Not Luxe ☼ Travel
  • ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL
  • WHY “NOT LUXE”
  • Cambodia
  • Australia
  • Travel
  • Teaching ESL
  • Move Abroad
  • Travel Insurance
Not Luxe ☼ Travel
  • ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL
  • WHY “NOT LUXE”
  • Cambodia
  • Australia
  • Travel
  • Teaching ESL
  • Move Abroad
  • Travel Insurance

how to find an apartment in phnom penh

    'Not Luxe' Nick and Raychel lay on a blue beanbag in sunny Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Renting an Apartment in Phnom Penh | What You Need to Know

    by Nick & Raychel February 27, 2020

    Let’s talk about renting an apartment in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    If you’re moving to Phnom Penh to teach English, you’re going to need a place to live. Okay – so there is good news and there is bad news. Let’s start with the latter. Unlike moving to a country like China, most English teaching jobs in Cambodia will not cover your accommodation. That said, the good news is that there are many different apartment rental options in Phnom Penh, and we’re here to make the process a little easier.


    If you prefer to watch instead of read, find our YouTube video on finding an apartment to rent in Cambodia here.

    So how do you get started in looking for an apartment to rent in Cambodia? And what exactly should you look for? Let’s talk about that now.

    Book a hostel/hotel for the first week upon your arrival in Cambodia

    First things first, we always recommend booking a hostel or a hotel for the first week after your arrival so that you have time to look for your new home.  Spend a good week situating yourself, finding where you’re going to work, and exploring the different areas before committing to a lease. At the time of writing this blog, there are tons of options for apartment rentals in Phnom Penh, and there is no need to rush. 

    But what do you do once you’re ready to look for a place? Soon, you’ll have a better idea of where to look, what to look for, and what pricing looks like for renting an apartment in Phnom Penh.

    Where do you even start looking for a place?

    Here are the two main places where we recommend looking for an apartment in Phnom Penh:

    • ‘Phnom Penh Housing’ Facebook Group

      In this Facebook group, you simply post what you’re looking for, what your price range is and what area you want to live within Phnom Penh. I promise you, within an hour of posting, your direct messages will be flooded by helpful real estate agents looking to show you around the city.

      Landlords and estate agents can also post their listings this Facebook group for you to message them as well.

      In our opinion, this is the best community for finding a great apartment rental in Cambodia. People search for roommates here as well, if that’s your cup of tea.

    • Khmer24

      Khmer24 is a buy & sell platform in Cambodia, similar to Craigslist, Kijiji, or Gumtree. Here, you can find properties to rent or buy in Phnom Penh, or really anywhere in Cambodia. Khmer24 is a really good platform to get familiar with if you are planning on moving to Cambodia to teach English, or for any other reason as well. 

    Are real estate agents in Cambodia free?

    Yep, they sure are. Real estate agents will make a commission from the owner off of the place that you rent, so you don’t have to pay a dime. If you are an expat moving to Phnom Penh, or really anywhere in Cambodia, we recommend getting one. We recommend getting a real estate agent in Cambodia while you are renting an apartment in Phnom Penh, as they will help you translate, navigate, and negotiate in Khmer.

    Here’s what to look for when you’re renting an apartment in Cambodia

    Everything should be included in your price range.

    If your budget is $300 USD/month, for example, don’t budge. In fact, we would say the same thing if your budget is $50 USD/month. No matter what your standard and personal budget is, we are telling you now that you will be able to stick to it and there will be an accommodation that suits your needs and price point.

    When looking for an apartment in Phnom Penh, ensure that you’re asking about the water bill, electricity bill, and WiFi. Just like any country, those expenses could rack up pretty quickly -so be sure you know what those entail. 

    What area in Phnom Penh is the best to live in?

    Here are our personal favourites:

    • Russian Market: by far the least expensive AND expat-friendly area in Phnom Penh. Super accessible, cool views, great vibe, amazing food, and did we say inexpensive??
    • Tuol Kuok: A nice, safe, clean area in Phnom Penh, a bit far away from the crazy nightlife near the riverside, and close to lots of schools
    • BKK1, BKK2 & BKK3: Any time you see any of these three areas in an apartment posting, you may see the price increase. This is because the BKKs are a safe area to live for expats, lots of new housing development and fantastic accessibility.  
    • We do not recommend ‘the riverside’ to live full-time, as the party-hardy expats all tend to veer in that direction, and the scene can get a bit dodgy if you’re not careful. Take it from us.

    How much does an apartment cost in Phnom Penh?

    Like any city, this can be a tricky question. It really depends. But hey, here’s our breakdown.

