Moving to Cambodia from California
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from California to Cambodia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from California to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 58.2% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly KHR161,468,149 in Cambodia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Khmer. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Phnom Penh averages 90°F vs 74°F in Sacramento, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from California to Cambodia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → KHR161,468,149
To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 68.6% less
Groceries
pay 36.3% less
Transportation
pay 22.4% less
Housing
pay 76.6% less
Childcare
pay 84.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 70.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from California to Cambodia, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from California to Cambodia.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Cambodia performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Cambodia across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Cambodia leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
California performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Cambodia. To live, work, or study long-term in Cambodia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Cambodia's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Cambodia
Visa on Arrival
Cambodia passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Cambodia than California?
Yes — Cambodia is on average about 46% cheaper than California. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly KHR40,367,037 in Cambodia on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Cambodia?
Usually fine from major cities in Cambodia. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to California?
Cambodia performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to California?
The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Cambodia?
The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In California, the official language is English.
