Moving to Cambodia from Hong Kong
What to Expect
Considering a move from Hong Kong to Cambodia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Hong Kong to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 53.5% cheaper than Hong Kong overall. A HK$587,771 salary in Hong Kong would need to be roughly KHR145,037,690 in Cambodia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Khmer. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Phnom Penh averages 90°F vs 79°F in Hong Kong, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Hong Kong and Cambodia.
What does your salary buy?
HK$587,771 → KHR145,037,690
To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 35.6% less
Groceries
pay 36.5% less
Transportation
pay 40.0% less
Housing
pay 59.7% less
Childcare
pay 77.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 71.1% less
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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Hong Kong to Cambodia.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Cambodia compared to Hong Kong.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Hong Kong performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Cambodia performs significantly 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
Hong Kong performs 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
Hong Kong 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
Hong Kong performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong, 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 | Hong Kong | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 68°/61°F (20°/16°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 83°/75°F (28°/24°C) | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/80°F (31°/27°C) | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 76°/68°F (24°/20°C) | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hong Kong | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66°/58°F (18.7°/14.6°C) | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) |
| Feb | 67°/60°F (19.4°/15.3°C) | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) |
| Mar | 71°/64°F (21.9°/17.6°C) | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) |
| Apr | 78°/70°F (25.6°/21.1°C) | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) |
| May | 84°/76°F (28.8°/24.5°C) | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 87°/80°F (30.7°/26.5°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 89°/80°F (31.6°/26.9°C) | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 88°/80°F (31.3°/26.7°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) |
| Sep | 87°/79°F (30.5°/26.1°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 83°/75°F (28.1°/23.9°C) | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 76°/69°F (24.5°/20.3°C) | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 69°/61°F (20.4°/16.2°C) | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) |
Data:
Hong Kong Observatory,
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Hong Kong 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.
Hong Kong passport holder visiting Cambodia
Visa on Arrival
Cambodia passport holder visiting Hong Kong
Visa RequiredData: 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 Hong Kong?
On average Cambodia is about 52% less expensive than Hong Kong, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?
Budget about KHR36,259,422 for 3 months in Cambodia (based on a HK$587,771 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Cambodia?
Connectivity is usually fine (Cambodia: 3.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Cambodia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Cambodia safe for expats?
Hong Kong performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cambodia is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.4 in Hong Kong.
What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to Hong Kong?
The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 79°F in Hong Kong. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Hong Kong gets 95.7 in.
What language do they speak in Cambodia?
The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Hong Kong, the official languages are Chinese and English.