    • $300 USD/month can find you a great little apartment with Western amenities, furniture, and security in a great area of Phnom Penh
    • $500 USD /month is a big budget that will find you a modern apartment with Western amenities, a pool, gym, security, and probably a view
    • $100-$200 USD/month will afford you a great big room in a shared home with flatmates, or a private Khmer-Style apartment, potentially without a stovetop, but if you’re cool with cooking on a hot plate and living on a budget – you can make this budget work

    Remember:
    – When you see an apartment listed at a certain price, it is always negotiable
    – Don’t be afraid to ask your real estate agent to help you negotiate, that’s what they’re there for!


    Still looking for a job in Phnom Penh? Find our guide on how to get a paid teaching job in Cambodia. 

    Just moved to Phnom Penh & looking for stuff to do? Find our Phnom Penh ‘things to do’ guide here!

    0 PinterestEmail

Categories

Trending

  • living in BC vs. living in Ontario Toronto vs. Vancouver
    Travel

    Living in Ontario vs. Living in British Columbia (BC)

    January 23, 2021
  • living in Vancouver Canada
    Move Abroad

    Living in Vancouver, Canada | The Pros & Cons

    May 23, 2020
  • Raychel swims in a luxurious pool
    CambodiaCambodia - Phnom Penh

    15 Things To Do in Phnom Penh: A Visitor’s Guide

    March 29, 2019
Nick & Raychel
Nick & Raychel

In 2018, we sold everything we owned and moved to Cambodia to teach English.

Let’s make this clear: this journey didn’t start with money. This journey started with a desire to see the world and to do something different for a change.

We’re not going to fool you with photos of floating breakfasts and private jets. We know what it’s like to be on a budget. Although we like to take pretty pictures, we aren’t going to wake up at an ungodly hour to give you unachievable travel jealousy. We aren’t going to censor ourselves or lie to you.

What we are going to do is stay in cheap hostels, find ways to make money, give the advice that we would want to hear, and share our experiences with you honestly.

Are you in?

Not Luxe

Recent Posts

  • the interior of a budget van build
    Australia - Working Holiday

    How to Save Money On A Budget Camper Van Build

    February 17, 2022
  • road trip
    TravelVan Life

    How to Prepare for a USA Road Trip (For Canadians)

    November 15, 2021
  • Cultus Lake Chilliwack BC
    CanadaTravel

    Things to do in Chilliwack BC

    November 15, 2021

GUIDE TO MARKETS | PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (2018)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8v49HKtlIk

IS CAMBODIA SAFE? LIVING IN PHNOM PENH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NShIg00dj8Q

KAMPOT & KEP | PEPPER PLANTATIONS, KAYAKING, BOAT TOURS & TAPAS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3DgTbP4SKQ

LONGBOARDING IN THE PHILIPPINES | LAPU LAPU & OSLOB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT6ABZE4mSE

CAMBODIA | PROS & CONS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLMhjVTJUxE&t=14s

Subscribe and Follow

Keep in touch

Instagram Pinterest Youtube

Recent Posts

  • Van Life Myths : Debunked

    November 3, 2021
  • Travel The World For Free With Trusted House Sitting

    February 14, 2021
  • Things Worth Buying as Minimalist Nomads

    April 28, 2020
  • Markets to Visit in Phnom Penh: A Guide

    March 19, 2019
  • How to Move to Cambodia & Teach English

    March 18, 2019
  • 8 Tips You Need to Read BEFORE Moving to Phnom Penh

    March 18, 2019
  • 8 Things to Know Before MOVING to Cambodia

    March 10, 2019
  • Currency in Cambodia: Explained

    March 5, 2019
  • Saving Money: Teaching & Living in Phnom Penh

    February 19, 2019
  • Where to Stay in Phnom Penh : A Visitor’s Guide

    February 12, 2019
  • Day Trip to Phnom Chisor: How to Get to Phnom Chisor from Phnom Penh

    February 5, 2019
  • WHY You Should Teach English in Cambodia

    January 29, 2019
  • How to Save Money On A Budget Camper Van Build

    February 17, 2022
  • How to Prepare for a USA Road Trip (For Canadians)

    November 15, 2021
  • Things to do in Chilliwack BC

    November 15, 2021
  • Van Life Essentials List | What We Can’t Live Without

    November 3, 2021

CATEGORIES

ABOUT NICK & RAYCHEL

About Us Hi! We’re Nick & Raychel, the Canadian travel couple behind the brand ‘Not Luxe’. Far before we were married (and on a mission to see the world), we were working…

Read More

Trending

  • living in BC vs. living in Ontario Toronto vs. Vancouver
    Travel

    Living in Ontario vs. Living in British Columbia (BC)

    January 23, 2021
  • living in Vancouver Canada
    Move Abroad

    Living in Vancouver, Canada | The Pros & Cons

    May 23, 2020
  • Raychel swims in a luxurious pool
    CambodiaCambodia - Phnom Penh

    15 Things To Do in Phnom Penh: A Visitor’s Guide

    March 29, 2019

Instagram

  • We’ve lived nomadically as full-time travellers for 5 years. This is how we save money & afford to travel.

