Best Work Cafes in Siem Reap

Are you a digital nomad headed to Siem Reap? Are you worried about internet connectivity while you stop by to see the famous Angkor ruins?

I spent over a month working remotely from Cambodia. Despite what much of the internet says, the power outages and horror stories must be outdated. You will be relieved to discover that Siem Reap is well-connected city to work from. There is plenty of strong WIFI to be found in Cambodia, and countless cafes where you can find it.



What Are the Options? 

As a digital nomad, you have two choices: coworking spaces or coffee shops.

If you have minimum speed requirements or if you teach online, I'd suggest heading straight for a coworking space in Siem Reap. I wrote a post about my experience at the coworking spaces here.

If you just need some decent wifi to get you through a work day, then read on.

What Makes a Cafe Work Space "the Best"?

Coffee is not a factor here. This is specifically about which cafes are good for work.
So how do you rate it? 

Well, if you are crazy like me, you make your own personal algorithm. I assigned a score of 0-3 to every little thing about a cafe that I prefer. Then I put it on a spreadsheet and tallied the results.
Here are my picks.

1. Pages Cafe & Rooms (Score 2.5/3.0)
location SE side of town, off Wat Bo Road across from Viroth's hotel 

Pages Cafe has bikes for rent if you're interested

Pages was my favorite spot by far. They had everything I love about Siem Reap and nothing I didn't.

They are located in my favorite part of town--away from the backpacker areas and away from Pub Street. The prices aren't aimed at gouging foreigners (full breakfast spread including coffee and juice for $5) and the smoothies were good typing fuel. 

The staff was extremely nice. I had a chat one evening with a server named Socheat who said good things about the owners--a group of Khmer architects who designed an upscale hotel on the same block. 

For work, it was perfect. I sat in the corner for hours typing and chattering away on Skype and the staff would check on me periodically. The building is open to the air but stayed cool even on hot days.

Some people staying in the Rooms would have a drink, but Pages was never busy. Even so, there are plenty of electrical outlets under the benches and along the perimeter in case it gets full.

mocha frappe

me + mint lime smoothie + my laptop

2. Green Home Coffee (Score 2.5/3.0)
location N of town, on the western river road past Phum Trang Market

3rd floor work space

This Khmer-owned coffee shop opened shortly before I arrived in Siem Reap. It was directly opposite my street on the river. I didn't have to bike into town just to work.

Although they have the the tiny circle tables that I hate, the cafe was so empty that I just grabbed two tables and stuck them together. Voila! Space for both laptop and coffee, far away from each other.

There is a bathroom in the 3rd floor work space so you don't have to come down from your perch all day long. 

The staff are nice. The coffee was good. Plenty of power sockets. Mostly empty. Lovely.

Green Home Coffee has 3 floors of tranquil work space

3rd floor area

3. Little Red Fox Espresso (Score 2.5/3.0)
location downtown, west of the river before the Old Market

2nd floor work space

Australian-owned and Khmer-managed, this little shop is a powerhouse in the local coffee scene. They have barista awards on the wall but without a drop of pretension. 

As for a work space, the second floor is a cozy spot to sit with your laptop. There are a few small and one large communal table to work from, all with plugs nearby. It's cute and classy and air-conditioned. There is even a small open-air veranda to take breaks.

The cafe participates in the local music scene by selling tickets for shows. After buying tickets for Cambodian Space Project that didn't have a printed date, one of the baristas went out of his way calling venues to find the correct date for me. All the service was friendly and fast.

Little Red Fox Espresso also has posters on the bathroom walls about how to be a good tourist in SE Asia (i.e. by avoiding orphanages and being aware of the exploitative use of children by NGOs and volunteerism). As a place that attracts expats and well-to-do tourists, it's nice that they educate their customers.

A foreigner magnet with award-winning coffee, you can imagine that the prices skew higher than the rest of my list. For me this was important because I was there for a month and trying to keep costs low.

---

So that's it. My top 3 Best Cafe Work Spaces in Siem Reap. I'll follow up with a list of Honorable Mentions--there are a lot. 

