Moving to Cambodia from France

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from France to Cambodia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from France to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 51.0% cheaper than France overall. A €65,577 salary in France would need to be roughly KHR200,679,310 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 60°F in Paris, 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 France to Cambodia.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 KHR200,679,310

To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 67.1% less

Groceries

pay 24.3% less

Transportation

pay 36.2% less

Housing

pay 53.9% less

Childcare

pay 60.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 58.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 4622.7 KHR (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.

Get free moving quotes to Cambodia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from France to Cambodia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
294 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in France live in Cambodia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Cambodia?

Top countries of origin for Cambodia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from France to Cambodia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

FR
1.6
KH
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FR
4.7
KH
18.8

France performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FR
$6,868
KH
$350
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

FR
33.4
KH
2.1

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France 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

FR
10.0
KH
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FR
4.0t
KH
1.1t

France generally does better on environment, though Cambodia 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

FR
49.4
KH
3.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FR
21.6%
KH
1.0%

France 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

FR
7.3%
KH
0.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FR
$55,200
KH
$5,100

France generally does better on employment & economy, though Cambodia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FR
82.6 yrs
KH
70.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FR
3.1
KH
29.6

France performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.

Data: Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paris Rain: 25.6 in/yr (650 mm)
60° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paris Phnom Penh
Jan–Mar 48°/38°F (9°/3°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 65°/50°F (18°/10°C) 94°/78°F (34°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 74°/58°F (23°/14°C) 90°/76°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/43°F (11°/6°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Paris Phnom Penh
Jan 44°/36°F (6.9°/2.5°C) 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.2°/2.8°C) 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C)
Mar 53°/41°F (11.8°/5.1°C) 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C)
Apr 58°/44°F (14.7°/6.8°C) 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C)
May 66°/51°F (19.0°/10.5°C) 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C)
Jun 71°/56°F (21.8°/13.3°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C)
Jul 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.5°C) 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C)
Aug 76°/60°F (24.6°/15.4°C) 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C)
Sep 69°/54°F (20.8°/12.5°C) 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C)
Oct 60°/49°F (15.8°/9.2°C) 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C)
Nov 51°/42°F (10.4°/5.3°C) 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C)
Dec 46°/38°F (7.8°/3.6°C) 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C)

Data: Météo-France Météo-France, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between France 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.

France passport

France passport holder visiting Cambodia

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

Cambodia passport holder visiting France

Visa Required
Cambodia passport holders need a visa to enter France.

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 Cambodia than France?

Yes — Cambodia is on average about 34% cheaper than France. 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 KHR50,169,828 in Cambodia on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Cambodia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Cambodia has 3.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Cambodia safe for expats?

France performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cambodia is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.6 in France.

How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to France?

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though France leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Cambodia, compared to 33.4 in France. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (France: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 60°F in Paris. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Paris gets 25.6 in.

What language do they speak in Cambodia?

The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In France, the official language is French.

Share this

At a Glance

FR KH
Population 68,305,148 16,713,015
Currency Euro (€) Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Languages French Khmer
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +33 +855
Time zones 14 1
Emergency number 112 117