•Travel slowly - spending 6+ months in many of our travel destinations 
•We don’t have a stationary home - we travel in our self-converted ambulance
•We fly on a budget (budget airfare guide in our story highlights)
•Offering our services as house/petsitters (also in our story highlights) 

Any questions? ⬇️ 

—

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

Tags: #notluxe  #camperlife #camperlifestyle #vanlifeproject #vanlifeculture #tinyhome #tinyliving #vanlifediaries #travelgram #livetoexplore #traveltips #budgettravel #cheaptravel #budgettraveltips #gapyear #travelblogger
  • What it’s like stealth parking in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
(Spoiler: it’s like stealth parking just like anywhere else.)

Nick and I spent our first 1.5 years of van life stealth parking in British Columbia. We got really used to finding parking spots where we wouldn’t be disturbed & given that we used to live in the city, we’re used to the sound of cars, sirens, and people passing by.

To us, stealth camping is just a part of van life & we absolutely love staying in an otherwise expensive area (like Cabo) for free.

Any questions about van life in Mexico? 

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

Tags: #notluxe #vanlifecouple #vanlifecouples#tinyhome #vanlifers #vanlifevirals #vanlifemovement #vanbuildout #vandwelling #vanlifediaries  #vanlifemovement #homeiswhereyouparkit #vanlifemexico #vanliving #travelcouple #budgettravel
  • TWO MONTHS IN MEXICO >>> 

The other day we celebrated our two month anniversary in Baja and we honestly feel like it’s just beginning.

Nick and I have always been advocates for travelling slow, taking it in, and calling (almost) every place we travel home. I can say that after two months, we’re starting to get the hang of things.

Now that we’re planning our travels for the rest of the year, we have decided that we have more of Mexico to see (hello Mainland? 👀) before we gear up for our next international adventure.

What are your travel plans this year? And where would you like to see us go? ⬇️

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

—

Tags: #notluxe  #camperlife #camperlifestyle #vanlifeproject #vanlifeculture #tinyhome #tinyliving #vanlifediaries #travelgram #livetoexplore #vanlifeculture #budgettravel #vanlifemexico #travelcouple
  • Remember how in the last video our 3 day total was $0? Well, it’s looking a little different this time as this was a very expensive day while travelling in our van in Baja California Sur.

Would this be more or less than you’d expect for a pricey van life day?

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

—

Tags: #notluxe  #camperlife #camperlifestyle #vanlifeproject #vanlifeculture #tinyhome #tinyliving #vanlifediaries #travelgram #livetoexplore #vanlifeculture #travelblogger #vanlifestyle #travelcosts #vanlifetravel #vanlifemexico #vanlifebaja
  • What we ate in a day as a couple living in an ambulance in Mexico. 

Some days we cook all of our meals in the van, but on days where we’re in a bigger city (or an even bigger one like Cabo San Lucas), we like to switch it up. 

What looks the best to you? 🌱 

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 
__

Tags: #notluxe #vanlifecouple #vanlifecouples#tinyhome #vanlifers #vanlifevirals #vegantravel #plantbasedrecipes #plantbasedvlog #veganeats #mexicotravel #veganvanlife
  • This is what an evening is like sleeping for free on a beach in Mexico.

Evenings usually consist of a few things:
✨ Finding a place to park using iOverlander
✨ Cleaning up our van to make it as cozy as possible
✨ Stretching our legs one last time before heading to bed
✨ Drinking wine & watching Survivor 

Evenings in a van aren’t that different than evenings in our old apartment, just a few adjustments help us feel right at home.

➟ follow @nickandraychel // full-time van life & budget travel 

__

Tags: #notluxe  #camperlife #camperlifestyle #vanlifeproject #vanlifeculture #tinyhome #tinyliving #vanlifediaries  #livetoexplore #vanlifeculture #budgettravel #vanliving #livingoutdoors #campinglife  #vandwelling #vanlifemexico #vanlifebaja #eveningroutine
Follow Me!

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Living in Vancouver, Canada | The Pros & Cons

    May 23, 2020
  • 2

    Living in the Okanagan Valley, Canada (What It’s Like)

    May 29, 2020
  • 3

    Living in Kelowna vs. Living in Vancouver

    February 25, 2021
  • 4

    Top 5 Neighbourhoods to Live in Vancouver, BC

    January 12, 2021
  • 5

    What To Pack For Cambodia

    July 22, 2019
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

@2019 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by PenciDesign


Back To Top