How about you? Do you have any recommendations for work cafes around the world?

Coworking Spaces in Siem Reap

Are you a digital nomad headed to Cambodia? Are you looking for a coworking space for work in Siem Reap?

My girlfriend Stacy and I spent a month working remotely from Cambodia. Lots of travelers will stop in Siem Reap to see the famous Angkor ruins, so I am sharing our experiences with the coworking spaces available in town.

I looked for information before heading to Cambodia and found a decent blog by Chris the Freelancer about his week as a "digital nomad" in Siem Reap in 2016. Using his post as a starting point, we spent a week visiting coworking spaces and then worked happily the rest of the month. For those who only have a few days to get into town, work their hours, and see some sights, I hope this helps you out.

Work Space Requirements

Everyone's needs are different. Here is a quick breakdown of what we were looking for, so you can compare.

Stacy:

• teaches English online for a Chinese company with a hefty teaching platform
• required by contract to have min. 10 MBPS upload & download speeds
• stable connection--no dropping student calls or power outages allowed
• private room--it's rude to talk out loud, repetitively in a common space
• works in 5-hour shifts so time limits on private rooms aren't cool

Alison (me):

• writes web content for a software development company 
• no speed requirements; cloud-based EMS
• Skype for short phone calls & some light screen sharing
• writes for 4+ hours at a time so a busy place with time limits is bad
• prefers ambient noise so phone calls aren't intrusive to other workers

Stacy is the one who needed a dedicated work space. I was fine anyplace that had decent wifi. In fact, I ended up working from various locations throughout the month.

These are the four dedicated coworking spaces in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

BioLAB Coffee & Office
location in town on Wat Bo Road on the east side of the river
Hours: 7am - 10pm daily
Cost: free!
Private Room: $15/day

2nd floor work space, glass doors go out onto the terrace

BioLAB is a coworking space upstairs and cafe downstairs. This means that to work in the common space, there is no fee or membership required. The second floor is a huge area with booths, plants, large coworking tables, and plenty of power sockets. I never saw it full.

BioLAB also has a private "VIP" room. You can use it for a whole day with a minimum food or drink purchase of $15 (per day). They seem open to negotiating this price, but they don't really offer half-day prices. If you want the room, it's blocked off for you alone. If somebody else has the room, there isn't really a calendar or schedule in place for sharing hours.

I worked at BioLAB for a few days straight. The staff are super friendly. Even after you drink your coffee, they will continuously refill your water for hours without any rush to leave or purchase more.

Since it was created for working, there is minimal talking and no music. The space is quiet and safe. I left my computer out on the table to take a smoke break or go to the restroom without a problem.

They serve decent Khmer and Western food if you get hungry, and of course all the cafe drinks you can imagine. BioLAB is also 100% Khmer owned by a man named Samnang. Samnang told me they have a happy hour called "Craft Beer Time" from 6-10pm daily, although I never knew about it at the time so I didn't partake.

Overall it was my favorite coworking space for my needs.

2nd floor work space

1st floor cafe area

coffee + free water

  

me, working long hours at BioLAB

view from the 2nd floor terrace, good spot to take a cigarette break + people watch

Garage Society Coworking Space
location in town 2 blocks east of the river behind the King's Road restaurant complex
Hours: 9am - 6pm Monday through Saturday for daily use; 24/7 for members
Cost: $5/day (discounted for less hours), $25/week, $40+/monthly membership
Private Room: $5-8/hour daily rate with 3- and 5-month discount bundles

common work space

Garage Society is a newer coworking space located above the Lub*D hostel. It runs on high-speed wifi which is piped in via fiber optic cable.

The common room has large tables with plenty of power sockets for laptop work.

Garage Society also has a private meeting room that is well-equipped with a smart board and projector for presentations. You can reserve it ahead of time for presentations or personal use. In November they were open to negotiating the price, but I imagine this will change as the space becomes more popular and gets booked up.

