We Moved Our Family from London to Phnom Penh — Best Decision Ever

When we told our families we were moving to Phnom Penh with a 4-year-old and a 9-month-old baby, the reactions ranged from horrified silence to "have you completely lost your minds?" My mother-in-law actually cried. Eighteen months on, she visits twice a year and has started asking if she can move here too.

The numbers made the decision easy. In London, we were spending £3,200/month on a cramped two-bedroom flat, £1,400/month on nursery fees, and about £800/month on the general cost of existing in London — transport, food, bills. We were both working remotely and realized we were paying a fortune for a city we barely enjoyed because we were too exhausted and broke to go out.

In Phnom Penh, we rent a three-bedroom apartment in TK (Toul Kork) with a pool, gym, and security for $850/month. Our daughter goes to an excellent international preschool for $350/month. A full-time nanny/housekeeper costs $250/month. We eat out most nights for the price of a single London takeaway. Our total monthly spend is about $2,800 — less than our London rent alone.

But it's not just about money. Our quality of life is incomparably better. I work from coworking spaces or cafes while Rachel works from home with the nanny handling the kids. We finish work at 5 PM and actually have energy to do things — swim in our pool, walk to a riverside restaurant, take the kids to one of the many playgrounds. In London, we'd collapse on the sofa and scroll our phones.

The kids have thrived beyond anything we imagined. Our daughter speaks basic Khmer (picked up from her Cambodian classmates), has friends from twelve different countries, and is genuinely confident and curious in a way that London nursery never fostered. The baby took his first steps by the pool and said his first word (predictably, "tuk-tuk") to our nanny.

Healthcare was our biggest concern, but it's been fine. Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and Sunrise Japan Hospital both have excellent pediatric departments. We pay about $150/month for comprehensive family health insurance through an international provider. When our son had a fever, we saw a pediatrician within 30 minutes — no 3-week wait for a GP appointment.

The expat family community is incredible. There's a "Phnom Penh Parents" group with hundreds of members — playdates, school recommendations, babysitter sharing, weekend trip planning. We've made closer friends in 18 months here than in eight years in London.

Is it perfect? No. The traffic terrifies me daily. The wet season is brutal with flooding. Air quality isn't great. And there are moments of genuine culture shock. But for the overall package — the affordability, the warmth, the adventure, the community — we wouldn't trade it for anything.