I am going to Cambodia for 3 months in January. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on how much money I will need to live out there. I am volunteering so I already have a place to stay but I will need money to pay for food and other essentials. I am not planning on spending lavishly whilst I am there. I have been told I can withdraw directly with my visa debit card from ATMS - will this prove very expensive? Would it benefit me to get some travellers cheques or just carry $US or Cambodian money?
Thanks,
Reply to this I can give you some details about Siem Reap, since it looks like that's where you'll be.
As far as ATMs are concerned, they are all over town, The Canadia Bank ATMs don't charge a fee for withdrawals - though your bank at home may charge something. The ATMs will dispense American dollars and you'll end up with fistfuls of Cambodian money when you get change - they don't use any coins at all.
In general, you can get by very cheaply if you need to. A meal can cost $1-3, though you can certainly pay much more if you want to. (My daughter is living there now and had budgeted $8/day for food, but finds she's not spending that much.) If you're a beer drinker, drafts can be had for 50 cents (2000 riel) and up. If you want some specific recommendations for cheap good food, I'd be happy to give you some.
I'm not sure what other "essentials" you're thinking of, but if you have something specific in mind, I might be able to help.
Have a fantastic adventure! I will be back there mid-February. I'd love to get together and hear how your adventure is going!
Reply to this Hello,
Thanks that helps a lot! If you could give me some recommendations for good cheap food that would be great!
What I meant by other essentials is toiletries such as shampoo etc, I am guessing these are fairly easy and cheap to get hold of too?
Thanks
Reply to this Toiletries are reasonable, but not cheap. Well - I guess they cost about the same as they do at home, so that doesn't seem cheap!
Cheap and reasonably good food can be found along Wat Bo Road at Home Cocktail Restaurant (good place for a BLT, but don't bother with their pizza), across the street from that is Star Rise which has good crepes, Heng An is cheap local food (the rice and pork is good, as is the "fried chicken and cashews"), and I hear there's a new Burmese restaurant where everything on the menu is $1.50. Downtown, gthere are plenty of places to choose form, and if you want to support local business, go to "For Life" restaurant in the alley parallel to Pub Street. Delicious cheap Khmer food!
If you're in the mood for gelato, good stuff can be found in the Lucky Mall. For pastries, the Blue Pumpkin downtown. (Everything goes half-price at 8pm.)
Have fun!
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