Moving to Hong Kong from Cambodia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Cambodia to Hong Kong? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Cambodia to Hong Kong, you would find that Hong Kong is 3.2 times more expensive than Cambodia overall. A KHR300,562,500 salary in Cambodia would need to be roughly HK$1,219,145 in Hong Kong to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese and English. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hong Kong averages 79°F vs 90°F in Phnom Penh, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Cambodia and Hong Kong.
What does your salary buy?
KHR300,562,500 → HK$1,219,145
To maintain the same standard of living in Hong Kong
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 70.6% more
Groceries
pay 68.8% more
Transportation
pay 3.0 times more
Housing
pay 4.5 times more
Childcare
pay 4.5 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.4 times more
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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Hong Kong compared to Cambodia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Cambodia across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Cambodia performs better than Hong Kong across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Hong Kong performs significantly 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Cambodia generally does better on employment & economy, though Hong Kong leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: General Department of Taxation, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Phnom Penh | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Phnom Penh | Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) |
| Mar | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) |
| Apr | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) |
| May | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) |
| Jul | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) |
| Sep | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) |
| Oct | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) |
| Dec | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) |
Data:
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology,
Hong Kong Observatory
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cambodia and Hong Kong. To live, work, or study long-term in Hong Kong, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Hong Kong's immigration authority.
Cambodia passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa Required
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Cambodia
Visa on ArrivalData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Hong Kong than Cambodia?
On average Hong Kong is around 107% pricier than Cambodia, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Hong Kong?
Budget about HK$304,786 for 3 months in Hong Kong (based on a KHR300,562,500 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Hong Kong?
Connectivity is usually fine (Hong Kong: 39.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Hong Kong offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Hong Kong safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs significantly better than Cambodia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Hong Kong is 0.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Cambodia.
What's the weather like in Hong Kong compared to Cambodia?
The average high temperature in Hong Kong is 79°F, compared to 90°F in Phnom Penh. Hong Kong receives around 95.7 in of rainfall per year, while Phnom Penh gets 51.8 in.
What language do they speak in Hong Kong?
The official languages in Hong Kong are Chinese and English. In Cambodia, the official language is Khmer.
