Moving to Cambodia from Mexico

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Mexico to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 23.9% cheaper than Mexico overall. A MX$1,301,610 salary in Mexico would need to be roughly KHR297,329,470 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 74°F in Mexico City, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

MX$1,301,610 KHR297,329,470

To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 42.7% less

Groceries

pay 2.4% less

Transportation

pay 7.3% less

Housing

pay 22.2% less

Childcare

pay 7.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 38.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 MXN = 231.06 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 Mexico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MX
26.1
KH
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MX
12.0
KH
18.8

Mexico generally does better on safety, though Cambodia leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

MX
$1,368
KH
$350
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MX
25.6
KH
2.1

Mexico 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

MX
30.0
KH
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MX
3.6t
KH
1.1t

Mexico 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

MX
20.5
KH
3.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MX
45.0%
KH
1.0%

Mexico 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

MX
2.8%
KH
0.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MX
$22,400
KH
$5,100

Cambodia generally does better on employment & economy, though Mexico leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MX
72.3 yrs
KH
70.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MX
11.9
KH
29.6

Mexico performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.

Data: Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mexico City Rain: 32.1 in/yr (816 mm)
74° / 49°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mexico City Phnom Penh
Jan–Mar 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) 94°/78°F (34°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) 90°/76°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Mexico City Phnom Penh
Jan 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C)
Feb 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C)
Mar 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C)
Apr 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C)
May 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C)
Jun 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C)
Jul 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C)
Aug 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C)
Sep 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C)
Oct 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C)
Nov 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C)
Dec 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C)

Data: Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mexico 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.

Mexico passport

Mexico passport holder visiting Cambodia

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

Cambodia passport holder visiting Mexico

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

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 Mexico?

Cambodia and Mexico are within a few percent on overall cost, though specific items in specific cities can swing either way.

How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?

Budget about KHR74,332,368 for 3 months in Cambodia (based on a MX$1,301,610 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?

Mexico generally does better on safety, though Cambodia leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Cambodia is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 26.1 in Mexico.

How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to Mexico?

Mexico 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 25.6 in Mexico. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mexico: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 74°F in Mexico City. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Mexico City gets 32.1 in.

What language do they speak in Cambodia?

The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Mexico, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

MX KH
Population 129,150,971 16,713,015
Currency Mexican Peso (MX$) Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Languages Spanish Khmer
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +52 +855
Time zones 3 1
Emergency number 911 117