Cambodia
Source: WhereNext Global Relocation Index 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Challenging Fit — strongest in career and safety.
83% data coverage·17.6M population·Public-domain data
Per-field freshness (5 dimensions)
Cambodia at a glance
Quick answer
Cambodia ranks #88 of 95 countries on the WhereNext composite score (21/100), with strongest scores in affordability and career and watch areas in infrastructure and healthcare. Estimated 2026 single-person cost of living in Cambodia is around $1,050/month. Composite score uses 7 dimensions (cost, safety, healthcare, education, career, lifestyle, infrastructure) sourced from World Bank ICP, UNDP HDI, IEP Global Peace Index, OECD PISA, and EF EPI.
Last updated: May 2026 · Cost-of-living estimate is a 2026 single-person model based on the WhereNext cost index. Use the Cost of Living tool for city-level detail.
Key facts
- Rank #88 of 95 composite score 21/100 across the WhereNext 7-dimension framework.
- ~$1,050/mo estimated single-person cost of living, including rent, utilities, food, and transport.
- Strongest: Affordability 95/100 normalized — top strength out of 7 dimensions.
- Watch area: Infrastructure 0/100 — lowest dimension; verify against your priorities.
- Coverage: 83% of dimensions population 17.6M · public-domain data sources (World Bank, UNDP, IEP, OECD, EF EPI).
Composite score
On par with peers
- Cambodia
- 21/100
- Southeast Asia avg
- 19/100
- Global avg
- 47/100
Compared against 3 regional neighbors and 95 indexed countries globally.
Source: WhereNext 7-dimension composite (World Bank ICP, UNDP HDI, IEP GPI, OECD PISA, EF EPI, Eurostat) · updated
Will you find your people in Cambodia?
Community density signals — quant + qualitative. Loneliness is a top-three relocation-failure factor; this section flags whether Cambodia has the expat scene to match your profile.
Expat density
Medium1.4% foreign-born
English proficiency
17/100 (EF EPI)
Coworking density
Medium
Top nomad hubs
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
Safety reality in Cambodia
7 dimensions of safety, each scored separately so a single weak axis doesn’t drag the cross-dimensional view. Per Global Peace Index + WHO + national crime statistics.
GPI 2025verified Apr 2026HDR 2024 (HDI 2023 data)verified Apr 2026- Moderate
Overall public safety
Authoritarian governance; limited healthcare infrastructure outside Phnom Penh.
- Serious
Political stability32/100
Material political instability — track-record of policy reversals or civil unrest. Verify residency rights are durable before committing.
- Moderate
Natural disaster resilience60/100
Moderate exposure (flood, drought). Insurance coverage usually sufficient; check policy fine print.
- Caution
Women's safety42/100
Elevated harassment / personal-safety reports — research neighbourhoods and apply additional precautions.
- Caution
LGBTQ+ safety42/100
Limited legal protections; public expression may attract unwanted attention. Verify visa partner rights before relocating with a same-sex spouse.
- Serious
Emergency healthcare quality30/100
Limited emergency capacity — international medical evacuation insurance strongly advised. Avoid relocation without local-network research if managing chronic conditions.
- Excellent
Terrorism risk
No active terrorism advisory; statistically negligible risk.
National averages only. Within-country variation is large — Mexico City vs Mérida differ massively. Cross- reference at the city / neighbourhood level before relocating.
Verify with current government advisories
Static-data signals don’t reflect this week’s situation. Cross-check against your home government’s current travel advisory before any irreversible commitment.
What life in Cambodia is actually like
Daily rhythm and cultural texture
Cambodia operates on a frequency that takes weeks to tune into — everything runs on relationships, flexibility, and an unspoken tolerance for ambiguity. Phnom Penh mornings begin along the Tonle Sap riverfront where joggers dodge motorbikes and elderly Khmers practice tai chi near the Royal Palace. Breakfast is bai sach chrouk (pork and rice) from a plastic-stool street vendor for a dollar, and you'll eat it watching monks in saffron robes collect alms along Norodom Boulevard. The BKK1 and Toul Tom Poung neighborhoods form the expat nucleus — coworking spaces, third-wave coffee roasters, and brunch spots sit alongside traditional Khmer pharmacies and gold shops. The dollar economy is genuinely unusual: ATMs dispense USD, landlords price in USD, and the riel circulates as change for amounts under a dollar. Siem Reap has reinvented itself beyond Angkor Wat — Pub Street remains a backpacker magnet, but the surrounding neighborhoods host a maturing community of long-term expats running boutique hotels and social enterprises. The rainy season (May-October) brings dramatic afternoon downpours that flood streets for an hour then vanish, leaving everything steaming. Kampot and Kep on the southern coast attract a quieter crowd — pepper farms, riverside sunsets, and crab markets at dawn. Khmer New Year in April shuts the country down for a week as the entire urban population returns to ancestral villages. The nightlife in Phnom Penh is freewheeling — rooftop bars, live music on Street 308, and a late-night culture that rarely questions why you're still out at 3am.
