Ever pulled out a dollar bill and wondered what it’s actually worth? 

In cities like London or New York, $1 barely buys you a sip of coffee. Cross a few borders and that same dollar could get you a full cup of espresso, or even a sweet treat to go with it. 

Coffee isn’t just a morning ritual; it’s a window into daily life around the world. Coffee prices tell a story about the local cost of living, which is more relatable than a long list of statistics. It reflects local wages, rents and everyday expenses in a way that’s easy for us to understand

In this post, we’ll take a caffeine-fuelled journey across three regions through the lens of three popular TEFL destinations to see how far your dollars can take you — or, in this case, your riel, euros and dirhams. 

Our three coffee stops are:

📍Cambodia (Southeast Asia)

📍Italy (Europe)

📍Dubai (Middle East)

These locations represent popular TEFL teaching markets and offer dramatically different lifestyles and savings potential for English teachers.

Read more: Asia Uncovered: The Best Places For Teaching Jobs In Asia

We’ll show you how the coffee market can reveal surprising insights into how far your money goes, and what living abroad really costs.

Let’s look at a region-by-region snapshot that includes coffee shop prices, typical TEFL pay and living costs, and what a daily coffee habit means for your wallet.

Cambodia: save big, sip cheap 

In Cambodia, local iced coffee at street stalls runs $0.50 – $1.50, while a cappuccino will set you back around $2.50. Even if you develop a speciality coffee habit at one of the trendy cafés popping up around the city, you’re looking at $2.50 – $4.50 a cup.

What your teacher’s salary buys you

Teachers in Cambodia typically earn $800–$1,500 a month, depending on experience and qualifications. While that might sound modest,  consider this: rent for a decent one-bedroom apartment costs as little as $235 a month outside Phnom Penh, rising to around $390 a month in the city centre. 

Street food, local transport, and utilities are all remarkably affordable. Many expats report spending less than $700 a month on essentials, including regular café visits.

☕ Coffee takeaway

In Cambodia, your teaching salary stretches further than almost anywhere else in the world. One hour of teaching the present perfect can buy you 10 streetside iced brews.

You’ll feel as if you’re rolling in cash since you’ll be living well and be able to enjoy drinks by the Mekong without constantly checking your bank balance.

Read more: What’s It Like Teaching In Cambodia?

But maybe you want to live la dolce vita (the sweet life).  

Italy: earn less, live better

In Rome, locals don’t grab coffee to go. They sip their morning espresso standing at the bar and chatting with the barista before heading off to work. That quick shot of energy costs around €1.00–€1.30 ($1.10-$1.40). But if you’re after something creamier, a cappuccino at the bar runs around €1.20–€1.50 ($1.30–$1.60).

Seated service in tourist hotspots in Rome or Venice can charge €2.50 – €5.00 ($2.70-$5.40), while speciality coffee shops in Florence and Milan cost about €1.50–€2.50 ($1.60-$2.70).

What your teacher’s salary buys you

English teachers typically earn €1,000 – €1,400 ($1,150 – $1,610) a month, often on part-time or short-term contracts. Rent in Rome or Milan is around €700 – €1,000 ($810-$1,150) for a small apartment, though you can find cheaper in smaller towns. 

Add in groceries, transport and eating out, and the money adds up quickly. Most teachers spend around €868 ($1,000) a month on essentials beyond rent: groceries, transport, and those long Italian dinners.

Sure, you won’t save a ton teaching in Italy, but a teacher’s salary can still buy you a slice of that good life. And isn’t that the whole point? 

☕ Coffee takeaway

Italy might not make you rich, but it’ll make you content. Your teacher’s salary can still buy you espresso breaks and lazy lunches. Here, one hour of teaching English vocabulary can buy you three Starbucks Caffè Lattes. 

It’s really more about savouring than saving, capiche?

So you have two great options, each with its own unique appeal. But perhaps your coffee tastes are bigger, bolder and … tax-free? 

Dubai: earn big, pay more (and keep it all)

(Note: Prices are notably higher in Dubai compared to other emirates.)

Prices vary quite dramatically across the UAE. So, is Dubai expensive? Compared to other emirates, absolutely.

Walk into any Dubai mall and you’ll find a café that looks like it belongs in a design magazine. That Starbucks cappuccino you’ve been eyeing will set you back 14 to 21 AED ($3.80–$5.70), and that’s before you add in a slice of cake! 

Forget coffee at the hotel. Just a whiff will cost around 15–25 AED  ($4–$7). 

And your favourite premium roast? Spots like Arabica or Tom&Serg serve it up for 20–40 AED ($6–$11). It’s best to head over to your local café for a karak chai or a basic brew at a budget-friendly price of 3–7 AED ($1–$2).  

What your teacher’s salary buys you

Teachers in the UAE earn some of the highest salaries in the TEFL world, typically 9,000 – 20,000 AED ($2,450 – $5,450) a month, tax-free. Contracts usually include housing allowances, flights and health insurance, which increases your saving potential.

The flip side is that life in the Emirates isn’t cheap. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai costs around 5,860 AED ($1,595). Eats, rides and fun all cost a pretty penny. Expect to spend around 3,615 AED ($985) a month on basic living expenses, like groceries, transport and utilities in the UAE and around 4,140 AED ($1,125) in Dubai.  However, many teachers offset costs through school-provided accommodation or shared housing.

☕ Coffee takeaway

A daily coffee in the UAE costs more than in Cambodia or Italy, but your TEFL pay covers it, habibi. In Dubai, one hour of teaching how to give directions can buy you one coffee-chain cappuccino.

You can save BIG and live comfortably, all while indulging in desert road trips and world-class shopping. 

TEFL abroad: smart money tips for teachers

Before you get too attached to your favourite café order abroad, it’s worth taking a closer look at what your budget will really look like in each destination. A few small money moves can make a big difference, even in pricier places.

💸 1. Compare salaries in context
Don’t just look at the number on your contract — think about what it buys. A $1,200 salary in Cambodia can go further than $1,200 in Italy. Use local cost-of-living tools (like Wise or Numbeo) to see how rent, food and transport stack up.

💸 2. Check what’s included in your contract
In some countries, schools cover housing, flights, and insurance, and in others, you’re on your own. A lower salary can actually mean more savings if your big expenses are already paid for.

💸 3. Track your daily habits
Small purchases add up. A daily flat white in Dubai costs the same as lunch at a local café in Phnom Penh. Knowing what your tiny splurges cost helps you budget realistically.

💸 4. Don’t forget exchange rates
Fluctuating exchange rates can eat into your savings. If you’re sending money home, compare international transfer options to keep fees low and get the best rate.

💸 5. Think lifestyle, not just money
Where you live and how you spend matter. If you’re a spendthrift, you might want to try Cambodia over the UAE, where your salary can set you up with a comfortable lifestyle. If you’re level-headed and want to experience the high life, try Dubai, but spend wisely. 

So, the real question isn’t, “How much is the coffee?” It’s, “What kind of life am I brewing?”

The price of your cup of coffee might seem trivial, but it’s a daily reminder of the choice you’ve made and the life you’re building.

From Cambodia to Italy to the UAE, your perfect teaching destination is out there. Discover global TEFL career opportunities here. 👈

So go on — grab your passport; the world is waiting! And somewhere out there, so is your perfect cup of coffee.