Moving to Cambodia from Japan
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Japan to Cambodia — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Japan to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 29.3% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,183,450 salary in Japan would need to be roughly KHR289,968,467 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 69°F in Tokyo, 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 Japan to Cambodia.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,183,450 → KHR289,968,467
To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 16.1% less
Groceries
pay 19.1% less
Transportation
pay 8.0% less
Housing
pay 38.4% less
Childcare
pay 44.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 51.2% 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 Japan to Cambodia, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Japan and Cambodia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Japan generally does better on environment, though Cambodia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Japan generally does better on infrastructure, though Cambodia leads in water stress level.
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
share of people below the poverty line
Japan 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
Japan performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, 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 | Tokyo | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.
Japan passport holder visiting Cambodia
Visa on Arrival
Cambodia passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 Japan?
Generally yes: Cambodia runs about 4% cheaper than Japan 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 ¥12,183,450 comparable salary, that's around KHR72,492,117 in Cambodia for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Cambodia?
With 3.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Cambodia can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Japan and Cambodia.
Is Cambodia safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cambodia is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.
How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to Japan?
Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Cambodia, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Cambodia?
The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