Stacy worked at Garage Society exclusively because it was the only space that met all her needs. She loved the location close to town. The staff were nice and friendly. The Lub*D staff also remembered her and did helpful things like open the doors early before she arrived on Sundays.

They have a free water cooler in the common room and a bathroom on-site. Downstairs you can order drinks from Little Red Fox Espresso (award-winning coffeeshop) or from the Lub*D bar.

Garage Society in Siem Reap is the second overseas location for a Hong Kong-based coworking company, with another location in Phuket, Thailand and a location in the Philippines is coming soon. Members at this coworking space get free use of the Lub*D swimming pool and discounts at local restaurants.

Stacy worked in the private meeting room at Garage Society.

private meeting room (available for a fee)

view from the landing in front of the work space

restroom for coworkers

perks: members get unlimited access to the pool at Lub*D hostel

AngkorHUB Coworking & Co-Living
location backpacker/night market neighborhood at the southern tip of town
Hours: 8am - 6pm Monday through Saturday for daily use; 24/7 for monthly members
Cost: $8/day,  $25/week, $89/monthly membership
Private Room: $5/hour, rotates use with other coworkers--no block bookings

indoor work space

Neither myself or my girlfriend spent time working at AngkorHUB. Coming into Siem Reap, it looked like AngkorHUB was the front runner. After the initial visit though, it dropped off our radar.

First of all, at USD 89/month it's the most expensive of all the coworking spaces in Siem Reap.

Second, everyone was seated outside on the patio (no air-conditioning) with extension cords for laptops and fans running all across the floor. I'd hate to think anyone paid to work outdoors in the Cambodian heat. One could argue that the patio is more welcoming than the drab indoor area though; this work space has all the charm of a college kid's first dorm room.

Finally, the staff was rude. We showed up asked about prices for the month. The main guy (owner?) was working on his computer and acted like we were interrupting him with our questions. He barely looked up to answer.

We explained that my girlfriend needed a private space with a specific internet speed in order to do her job. He scoffed at her, because "nobody actually needs that kind of speed". Another customer spoke up, saying he also needed over 20 mbps for what he was working on. The rude guy ignored the comment and without getting up or taking his eyes off his own screen, he told us to check the speed posted on the AngkorHUB website if we needed proof.

We pulled up the site, showing a screenshot of the upload/download speeds. So, not only was this "proof" not a live speed reading, but it could have been a screenshot from literally anywhere. Before you fork over $90, you'd want to see the real thing, right?

The woman on staff, meanwhile, was helpful by stopping her personal work and pulling up a speed test on her computer.

Note: the AngkorHUB website claims they have the fastest internet in Siem Reap, but every coworking space in town is using the same fiber optic technology. 

The staff lady also showed Stacy the a private "Skype room", which is not fully-enclosed due to design cut-outs in the wall. If you need privacy for work phone calls or online teaching lessons, it's not a good fit.

After that visit, we didn't bother working there. It wasn't anywhere I'd want to spend my time or money.

Just before leaving Siem Reap I stopped by and asked if I could photograph the space for a blog. The same rude guy asked me what I was going to write about ("I'm making a list of coworking spaces in Siem Reap"), wasn't at all interested in giving me information for my write-up (aren't I his target customer?), made a dry comment about "make sure it's a good picture," and that was that.

It may be a fit for a certain kind of person, but AngkorHUB was not a good choice for either of us.

indoor work space

outdoor work space as you approach from the road

The 1961 Coworking & Art Space 
location is on the western river road north of town just past Phum Trang Market

Although it was the nearest work space to my apartment, I was surprised to find The 1961 closed "for renovation" during the month I was in Siem Reap. I never actually saw any action or construction going on in November, so I'm not sure if it will re-open. I couldn't find information about the end of the closure from on-site staff. Their website the1961.com has an expired domain.

So there you have it. Those are the four dedicated coworking spaces that I was able to check out in Siem Reap. Do you know of any others?

