Cambodia

Salaries and Cost of Living

Teaching salaries in Cambodia typically range from £600 to £1,200 per month depending on school type and your qualifications. International schools in Phnom Penh pay at the higher end while NGO schools and community organisations often pay less but offer a rewarding experience in return. The cost of living is among the lowest in Southeast Asia. A comfortable monthly budget in Phnom Penh runs around £400 to £550 covering rent, food, transport, and a social life. Street food is plentiful and cheap. A decent apartment in a good area costs a fraction of what you would pay in Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City. The salary to cost of living ratio in Cambodia is genuinely favourable even at the lower end of the pay scale.

Requirements

Cambodia has the most accessible entry requirements of any country on this list. A degree is not legally required for most teaching positions making it the go-to destination for people who want to teach abroad without one. A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is expected by reputable schools and will make you significantly more employable. A clean background check is required by most legitimate employers. The visa situation is straightforward with a standard e-visa available on arrival or online before you travel. Cambodia is the rare destination where you can realistically plan, arrive, and be teaching within a matter of weeks rather than months.

Best cities

Phnom Penh is the capital and where the majority of teaching opportunities are concentrated. It has grown significantly in recent years and now has a well established expat community, a good restaurant and café scene, and enough going on to keep life interesting. It is not the most immediately beautiful city but it has real character and most teachers who give it time end up genuinely fond of it. Siem Reap in the north is home to Angkor Wat and has a more tourist focused economy but does have teaching positions, particularly in language schools catering to local students. The pace of life there is slower and the setting more scenic if that appeals.

How to find your first job

Phnom Penh Post Jobs and the Facebook group “Teaching English in Cambodia” are the most useful starting points. Most teachers find work quickly after arriving in Phnom Penh in person. Walking into language schools with a printed CV and your TEFL certificate is a completely normal and effective approach in Cambodia in a way it would not be in Japan or South Korea. Schools hire regularly and turnover is reasonably high meaning positions come up consistently throughout the year. CamboJob and Bong Thom also list teaching positions. Aim to arrive with at least one month of living costs saved so you can job hunt without financial pressure.