Moving to Macau from Cambodia
What to Expect
Considering a move from Cambodia to Macau? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Cambodia to Macau, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese and Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Macao averages 77°F vs 90°F in Phnom Penh, making it significantly cooler.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Macau compared to Cambodia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Macau 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 Macau across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
Macau 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
Macau generally does better on employment & economy, though Cambodia leads in unemployment rate.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Macau 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 | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) | 66°/57°F (19°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) | 82°/73°F (28°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) | 74°/64°F (23°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Phnom Penh | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) | 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C) |
| Feb | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) | 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C) |
| Mar | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) | 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) | 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C) |
| May | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) | 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) | 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) | 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) | 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C) |
| Sep | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C) |
| Oct | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) | 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C) |
| Nov | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) | 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C) |
| Dec | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) | 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C) |
Data:
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology,
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cambodia and Macau. To live, work, or study long-term in Macau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Macau's immigration authority.
Cambodia passport holder visiting Macau
Visa on Arrival
Macau 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
Can I work remotely from Macau?
Connectivity is usually fine (Macau: 30.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Macau offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Macau safe for expats?
Macau performs significantly better than Cambodia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macau is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Cambodia.
What's the weather like in Macau compared to Cambodia?
The average high temperature in Macao is 77°F, compared to 90°F in Phnom Penh. Macao receives around 83.6 in of rainfall per year, while Phnom Penh gets 51.8 in.
What language do they speak in Macau?
The official languages in Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. In Cambodia, the official language is Khmer.