As mentioned, I didn't end up needing a dedicated work space, since I found strong wifi all over town. I spent most of my time working from BioLAB and coffee shops. Read my posts about my Top 3 Work Cafes in Siem Reap or More Work Cafes in Siem Reap for more info.

the GFW

The GFW (Great Fire Wall of China) is real.

This week I haven't had access to any Google applications (including Blogger), social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. etc. etc.) I have a VPN that sometimes works. Here was my first Facebook post from behind the GFW:

DOESN'T work in China: Google (Play Store, Mail, Docs, Drive, Chrome, Blogger, Google search engine, etc.), Whatsapp, LINE, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Viber, and anything that requires confirmation through my Gmail (Skype, bank accounts, PayPal, etc.)
DOES work: Bing, Yahoo, WeChat, Airbnb, Runkeeper
DOWNLOADED since arriving: Baidu, Baidu Maps, Didi (Uber copy)--all in Chinese

Baidu's apps take up too much space on my phone. Baidu Maps drains my battery...but I have no other choice. I have to use it, because it's the only map I have access too. I'm using Yahoo for the first time since 1996 #ffs There's nothing I can do about it. I can't download apps that aren't made in China. This is how the Chinese government has decided that my internet access will be restricted. My paid VPN service works once every few days. I feel closed off from the rest of the world.

I followed the post with panicked warnings about what the US is going to look like if we don't save #netneutrality 😆

I've had a couple of days to get used to being disconnected. I've stopped fretting over Yahoo Search. I get lost a lot since I can't read the map. Nobody would know if I died inside the GFW. Other than these steps back in time in global connectivity, it's actually not so bad.

our neighborhood Beixin Hutong in Beijing, China

a main road connecting some hutongs in Dongcheng District, Beijing

walking around, enjoying the first cold weather in 4 years: about 0C/32F

Wangfujing, a fancy shopping area, 15 min walk from the Forbidden City

When I told people I was thinking of going to China for a month, the most common response was, “Why?!” That's the reason we came.

In China we are just trying to get a feel for what is going on inside this country. Even for Asia, China is an outlier: insular, massive, “Communist”, and famous for bad manners. 

Those things are anecdotal. What is interesting about China is that it’s both futuristic and stuck in the past--as far as globalization is concerned. China charges ahead with technology but doesn't bother to connect to the rest of the world as they do it, which is unique in the world today.

On one hand we have discovered that Beijing works almost entirely without cash. It's the closest thing to a cashless society that I've ever seen. Senior citizens are paying for groceries and hot tea with their phones. Street vendors would rather take money through the Chinese social media WeChat Wallet rather than paper cash. Entrance to the Imperial Palace (the “Forbidden City”) is done by QR code. There is smartphone interaction, automation, and CCTV everywhere.

QR codes on everything--this is a band poster for a holiday show

QR code payment to get into the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace)

Tiananmen Square--under the watchful eye of Chairman Mao + a lot of cameras

On the other hand, without access to global social media giants I am reduced to searching the internet using search engines that peaked in 1996 and searching maps by using Baidu, which has no translation capabilities. As a foreigner, I'm used to my technology adapting to my language abilities as I travel. China is the first place I haven't had this convenience.

Most countries I've been in Asia place a high value the "tourist dollar" and try to cater to foreigners. In China, it seems, this aspect of the tourism industry has been overlooked.

So I can look at a map but I can’t read it. I can use a translation app to display real-time translations of a Chinese menu and point to what I want to order, but I can’t post my dinner to Instagram. I dry my clothes on a drying rack in the freezing cold courtyard and I pay for my hot coffee without human interaction. This is the weird dichotomy of China for me.

order + pay for your coffee at a kiosk using your smartphone (no cash transaction)

Beijing metro is super efficient. the 2nd longest metro network in the world, after Shanghai. 

I’ve only been here a week but I’m beginning to see why China has closed off to the Western world the way it has. They have to preserve their own economy in the face of Western giants like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. In China, Tencent rules the roost. It’s just survival.

