A comfortable retirement works out cheaper in Cambodia — around £1,400/month for a couple, versus £2,000 in Thailand (about 30% more).
Cost of living, side by side
| Cambodia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Modest (couple/mo) | £850 | £1,300 |
| Comfortable (couple/mo) | £1,400 | £2,000 |
| Premium (couple/mo) | £2,400 | £3,200 |
Indicative monthly estimates for a couple — real costs vary by location, lifestyle and exchange rates.
Cambodia: Foreigners can own condominium units outright with a strata title, on the first floor and above, capped at 70% of any building and not within 30km of a land border. Land itself cannot be foreign-owned, so houses and villas are taken on long leases (commonly up to 50 years) or through a majority-Cambodian company.
Thailand: Foreigners can own a condominium outright (freehold) within a building's 49% foreign quota; land itself is held via a long lease or a genuine Thai company (never a nominee).
Cambodia: Most retirees use the ER ('retirement') extension of an ordinary E-class visa: broadly for those aged 55+ who are retired, it is inexpensive and renewable yearly, needing proof of retirement and funds rather than a fixed deposit.
Thailand: Most retirees use the Non-Immigrant O / O-A retirement visa (age 50+, with income or savings requirements).
Cambodia: Public healthcare is limited and private clinics in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, while improving, still send serious cases to Bangkok or Singapore — so international insurance with medical-evacuation cover is strongly advised. Routine care is cheap and largely cash-based.
Thailand: Private hospitals in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai are internationally accredited and excellent, at a fraction of Western prices; most expats use private insurance or pay out of pocket, budgeting perhaps £80-150 a month for cover at older ages.
Cambodia: Cambodia operates a territorial system, so a foreign pension is generally not taxed; even resident retirees typically find foreign-source pension income falls outside the local net, while local earnings are taxed progressively up to 20%. Declare your status and take advice to be sure.
Thailand: Since 1 January 2024 Thailand taxes residents (183+ days) on foreign income they remit into the country, so a UK pension brought in may be assessable; the UK-Thailand double-tax treaty, careful timing, and the pensioner LTR visa (which exempts remitted foreign income) can reduce or remove the bill, so take advice.
Cambodia: Tropical and warm all year; the dry season (November-April, coolest November-January) is most comfortable, followed by a hot spell and a May-October monsoon. Generally safe and friendly, though watch for bag-snatching and chaotic traffic; English is widely spoken in expat and tourist areas, the US dollar is used day-to-day, and driving is on the right.
Thailand: Tropical and hot year-round; the cooler, dry season from roughly November to February is most comfortable, with a hot spell (March-May) and a monsoon (June-October) that varies by coast. Generally very safe and welcoming; English is widely spoken in tourist and expat areas, driving is on the left, and daily life is easy for British retirees.
Cambodia: Expect a 4% transfer tax on the government-assessed value for a strata-title condo, plus registration and legal fees and any title-upgrade cost; US dollars are used, which keeps transactions simple. Foreigners buy condo units (not land), and registration can take some weeks.
Thailand: Budget around 6-8% of the price in one-off costs, a 2% transfer fee, possible specific business tax or stamp duty, plus legal fees; a condo is the freehold option for foreigners and can complete within a few weeks once due diligence is done.
Cambodia: Phnom Penh for the widest amenities and healthcare, temple-rich Siem Reap for a calmer pace, and riverside Kampot with seaside Kep in the south for laid-back living, all with established expat pockets.
Thailand: Phuket for beaches and resort living, Chiang Mai for a cooler, cultured and cheaper base, Hua Hin for a quieter seaside town near Bangkok, and Bangkok itself for amenities and top healthcare.
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