Who thrives here — and who struggles
Digital nomads seeking maximum affordability with decent internet in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Social entrepreneurs and NGO workers — Cambodia's development sector is enormous relative to its size. Retirees on modest fixed incomes who want tropical living without Thailand's increasingly complex visa rules. Young adventurers and freelancers comfortable with uncertainty. Restaurant and hospitality entrepreneurs taking advantage of low startup costs. Cambodia is a bad fit for anyone who needs reliable healthcare infrastructure, corporate career progression, or a strong rule of law. Parents of school-age children face very limited options outside Phnom Penh. People who require predictability in their daily systems will find the informality exhausting.
Reality check: the first 6 months
The visa process is famously easy — but 'easy' means informal, and informal means rules shift without notice. Your EB visa extension requires a passport photo, a form, and a fixer (or agent) who knows the current officer at the immigration department. Land title and property rights are murky for foreigners — long-term leases work, but freehold ownership requires a Cambodian nominee structure that carries inherent risk. Renting is cash-forward: landlords want 2-3 months deposit in physical USD bills, and leases are often single-page documents with minimal legal protection. The banking system is functional but withdrawals from international accounts incur fees, and dollar bills with any mark or tear are rejected everywhere. Electricity costs are surprisingly high by regional standards, and generators are common in buildings outside central Phnom Penh. The wet season's flooding is not scenic — it enters ground-floor apartments and disrupts road travel to provinces.
Cambodia at a glance
What works well here
- ✓Extremely low cost of living
- ✓USD is widely accepted as primary currency
- ✓Very easy visa and residency process
- ✓Rich historical heritage and warm people
Friction to expect
- !Healthcare infrastructure is severely limited
- !Corruption and governance challenges
- !Extreme heat and monsoon flooding
Practical nuances
- LGBTQ+ safety
- Homosexuality is not criminalized and Cambodia is generally tolerant, though same-sex relationships have no legal recognition. Khmer culture tends toward quiet acceptance rather than overt support.
- Driving & licensing
- Drives on the right. A Cambodian license is technically required but rarely enforced for motorbikes. Traffic is chaotic, particularly in Phnom Penh. Many expats ride scooters despite the risks.
- Healthcare system
- A fragile public system that most expats avoid entirely. Private clinics exist in Phnom Penh but capabilities are limited. Serious cases are routinely evacuated to Bangkok, a short flight away.
- Walkability & transit
- Phnom Penh is flat and increasingly bikeable, though sidewalks are often occupied by parked motos. No metro exists. Tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps (Grab, PassApp) are the main transit modes.
Healthcare-system facts · Source: WHO Global Health Observatory + national health-ministry publications · Last verified Apr 18, 2026 · Verify coverage and eligibility with the public-system administrator or a licensed health insurer before relying on it.
Tax overview
- Personal income tax
- 0% - 20%
- Corporate tax
- 20%
- Sales / VAT
- 10%
- Wealth & crypto
- No specific wealth tax. Crypto is largely unregulated and no specific tax framework exists, though general income tax rules theoretically apply.
Tax rates and special regimes · Source: OECD Tax Database + national tax authority publications + treaty texts · Last verified Apr 18, 2026 · Verify against your own circumstances with a licensed cross-border tax advisor before filing.
See our tax calculator to model your specific situation.
Where expats settle in Cambodia
Decision Snapshot
The numbers that matter most for your relocation decision.
Scored 0–100 using institutional data: World Bank (cost, governance), WHO (healthcare), OECD PISA (education), Global Peace Index (safety), Open-Meteo (climate), and 22 more — not crowdsourced surveys. See the full methodology.
$1,050
High Value
1.8 homicides per 100k
UHC index: 62
3 pathways
Ordinary Visa (E-class)
Avg 28°C / 83°F
GDP/capita PPP: $7,967
Key Caution
Healthcare scores 0/100, which is 60 points below the global average. Research this area carefully before committing.
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The honest take
What's great
- Affordability — scored 95/100(well above average)
- Career — scored 86/100(well above average)
- Safety — scored 70/100
Watch out for
- Infrastructure — scored 0/100(58 below average)
- Healthcare — scored 0/100(60 below average)
Is this place viable for you?
Quick decision check — Cambodia
Strengths
- Affordability95/100
- Career86/100
- Safety70/100
Likely blockers
Infrastructure trails comparable destinations
Re-rank destinations against your prioritiesHealthcare access requires planning
Rank destinations by healthcare access
How Cambodia Scores
Seven dimensions, weighted by what matters to relocators.
Best Cities in Cambodia
Flagship cities first, then researched, then modeled — sorted by cost.
Phnom Penh
Sihanoukville
Battambang
Siem Reap
All 4 Cities in Cambodia
Tradeoffs and Risks
Every country has tradeoffs. Here is what the data shows.
What works well
Areas to research
Regional comparison
Similar Countries
Countries with a similar data profile across all seven dimensions.
