Moving to Sao Tome and Principe from Cambodia

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Cambodia to Sao Tome and Principe — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Cambodia to Sao Tome and Principe, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Cambodia and Sao Tome and Principe stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2011

per 100,000 people per year

KH
1.8
ST
3.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KH
18.8
ST
11.7

Cambodia generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KH
$350
ST
$355
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

KH
2.1
ST
4.9

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cambodia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KH
60.0
ST
85.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KH
1.1t
ST
0.6t

Cambodia generally does better on environment, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KH
3.0
ST
2.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KH
1.0%
ST
1.9%

Cambodia performs better than Sao Tome and Principe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KH
0.2%
ST
14.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KH
$5,100
ST
$5,500

Cambodia generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe 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
ST
67.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KH
29.6
ST
44.4

Cambodia generally does better on family life, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in education spending.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Cambodia passport

Cambodia passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Cambodia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.
Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Cambodia

Visa on Arrival
Sao Tome and Principe 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

Can I work remotely from Sao Tome and Principe?

With 2.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Sao Tome and Principe can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Cambodia and Sao Tome and Principe.

Is Sao Tome and Principe safe for expats?

Cambodia generally does better on safety, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Sao Tome and Principe is 3.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.8 in Cambodia.

How is healthcare in Sao Tome and Principe compared to Cambodia?

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cambodia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 4.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sao Tome and Principe, compared to 2.1 in Cambodia. Sao Tome and Principe scores 59 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cambodia: 58).

What language do they speak in Sao Tome and Principe?

The official language in Sao Tome and Principe is Portuguese. In Cambodia, the official language is Khmer.

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At a Glance

KH ST
Population 16,713,015 217,164
Currency Cambodian Riel (KHR) São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD)
Languages Khmer Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +855 +239
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 117