Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is one of Southeast Asia's most underrated capitals a riverfront city at the confluence of the Mekong, Tonlé Sap, and Bassac rivers where French colonial architecture meets rooftop bars, craft coffee, and an irreversibly growing expat scene. The cost of living is among the lowest for a capital city anywhere: a furnished apartment in BKK1 for $450/month, a full lunch for $3, and the Business Visa at $300/year. For remote workers seeking maximum financial leverage, few places on earth match it.
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, local salaries average around $500/mo and rent starts at $450/mo (about $910/mo all-in). Safety 65/100, excellent year-round weather — compare visas and full costs on Jonzy.
Best for: Digital nomads, Remote workers, Budget living, History.
- Rent from $450/mo, about $910/mo all-in for one person.
- Safety 65/100 · Internet 68/100 · excellent year-round weather.
- Visa: Easy process, about 1 weeks (retirement option: Cambodia Retirement (ER) Visa).
- Local salaries average around $500/mo, with a solid, growing expat community.
Cost of living in Phnom Penh
| Rent (1-bed, typical) | $450/mo |
|---|---|
| Food & groceries | $200/mo |
| Transport | $45/mo |
| Healthcare | $55/mo |
| Utilities | $75/mo |
| Other essentials | $85/mo |
| Total (all-in) | $910/mo |
How Phnom Penh stacks up
- Rent eats about 49% of a one-person monthly budget in Phnom Penh — a rent-heavy split, so location choice moves your total the most.
- At ~$910/mo all-in, Phnom Penh runs about 35% cheaper than the median Jonzy city ($1,400/mo).
- A local salary (~$500/mo) covers roughly 55% of one person's costs — most movers here rely on foreign or remote income.
- Its strongest catalog score is climate (80/100); the weakest is healthcare (58/100).
Is Phnom Penh right for you?
Highlights
- Excellent year-round weather.
- Low rent for the catalog (from $450/mo).
- Dedicated retirement route (Cambodia Retirement (ER) Visa).
Quality of life in Phnom Penh
- Safety: 65/100
- Internet speed: 68/100
- Climate: 80/100
- Healthcare: 58/100
- Expat community: 68/100
Taxes in Phnom Penh
0% on foreign income (non-resident)
Living in Cambodia
Cambodia is a fast-developing Southeast Asian nation with zero income tax on foreign-sourced earnings, the US dollar as a de-facto second currency, and one of the most relaxed long-stay visa regimes in Asia. The Business Visa can be extended indefinitely at low cost. Cambodia's history from Angkor Wat to its complex modern past gives the country a depth that draws historians, photographers, and curious travellers alike.
Phnom Penh relocation FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Phnom Penh?
Budget roughly $910/mo all-in for one person in Phnom Penh — rent from $450/mo, plus food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and everyday extras. It has a solid, growing expat community, so ready-made shortcuts on where to live exist.
What is the monthly cost breakdown in Phnom Penh?
Typical monthly costs for one person in Phnom Penh: rent from $450, food $200, transport $45, healthcare $55, utilities $75, and other essentials $85 — about $910/mo all-in. Sign in to Jonzy for community-validated figures and a budget tuned to your lifestyle.
Is Phnom Penh a good place to relocate?
Phnom Penh has excellent year-round weather and a solid, growing expat community, with an easy visa process (about 1 weeks). Those are catalog averages — Jonzy ranks Phnom Penh against 355 other cities for your specific income, passport, and priorities.
What visa do I need to live in Phnom Penh?
Long-stay relocation routes for Phnom Penh depend on your passport. For example, a US passport holder may see "Investor Permit / E-Class Business Visa" (is catalogued in our catalog). Tourist entry is separate, confirm border rules on official sources before travel. Jonzy matches Cambodia against 525+ visa programs in-app. Informational only, not legal advice.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phnom Penh?
Core costs for one person run about $910/mo, so a comfortable budget with room for savings, travel, and irregular expenses is roughly $1,300/mo take-home. Local salaries average around $500/mo. Jonzy calculates your exact surplus after tax for your income and passport.
Who is Phnom Penh best for?
Phnom Penh tends to suit digital nomads, remote workers, budget living and history — based on its cost profile (about $910/mo all-in), 68/100 internet, 65/100 safety, and a solid, growing expat community. Jonzy scores it against your own income, passport, and lifestyle priorities so you can see whether it fits you specifically, not just the average relocator.
Is Phnom Penh expensive to live in?
At about $910/mo all-in for one person, Phnom Penh is one of the more affordable cities in the catalog — about 35% below the median of the 356 Jonzy cities ($1,400/mo). Your own number depends on neighbourhood, lifestyle, and whether you rent short- or long-term.
Is Phnom Penh safe to live in?
Phnom Penh scores 65/100 on Jonzy's safety index, reasonably safe by catalog standards. For families specifically it rates 60/100. Safety varies sharply by neighbourhood and time of day everywhere — treat the score as a city-level average, and use community threads for street-level reality.
Is Phnom Penh good for remote work?
Connectivity scores 68/100 — solid for everyday remote work, with coworking as backup. The expat and nomad scene rates 68/100, and work-life balance 78/100. Combined with ~$910/mo all-in costs, that is the core remote-work math for Phnom Penh; Jonzy re-ranks it against your own income and timezone needs.
What is the weather like in Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh scores 80/100 for climate — one of the better climates in the catalog. It logs roughly 280 sunny days a year in the catalog. The city guide's seasonal data shows how the year actually feels; the climate planner tool maps it against your heat and daylight preferences.
What are taxes like in Phnom Penh?
Typical tax snapshot for Phnom Penh, Cambodia: 0% on foreign income (non-resident). Your actual liability depends on residency status, income source, and any tax treaty — Jonzy estimates take-home pay for your specific situation, and this is not tax advice.