In the last two years, I’ve been to Siem Reap five times. In that duration, I also lived in this quaint city for a month. The first time I stayed here, I spent three days visiting tourist spots with a couple of friends.

the famous Angkor Wat

I had no idea about this side of Cambodia except for the Angkor Wat. I was a tourist who only cared about getting as many photos posted on Facebook for other people to see that I’ve been to a world heritage site. But my perspective changed in a short span of time.

After that trip, I told myself that I’d come back once I quit my job and start my backpacking adventure. I did, after a year, and stayed longer.

near the river

Siem Reap

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If you’re looking for an affordable place to stay in Siem Reap, you may want to check out Victory Guesthouse. I stayed in this hostel for over 10 days as I wanted and clean hostel available. Bousavy Guesthouse was supposedly my other target, but comparing the prices, Victory seems to have cheaper rates. Fortunately, these two guesthouses were just across each other so it wasn’t hard to find.

Victory Guesthouse
Siem Reap, Cambodia

Victory hostel in Siem Reap

This Victory Guesthouse is a good find if you plan to stay in Siem Reap. I was able to get a spacious room good for three people for only 7 USD (breakfast NOT included).

spacious fan room good for 3 persons

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I received a couple of emails from fellow digital nomads about the cost of living in Siem Reap, Cambodia. These were timely messages as I stayed in this city with a friend for one month. I figured I’d share important factors to consider to help other lifestyle designers who bring their work with them.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect when you plan to stay in Siem Reap.
Note: Expenses are based on a two-person budget. Prices may vary if you plan to go solo or if you want a little luxury.

Accommodation

Depending on the amenities and how far it is from the town center, the cost of a room per day ranges from 4 to 5 USD for one person. If you plan to stay longer, say for a month, you can negotiate with the owner and get a discount.

Fan Room for 2 with own bathroom and with WiFi

We were able to get a fan room with two beds and our own bathroom near the town center (Old Market, Angkor Night Market). The original price was 180 USD but we haggled and brought it down to 120. The room also came with WiFi signal. By the way, that’s 120 USD divided by 2 persons. This means that I only paid 60 USD for my share of the hostel. 60 USD or 2400 Php for a month in Cambodia is not bad at all!

Be advised that discounts may vary according to your haggling skills. Here are some of the places we’ve stayed that I recommend for their affordable accommodations.

villatany.com
victoryguesthouse.com

We met a few people in Cambodia and they told us that there are cheaper options. Maybe when we come back, we’ll check those places out.

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I had the pleasure of meeting readers on the road while in Cambodia. These were unexpected encounters and it was nice  that they spared their time even if they were tired from a long day of temple-hopping.

I wrote 20 articles about Siem Reap during my trip last year which has become a guide for Filipinos who want to know more information about this quaint city. But I didn’t expect that I would actually meet some readers while I’m here. Below are the stories of our chance meet-ups.

Tony & Denisse

with Tony & Denisse at the Kingdom of Cambodia border

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I was hanging out with newfound friends at one of the fish massage areas near the Angkor Night Market in Siem Reap. My friends tried the Doctor Fish Spa and were giggling so hard when the fishes ate the dead skin cells of their feet. I was laughing at their reactions when an old tourist couple dropped by to check what the commotion was all about.

old couple (center)

I dipped my hand in the water to show the couple how the fishes would gather around and attack. The man took out his big camera to take a photo of scenario.

“Very ticklish, you should try it!” I persuaded the lady but she just smiled back saying that they just wanted to look at the fishes.

slow and steady steps

When they left, I found out that the man was holding a cane. The lady was also there to support him as they continued their walk outside the market. Being curious, I followed them. Only then did I realize that they didn’t have a companion to guide them. They were exploring the area by themselves.

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