Moving to Iran from Cambodia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Cambodia to Iran? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Cambodia to Iran, you would find that Iran is 23.5% cheaper than Cambodia overall. A KHR300,562,500 salary in Cambodia would need to be roughly IRR100,718,309,250 in Iran to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Persian (Farsi). Expect a noticeable climate shift — Tehran averages 72°F vs 90°F in Phnom Penh, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Cambodia and Iran.

What does your salary buy?

KHR300,562,500 IRR100,718,309,250

To maintain the same standard of living in Iran

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 5.0% more

Groceries

pay 54.1% less

Transportation

pay 17.4% less

Housing

pay 33.8% less

Childcare

pay 72.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 32.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KHR = 343.04 IRR (July 2026)

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 Iran compared to Cambodia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2014

per 100,000 people per year

KH
1.8
IR
2.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KH
18.8
IR
20.6

Cambodia performs better than Iran across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KH
$350
IR
$1,064
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

KH
2.1
IR
15.1

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KH
60.0
IR
51.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KH
1.1t
IR
9.1t

Cambodia generally does better on environment, though Iran leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KH
3.0
IR
12.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KH
1.0%
IR
81.3%

Iran generally does better on infrastructure, though Cambodia leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KH
0.2%
IR
9.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KH
$5,100
IR
$16,200

Cambodia generally does better on employment & economy, though Iran leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KH
70.7 yrs
IR
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KH
29.6
IR
14.8

Iran performs significantly better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Phnom Penh Rain: 51.8 in/yr (1316 mm)
90° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Tehran Rain: 9.1 in/yr (230 mm)
72° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Phnom Penh Tehran
Jan–Mar 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 52°/35°F (11°/2°C)
Apr–Jun 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) 82°/61°F (28°/16°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) 94°/72°F (35°/22°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) 62°/44°F (17°/7°C)
View all months
Month Phnom Penh Tehran
Jan 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) 45°/30°F (7.2°/-1.1°C)
Feb 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) 50°/33°F (9.9°/0.7°C)
Mar 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) 60°/41°F (15.4°/5.2°C)
Apr 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) 71°/52°F (21.9°/10.9°C)
May 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.1°C)
Jun 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) 93°/70°F (34.1°/20.9°C)
Jul 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) 98°/75°F (36.8°/24.0°C)
Aug 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) 96°/73°F (35.4°/23.0°C)
Sep 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) 89°/67°F (31.5°/19.2°C)
Oct 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C)
Nov 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) 62°/44°F (16.5°/6.7°C)
Dec 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.3°C)

Data: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cambodia and Iran. To live, work, or study long-term in Iran, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iran's immigration authority.

Cambodia passport

Cambodia passport holder visiting Iran

Visa Free
Cambodia passport holders can enter Iran without a visa.
Iran passport

Iran passport holder visiting Cambodia

Visa on Arrival
Iran passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Cambodia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Iran than Cambodia?

Iran and Cambodia are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Iran?

Budget about IRR25,179,577,312 for 3 months in Iran (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 Iran?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iran: 12.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iran offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iran safe for expats?

Cambodia performs better than Iran across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iran is 2.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Cambodia.

How is healthcare in Iran compared to Cambodia?

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iran leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 15.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Iran, compared to 2.1 in Cambodia. Iran scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cambodia: 58).

What's the weather like in Iran compared to Cambodia?

The average high temperature in Tehran is 72°F, compared to 90°F in Phnom Penh. Tehran receives around 9.1 in of rainfall per year, while Phnom Penh gets 51.8 in.

What language do they speak in Iran?

The official language in Iran is Persian (Farsi). In Cambodia, the official language is Khmer.

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At a Glance

KH IR
Population 16,713,015 86,758,304
Currency Cambodian Riel (KHR) Iranian Rial (IRR)
Languages Khmer Persian (Farsi)
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +855 +98
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 117 115