China is one of the first countries I’ve been to in Asia that doesn’t seem Westernized. Thailand watches American and UK media, South Korea listens to American pop music, and China remains…well…very Chinese. China is almost sidestepping social media users' demand for globalization merely by limiting their youth's access to the rest of the world. They simply refuse to deal with Western social media. Incredible. 

As a result, have they been able to develop technologies that help Chinese people specifically instead of technologies that are being demanded by the entire world? Perhaps. Maybe that is why this country is so fascinating to me. China is hurtling into the future--more than I was aware of as an outsider--but with a tunnel-vision that I haven't encountered in Asia before.

What do you think? How do you think China's internet policies fit into an increasingly globalized world?

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad: Conclusion

That’s it.

Get rid of stuff. Pack your bags. Research immigration. Figure out your money. Get on a plane. Then find a house and try to fit in.

Aside from immigration details, these are the same things you consider to move across town, right?

So that’s how you move abroad. Or at least that’s how I move abroad.

Everybody has their reasons for moving to a new country. Whatever the practical reason, I am a believer in the process. It's good for us not to get stuck. I think it keeps my mind sharp.

living in Thailand meant I could go on fantastic 2-day island vacations for cheap

enjoying Southern Thai food after a quick vacation to Koh Ngai in the Andaman Sea

Can everyone do it as easily as I have? Nah. I am aware of my privilege. I’m 33, college-educated, US passport holder, and I’m what they call a ลูกครึ่ง in Thai--a halfling. I’m a Latina with a white parent so I’m white-passing for most of the world. This all makes things easier on me. Everybody will have their own unique challenges.

I’ve snuck out a few back doors to avoid run-ins with the police. I’ve received a deportation letter. I’ve had my pocket picked. I’ve made some stupid decisions and I’ve had to learn some lessons. That said, all negatives pale in comparison to the experiences I've had while living abroad.

where will you move to? this is Lago Titicaca in Peru

Your Partner

Having a significant other will notably HELP or HURT your chances at success. You've heard that couples shouldn't work together, right? Well moving abroad requires serious teamwork.

I’ve recently discovered how easy things are with the right person. If you’ve got somebody who shares your attitude and goals, making your way through these five steps can be a breeze.

I have an amazing girlfriend of 5 years who has made moving abroad 9,000x easier. We research together. We use each other as sounding boards. We trust each other’s ability to read people and to think on our feet in a sticky situation. As my tías said after spending a week with us: we are two peas in a pod, two halves of an orange. If you move abroad and your partner is not the other half to your orange, you will find out soon enough. 😝 Trust me, I've also been there before.

Just last week I followed these exact instructions and made another international move. After 4 years in Thailand, my girlfriend Stacy and I picked up and moved temporarily to Cambodia.

our short-term home in Siem Reap, Cambodia

We are on the road for awhile around Asia and plan to settle in eastern Europe next summer. For now, we are enjoying the slow life in the countryside. We spend our days riding cruisers, speaking broken Khmer, and drinking amazing coffee.

riding bikes in downtown Siem Reap

Final Thoughts

I am not an expert. There are people out there who are doing this better than I am. Jetsetters do it with style and migrant workers who make it happen on much less. I just want people to know they are capable.

In the United States, less than 5% of the population travels out of the country each year. If you are considering a move abroad, you might not hear a lot of encouragement. Despite all that, it's doable. In fact, my mantra is “Idiots do this all the time.”

I run into all kinds of bozos who didn’t plan it out. They didn’t analyze all the things that could go wrong. They just went and they are building successful lives in foreign places. While ‘smarter’ people stay home in hesitation, the clueless expats are the ones that give me positive reinforcement. If they are doing it, a decently capable person like myself (and you!) is going to be just fine.

So that’s all I’ve got--a million questions to ask yourself, some suggestions about research, and a push towards the door. Wherever you want to go, you can make it happen. Now go!

