Moving to Cambodia from Kuwait

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Kuwait to Cambodia? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Kuwait to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 1.7% cheaper than Kuwait overall. A KWD23,208 salary in Kuwait would need to be roughly KHR283,891,960 in Cambodia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Khmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kuwait and Cambodia.

What does your salary buy?

KWD23,208 KHR283,891,960

To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 15.1% more

Groceries

pay 50.2% more

Transportation

pay 57.6% more

Housing

pay 28.5% less

Childcare

pay 11.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 58.7% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KWD = 12958.98 KHR (June 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.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Cambodia compared to Kuwait.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

KW
0.2
KH
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KW
9.2
KH
18.8

Kuwait performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KW
$2,567
KH
$350
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

KW
22.9
KH
2.1

Kuwait 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

KW
45.0
KH
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KW
23.7t
KH
1.1t

Kuwait 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

KW
1.5
KH
3.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KW
3850.5%
KH
1.0%

Cambodia generally does better on infrastructure, though Kuwait leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KW
2.1%
KH
0.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KW
$50,800
KH
$5,100

Kuwait 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

KW
79.1 yrs
KH
70.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KW
7.4
KH
29.6

Kuwait performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Kuwait, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kuwait City Rain: 4.6 in/yr (116 mm)
94° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kuwait City Phnom Penh
Jan–Mar 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) 94°/78°F (34°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) 90°/76°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Kuwait City Phnom Penh
Jan 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C)
Feb 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C)
Apr 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C)
May 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C)
Jun 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C)
Jul 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C)
Aug 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C)
Sep 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C)
Oct 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C)
Nov 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C)
Dec 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C)

Data: Meteorological Department Meteorological Department, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kuwait 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.

Kuwait passport

Kuwait passport holder visiting Cambodia

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

Cambodia passport holder visiting Kuwait

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

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 Kuwait?

On average Cambodia is about 6% less expensive than Kuwait, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?

Budget about KHR70,972,990 for 3 months in Cambodia (based on a KWD23,208 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?

Kuwait 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 Kuwait.

How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to Kuwait?

Kuwait generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cambodia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Cambodia, compared to 22.9 in Kuwait. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kuwait: 78).

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

The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 94°F in Kuwait City. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kuwait City gets 4.6 in.

What language do they speak in Cambodia?

The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Kuwait, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

KW KH
Population 3,068,155 16,713,015
Currency Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Languages Arabic Khmer
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +965 +855
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 117