For aspiring expatriates (expats) who dream of immersing themselves in new cultures while earning a decent living – teaching English has long been a highly favoured way to turn their dreams into a vibrant reality. One destination that has become increasingly popular among expats is Cambodia. This is mainly because the Cambodian Government has publicly acknowledged the growing importance of teaching English to Cambodian students.

Suppose an expat lifestyle in the heart of Southeast Asia funded by teaching English to Cambodian students appeals to you. In that case, you’ve come to the right place. This article will highlight the benefits of living and working as a TESOL-certified English teacher in Cambodia. “What’s TESOL”? It’s an acronym for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. TESOL / TEFL certification is the core qualification you’ll need to work as a paid English teacher in Cambodia.

Competitive Salaries

Does teaching English to Cambodian students pay well? For expats who are native English speakers or near-native English speakers, the answer is ‘absolutely’!

Expat English as a second language (ESL) teachers in Cambodia typically work 25 hours a week in class – primarily, Monday to Friday during the daytime – and earn between US $800.00 and US $1,200.00 monthly. I know instances where a teacher has secured a salary of more than US $1,200.00, but within the range that I specified is markedly more common.

Anecdotally, 80%+ of the ESL teaching jobs in Cambodia are located in so-called ‘International Schools,’ which are a ‘rung up’ on public (government) schools. Newcomers to teaching English to Cambodian students are known for getting excited when they first learn that there’s a good chance, they’ll secure a job at an ‘international school’. While these schools have better infrastructure and are more organised than government schools in Cambodia, they’re nothing flashy. Every international school I have visited in Cambodia during the past two years had a roof and a floor. The same cannot be said about every government school I have visited. As the old adage says: ‘It is what it is.’  

From my observations, international schools, especially in Phnom Penh, prioritise hiring teachers with recognised qualifications, including a university degree (any discipline) and government-regulated TESOL / TEFL certification. Aspiring ESL teachers are also expected to submit a clear background/police check from their home country to satisfy the Work Permit authorities in Cambodia. While schools in Cambodia do have a preference to employ expat ESL teachers who hold a degree, it’s not a mandatory requirement. Cambodia is one of a handful of countries in the world where folks without a degree can still work legally as an ESL teacher – and there are many native English speakers and near-native English speakers all over Cambodia who do just that.

The emphasis on achieving a higher level of English proficiency in Cambodia will fuel the demand for skilled expat ESL teachers for at least the next decade. This is terrific news for people contemplating teaching English to Cambodian students and the many thousands already on the ground living a quintessential expat lifestyle.  

Low Cost of Living

While you may not earn as much as you can in your home country, Cambodia’s staggeringly low cost of living makes teaching English to Cambodian students lucrative. In most Western countries, the cost of housing is exorbitant. However, in Cambodia, the cost of housing is surprisingly low. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, where most teaching jobs are located, you can expect to find a furnished, comfortable apartment in a desirable area for approximately $250.00 monthly. In contrast, it will cost you ten times that sum for housing of similar quality in Wellington, New Zealand, where I am from.

You’ll be happy to know that food (and drink) in Cambodia is also cheap. With a food budget of US $10.00 a day in Cambodia, you’ll eat like King Charles – and enjoy the occasional beer or wine. If you’re okay with Khmer street food, it’s actually cheaper to eat out in Cambodia than it is to cook at home. While there are plenty of Western-style restaurants in Cambodia’s big cities, they will dent your food budget.  

Transportation is another cost factor, and ESL teachers in Cambodia will pay a fraction of what they’d fork out to take a train, jump on a bus, or run a car in their home country. Tuk-tuks are the preferred public transport option in Cambodia, and at US $1.00 +/- per kilometre, they’re a bargain. Those opting to teach English to Cambodian students for an extended period say six to twelve months (or longer), may prefer to rent a motorbike for approximately US $60.00 to US $80.00 a month and enjoy the freedom that comes with it.

If I haven’t made it clear, expat ESL teachers in Cambodia who work 25 hours per week in class (+/-) enjoy a comfortable lifestyle while saving money, even in major urban centres like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The relaxed lifestyle, gentle hospitality of local people, and the country’s cultural richness render Cambodia a top destination for aspiring and seasoned ESL educators.

Get your TESOL Certificate at AVSE-TESOL

Allow me the opportunity for a shameless plug.

Earlier in this article, I mentioned that government-regulated TESOL / TEFL certification is a requirement for a teaching in Cambodia. Whether a foreigner or a Cambodian citizen, you can obtain your TESOL certification from AVSE-TESOL in Phnom Penh. TESOL certification from AVSE-TESOL in Phnom Penh (delivered in-class or online) is accredited by the Australian Government and, therefore, genuinely internationally recognised.

Conclusion

Foreign ESL teachers in Cambodia typically earn between US $800.00 and US $1,200.00 monthly, markedly less than teachers in Western countries, but ‘sky-high’ by local standards. When a high salary by local standards is coupled with the low cost of living in Cambodia, the result is a quintessential expat lifestyle for folks with the qualifications and disposition to teach English to Cambodian students.  

With Australian Government-regulated TESOL certification from AVSE-TESOL in Phnom Penh, you’ll be teaching English to Cambodian students in no time. 

About the writer: Bridgette Mackay is from Wellington, New Zealand. She has taught English in Phnom Penh since July 2022. Bridgette completed the Australian Government accredited TESOL course at AVSE in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, but chose Cambodia as her teaching destination. Why? According to Bridgette, it’s all about the local people.