Cost of Living · Asia
Cost of living in Phnom Penh
Cambodia · Updated May 2026
Mid-tier monthly
$1,150
all categories below
Best for: SE-Asia nomads who want easy long-stay visas at lower density than Bangkok or HCMC.
Monthly breakdown
- Rent1-bedroom, central, decent neighborhood$500
- Groceriescooking ~50% of meals at home$200
- Dining out~12 meals out per month$180
- Transportmonthly transit pass or scooter$40
- Utilitieselectricity, water, 100Mbps internet$100
- Coworkingmonthly hot-desk membership$130
- Total$1,150
How Phnom Penh compares
Versus four reference nomad cities, mid-tier monthly totals.
- Lisbon+72%
$1,980/mo
- Berlin+121%
$2,540/mo
- Bangkok+24%
$1,430/mo
- Mexico City+71%
$1,970/mo
Climate at a glance
Climate FinderJan
27°C
70% humidity · 0 mm/day rain
Apr
30°C
72% humidity · 2 mm/day rain
Jul
28°C
82% humidity · 7 mm/day rain
Oct
27°C
85% humidity · 8 mm/day rain
Field notes
Cambodia's E-class business visa is the open secret — extendable indefinitely in-country with no real income proof, which makes Phnom Penh one of the easiest long-stay bases in the region on paper. BKK1 and Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market) are the nomad anchors. ATM friction (heavy USD use) and Khmer New Year shutdowns are the friction points.
Visa for nomads
High nomad-friendlyPathway
Extendable tourist
Program
—
Typical max stay
12 months
E-class business visa extendable indefinitely in-country with no real income proof — one of the easiest long-stay setups in SE Asia.
Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with the relevant consulate before applying — visa programs change with little notice.
Useful while you’re in Phnom Penh
Travel insurance
Long-term, nomad-friendly cover that travels with you to Phnom Penh
Multi-currency banking
Avoid the 4% conversion fees foreign cards rack up in Cambodia
eSIM data plan
Day-one connectivity in Cambodia without local-SIM friction
Coworking & coliving
Day passes, monthly memberships, and verified workspaces in Phnom Penh
Flight deals
Cheapest routes in and out of Phnom Penh
Cities at a similar price point
Editorial estimates aggregated from public data (Numbeo, expat surveys, recent nomad reports). Prices vary by neighborhood and lifestyle — treat the totals as an order-of-magnitude comparison, not a budget.