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad

If you want to review the series, here's what I’ve included in my Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad:

• Introduction
• Part I: Stuff
• Part II: Immigration
• Part III: Money
• Part IV: Shelter
• Part V: Lifestyle
• Conclusion

Did this blog series help you? Did you actually pick up and go? Do you have suggestions about things I’ve overlooked? I’d love to hear from you.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part V: Lifestyle

How quickly you settle into your new country depends a lot on your lifestyle. You want to feel “at home” as soon as possible.

I am a city person. I like to walk to local shops and I like to have lots of options when it comes to cafes, dining, and nightlife. I’m decently active, but I’m not crazy about roughing it. Bike rides and picnics are my idea of the great outdoors. I like to exercise indoors in a gym. I am also social and like to meet lots of different kinds of people.

fitness, Thai style

Taking all this into account, it should be clear that if I were to move to the countryside of any country for an extended length of time, I would be miserable. Moving to a new place means you have to be reasonably aware of yourself.

Remember that things are subjective. Before moving to Thailand I hated shopping malls. In Thailand though, malls are not merely consumerist meccas for rich teenagers. Malls are giant, centrally-located, air-conditioned meeting places. They are the only place you can walk in the daytime that is out of the relentless Thailand heat. Giant fashion malls are where families spend their Sundays and where local indie bands play night concerts.

students hanging out at Siam Paragon, one of the fancy malls in downtown Bangkok

Malls also have some of the cheapest and best Thai “street food” available in the city. So even though I was never a fan, I often find myself at the mall in Bangkok. I had to adjust my expectations to fit the local culture.

There is nowhere in the world that you can move that will be exactly like your home. You need to be willing to try new things, revisit old things, and build your life in a completely new setting.

If your whole life revolves around surfing and it’s the only lifestyle that makes you happy, you can go lots of places in the world like Bali or Australia or California--but you cannot move to Slovakia and expect to be happy.

Explore your new home and find things to love about it. Build your life.

Social Life

Meeting people. I don't know how to give advice on building a social life.

friends + food = a good mix. meet your friendly neighborhood restaurant owners 😂

Social life just happens. If you are good at making friends, you can make them anywhere. If you are bad at making friends, moving to a new country is probably your worst nightmare.

Loneliness is inevitable for everybody, but it’s something you can work against. The first thing you can do is find activities that are similar to what you enjoyed back home. If you play volleyball, give takraw the Southeast Asian kickball game a try. If you are a gamer, try out the local video game cafes.

At first, you will meet other foreigners. It's a safe way to socialize and build community right off the bat. Naturally you will find it easy to connect with other expats and trade stories about being an outsider.

My suggestion is to make the effort to meet local people as well. You are living in their country. They have rich knowledge about history and societal intricacies. They can explain all the things that drive you up the wall and they will put a human face on all the culture shock you are up against.

When I moved to Thailand, I couldn't communicate the simplest of ideas, much less make a friend using the Thai language. I didn’t have Thai friends until later when my fluency was better. Still, most of them speak great English anyhow.

attending post-grad presentations in Thai--I understood less than 70%. still cool.

For me, it takes a solid 4-6 months to make friends that I like. You know what I mean.

Start with your local shop people. The lady the runs the mini-mart, the noodle shop guy, the security guard at your apartment. Be their friends. They'll talk to you. Some of them have to--it's their job!

the neighborhood shop lady that spoke Thai + traded candy with us for 4 years

Not only will they offer valuable help when you are stuck, but perhaps one day you can return the favor by helping them too. If not, buy them gifts.

Language

Personally, I am committed to learning the local language. If you plan on staying more than 1 month, you should put forth the effort.

Daily life becomes much less daunting, prices go down, and people get nicer as soon as you start speaking the language. All of a sudden you can speak with regular people, not just the tourist touts. You also gain access to local culture, customs, and a whole different group of friends.

On a much less selfish note, it's the respectful thing to do. 

studying Khmer, the language of Cambodia

If you never learn the language, you will be ignorant of things going on around you. The attitudes and the culture of a community are evident in the way they speak. It's called linguistic anthropology.

You may not end up fluent but you should have basic capabilities like politely ordering food, directing a taxi cab to and from your home, or introducing yourself. Maybe even reading signage and traffic signals.

