Moving to Cambodia from Iowa
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Iowa to Cambodia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Iowa to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 47.7% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly KHR230,299,002 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 Des Moines, 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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Iowa to Cambodia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → KHR230,299,002
To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 62.6% less
Groceries
pay 17.4% less
Transportation
pay 0.6% more
Housing
pay 65.2% less
Childcare
pay 76.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 66.5% 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?
Real numbers on people moving from Iowa to Cambodia, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Iowa and Cambodia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Cambodia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa 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
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Cambodia leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.
United States passport holder visiting Cambodia
Visa on Arrival
Cambodia passport holder visiting United States
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 Iowa?
Generally yes: Cambodia runs about 23% cheaper than Iowa on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around KHR57,574,750 in Cambodia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Cambodia?
Working remotely from Cambodia's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Cambodia.
How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to Iowa?
Cambodia performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Cambodia?
The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Iowa, the official language is English.
