Expat Destinations: Bangkok vs. Phnom Penh [Season 3, Episode 72]

First up - apologies for Greg's bad audio on this episode!
Small technical problem, and it sounds like he's talking on a
phone from Peru. Luckily, Ed does most of the talking!


Speaking of Ed, he recently returned from 4 days in Phnom
Penh, Cambodia, his first-ever visit. The city's going through
somewhat of a renaissance of late, with plenty of discussion
online about PP vs BKK. So what's Ed's verdict?


As a matter of course, Greg introduces the subject by
urging listeners to learn about Cambodia's tragic history and to
take that into account when evaluating its level of development.
With that in mind, Ed notes that in many ways, it's not fair to
compare Phnom Penh to Bangkok, and a fairer comparison would be
to Chiang Mai. Still, many expats are considering is an
alternative to Thailand for various reasons.


Next, Ed also points out that there are many factors at
play and there's no truly objective way to judge the cities. What
works for one expat may not work for another, so this represents
only Ed's point of view, with Greg chiming about his trip many
years ago.


On the plus side, Ed notes that Phnom Penh seems more
chilled out, with less traffic and more open spaces than Bangkok.
The result is a real 'holiday vibe' for seemingly everyone there.
Further, there's less of a police presence overall and alcohol is
cheaper due to lower import taxes.


On the negative side, Phnom Penh has significantly fewer
restaurant and nightlife options and the infrastructure, such as
mobile internet, is not up to Bangkok standards. And certainly
don't expect subways and skytrains.


Greg and Ed run through all of these points, plus a few
more, and ponder if - and in what circumstances - a move to Phnom
Penh would be advised if you're thinking about moving on from
Bangkok.


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