Relocation Checklist — Cambodia
Checklist is for guidance only. Requirements may vary based on nationality, visa type, and personal circumstances. Consult an immigration professional.
Make Cambodia real
Start a free relocation case for Cambodia
Two minutes of context — origin, household, budget, timeline — and every WhereNext tool inherits it. The Decision Brief becomes available as an advisor-ready artifact once your case for Cambodia exists.
- public-domain data
- free to start
- 30-day brief guarantee
Cambodia advisor intro
Want a Cambodia advisor instead?
Tell us what you're trying to figure out about a move to Cambodia — tax, visa, schools, or housing — and we'll personally vet one human who works that country regularly. WhereNext may earn a referral fee; that's disclosed before any handoff. WhereNext does not provide legal, tax, immigration, property, or school-placement advice.
Deep Research
Detailed data for thorough due diligence. Expand any section below.
Quick Facts
Quick Facts
Capital
Phnom Penh
Population
17.6M
Region
Southeast Asia
Languages
Khmer
Currency
Cambodian Riel (KHR) / US Dollar (USD)
Timezone
ICT (UTC+7)
GDP per capita (PPP)
$7,967
Unemployment
0.3%
Healthcare System
Healthcare System
UHC Coverage Index
62
Physicians per 1,000
0.2
Life expectancy
70.8 years
Homicide rate
1.8 per 100k
Climate & Environment
Climate & Environment
Average temperature
28.1°C / 83°F
Annual rainfall
1834 mm
Visa Pathways
Visa Pathways
Ordinary Visa (E-class)
An extendable visa that can be converted to a business visa (EB) for long-term stays and work authorization.
EB Visa (Business)
The standard long-term visa for working or doing business in Cambodia, renewable annually or in multi-year increments.
ER Visa (Retirement)
For retirees aged 55+, allowing long-term residence without the right to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambodia a good country to move to?
Cambodia scores 21/100 overall and ranks #88 out of 95 countries in our data-driven analysis. It excels in career and safety. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use our free personalization quiz to see how it ranks for your specific profile.
What is the cost of living in Cambodia?
The estimated monthly cost of living in Cambodia is approximately $1,050 for a single person with a moderate lifestyle. This is calibrated against a US baseline of ~$3,000/month. GDP per capita (PPP) is $7,967. Cost data is sourced from World Bank, and national statistical agencies.
Is Cambodia safe to live in?
Cambodia is relatively safe, scoring 71/100 on our safety index. This score combines the Global Peace Index, political stability data from the World Bank, and homicide rate statistics. The homicide rate is 1.8 per 100,000 people.
How is healthcare in Cambodia?
Cambodia has limited healthcare infrastructure, scoring 36/100. The WHO Universal Health Coverage index is 62. There are 0.2 physicians per 1,000 people. Healthcare quality can vary significantly between cities and rural areas.
Do I need a visa to move to Cambodia?
Visa requirements for Cambodia depend on your citizenship and intended length of stay. Cambodia offers various visa categories including tourist, work, and residence permits. Common pathways include Ordinary Visa (E-class), EB Visa (Business), ER Visa (Retirement). Always check with the official embassy or consulate for current requirements.
Cambodia Guides & Articles
Suggested citation
CC BY 4.0This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.
WhereNext composite — WhereNext Cambodia Relocation Profile 2026 (2026-04-21). Derived from: World Bank ICP (cost of living); WHO Global Health Observatory (healthcare quality); OECD PISA + UNESCO UIS (education); Yale EPI (environment); IEP Global Peace Index (safety); EF EPI (English proficiency); World Bank Doing Business + WGI (governance, infrastructure). Available at https://getwherenext.com/country/kh?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. (2026). WhereNext Cambodia Relocation Profile 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/country/kh?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. "WhereNext Cambodia Relocation Profile 2026." WhereNext, 21 Apr 2026, https://getwherenext.com/country/kh?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/country/kh?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
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}<a href="https://getwherenext.com/country/kh?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation">WhereNext — WhereNext Cambodia Relocation Profile 2026</a>
Next step
Anchor Cambodia as your destination. Visa, cost, healthcare, and school tools inherit the same context so you don't re-enter it.
Essentials for moving to Cambodia
Two recurring questions in every relocation case: medical cover when local insurance hasn't kicked in yet, and how to pay or receive money across currencies without the typical 4% bank-card markup. Defaults we'd pick first.
Health insurance abroad
Travel medical insurance for nomads + relocators
Monthly subscription medical insurance that covers 180+ countries. No commitment; cancel anytime. The default pick if you're moving abroad without an employer plan.
Cross-border money + banking
Real exchange rates + multi-currency account
Hold 40+ currencies, send money at the mid-market rate, get local bank details in USD/EUR/GBP. The default pick for cross-border payments and saving on FX fees while you set up local banking.
Important Notice
WhereNext provides data-driven insights for informational purposes only. Scores and rankings are algorithmically generated from public institutional data and may not reflect your individual circumstances. This tool does not replace professional advice for immigration, legal, tax, or financial matters.