Is it possible to move abroad and avoid the local language? Sure. In major cities, some people dont bother. You will survive, but with a limited view of the people, culture, and even entire parts of the country completely hidden from your view. Why not give it the old college try?

Click here to read the last part in the Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad series.

Ultimate Guide to Moving Abroad Part IV: Shelter

If you've gotten this far, it means you bought your tickets already. Congrats! The final two aspects of moving abroad (Shelter and Lifestyle) are things that you mainly figure out after you arrive. 

Finding a place to live in a new country is no different than finding a place in your home town.

First, take stock of your lifestyle. What kind of home do you like to live in? Do you have a partner or a family to consider? Is there a certain type of neighborhood that suits your lifestyle? Will you or your kids be attending a school?

vans + taxis lined up for commuters at Bangkok's Chatujak Park

Now, take a look at your new city. Where do people like you live? Some people like to be near nightlife, restaurants, and bars. Some people like the safety of the suburbs. Others like the solitude of the countryside.

What about transportation? Will you have a vehicle? What is your budget for public transportation? Do you prefer to walk or drive places?

commute times can add up! here is Bangkok's BTS Skytrain

Whatever your preference, research the neighborhoods in your new city. Consider safety and check forums for statistics. Lonely Planet has a Neighborhoods feature for most major cities that profiles the residents and feel of different areas.

Book yourself temporary housing in an area that sounds appealing. I’ve found that hostels work if you aren’t too picky. Private rooms are cheap and hostels usually have large storage closets to lock up big bags until you find a house. Hotels and AirBNB are good for a soft landing too.

Look Around the Neighborhood

Some countries are strict about breaking leases so I’d advise against long-term housing sight unseen.

walk the streets! this is Sukhumvit Soi 38 in Bangkok, Thailand with lots of street food

I like to show up and literally walk around. 3-4 weeks in a big city is a decent amount of time to spend before choosing a place. In a smaller city of less than 1 million people, 2 weeks is plenty.

Look around. Where are the grocery stores? What is there to eat? What kind of shops are nearby? How many people are out on the street? What does the neighborhood look like after dark? What kind of housing do you see?

Remember that as an immigrant/expat, you will stick out in a new place. Do you plan on learning the language quickly or do you need to look for English language signs everywhere?

When you figure out what neighborhood(s) you like best, start viewing apartments. Every country has different rental customs. If you are lucky, your country will have a healthy internet culture and post listings online. Use local websites and social media groups to search. In some places, maybe you have to hit the pavement or get a rental agent.

Once you tell people your budget, you can narrow down your choices pretty quickly. Have a list of your must-haves for daily life to make your search easy. Do you need a kitchen? A balcony? An open floor plan? A security guard? What kind of bathroom (toilet!) do you want?

Be Flexible

Consider the local lifestyle. I originally listed a full kitchen with an oven as a “must-have” in Thailand because I love to cook. My agent made the comment that it’s so hot in Thailand, people don't often have ovens in the home. Oh! Once I removed the oven from my list, things opened up.

Also, keep an eye out for local real estate quirks. In Bangkok, I was staying at a quiet hostel near a night food market. The neighborhood was far from the inexpensive areas that I was originally looking. The building next door had Lamborghinis in the parking lot. It had a rooftop pool and a free gym. So I wrote it off.

I never considered that in Bangkok, having a city view is a big deal. As it turns out, units on the lower floors (below the 10th) drop drastically in price because the view is blocked. I got a fantastic place upstairs from the food market and less than a minute’s walk from the sky train. I may not be able to afford a building like this in many cities in the world, but I got lucky in Bangkok.

So keep an open mind and you will find your dream place in no time.

my dream home in Bangkok, 5 mins from the BTS #homesweethighrise

beautiful lobby & w/ great building maintenance staff

49 sqm 1 BR furnished condo

fitness room (small gym) + a rooftop pool!

Western style bathroom--no squatting for me

the "undesirable" balcony with a blocked view that brought my rent down

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