 a month, with excess of around £40 for utility bills.
Finding Work
People who are willing to work in bars or restaurants will find it relatively easy to find a job providing that they are prepared to work for a low salary (still able to live comfortably if you budget). You can begin looking for jobs advertised on local sites within Thailand, you may be able to Skype interview for these jobs. Once your on the ground in Thailand you probably have the best chances of finding a job as many job opportunities aren’t put online. Look at this website for more info.
Visa
- Tourist visas– suitable for those visiting Thailand for the purpose of tourism. Tourists are not permitted to conduct business or be employed during their stay, which can last up to a period of 60 days, with a possible extension for another 30.
- Business visas– can be issued to conduct business in Thailand if you are employed or sponsored by a Thai company. This entitles visitors to stay for up to 90 days for a single entry, or one year for multiple entries.
VIETNAM
Known as “The Land of Dragon People”
The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, the city is home to a large population of 7.5 million. Vietnamese is the official language.English is increasingly favoured as a second language. French, Chinese, and Khmer are also spoken. There are currently over 100,000 expats living across Vietnam. The currency used is Vietnamese Dong. Religion has a deep influence on Vietnamese culture with imprints of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The life expectancy here is similar to Thailand, 75 years old.
Renting
When you rent in Hanoi you’ll typically be asked for a deposit of one month’s rent and three months’ rent in advance. Water, sewerage, twice-weekly cleaning and internet are usually included in rent. The electricity bill often paid separately each month. On average it is around £200 rent per month, with excess of £20/30 per month on electricity. Places to rent in Vietnam can be found from either word of mouth or suggestions from friends and other foreigners. You can find rentals in local classifieds in newspapers or online. Most websites cater to the high number expats in Vietnam. Use these websites;
Finding Work
You should have enough money saved for at least three months for the duration of your job search. You should be able to afford to stay there for a few months without a proper job. As it isn’t as easy to find a job here compared to Cambodia and Thailand. In some cases foreigners may only be employed if there is no local alternative. Although it is not absolutely necessary, knowing some basics in Vietnamese is of course a plus, and will also earn you additional respect. It is much easier for expats to find work if they are living or willing to commute to the city. The best website for job hunting in Vietnam is this one.
Visa
All British nationals need to obtain a Vietnamese visa. The British Embassy is not involved with transfer, issuing or production of visas for Vietnam. If you are outside of Vietnam, you have to contact your nearest Vietnamese Embassy.
- A tourist visa is available for one month as a single-entry or multiple-entry permit. The maximum duration of this visa is 30 days.
- Business visas are a little trickier. Applicants need to get an official entry clearance from their sponsor, usually their employer. This visa allows for multiple entries and lasts for up to one year. If you plan to apply for a business visa, you have to obtain approval from the Vietnamese Immigration Department through your sponsor. If you do not have a business partner, employer, or other sponsor who can provide you with an entry clearance, you can also apply for a business visa for a stay of up to 90 days.
In regards to visas and how easy it is to move to a different country, Vietnam definitely has the most strict policy out of the 3.
FLIGHTS
One way flights to anywhere in Southeast Asia are fairly similar in price. Thailand is the cheapest country to fly to, most probably because it is one of the most popular countries to visit among young people.
OVERALL
Although all 3 countries are appealing in their own way, throughout conducting this research my heart had already chosen the destination to feed my wanderlust. The country is literally stated as “One of the easiest countries to move to in the world”. Cambodia. Cambodia has stolen our hearts in every way, and we believe this is the best place to start up our new life doing what we love.
Our plan is to save the minimum of £1000 a month after we come back from the Caribbean, and move at some point in June next year. We should be able to roughly save £5000 by the time we leave, and with our calculations on the cost of living, visas etc, we should be set for 5 months. We may not even have to find a job within the first month, and we can sight see and get our bearings with our new surroundings.
In another post, we will write about how we came to this decision, as we had thought about many other possible options including a TEFL course. I won’t go into too much detail now, keep tuned for the next update!
mbled across a great deal that we just couldn’t pass up, regardless that we don’t really have the funds for.
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