Moving to Cambodia from North Carolina

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from North Carolina to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 51.9% cheaper than North Carolina. A $75,000 salary in North Carolina would need to be roughly KHR197,154,791 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 67°F in Asheville, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between North Carolina and Cambodia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 KHR197,154,791

To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 62.2% less

Groceries

pay 31.1% less

Transportation

pay 11.7% less

Housing

pay 70.4% less

Childcare

pay 80.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 61.8% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 4041.88 KHR (July 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from North Carolina to Cambodia.

Living there in 2020
208 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Cambodia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Cambodia?

Top countries of origin for Cambodia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Cambodia compared to North Carolina.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

NC
33.6%
KH
3.9%

Cambodia performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

NC
88.7%
KH
60.0%

North Carolina performs better than Cambodia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NC
3.4%
KH
0.2%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NC
$59,308
KH
$5,100

North Carolina generally does better on employment & economy, though Cambodia leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

NC
76.1 yrs
KH
70.7 yrs

North Carolina 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.

Asheville Rain: 37.0 in/yr (940 mm)
67° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Asheville Phnom Penh
Jan–Mar 52°/32°F (11°/0°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) 94°/78°F (34°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) 90°/76°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/38°F (15°/3°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Asheville Phnom Penh
Jan 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C) 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C)
Feb 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C) 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C)
Mar 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C) 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C)
Apr 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C) 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C)
Jun 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C)
Jul 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C) 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C) 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C)
Sep 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C) 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C)
Oct 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C) 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C)
Nov 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C) 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C)
Dec 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°C) 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology 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

United States passport holder visiting Cambodia

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

Cambodia passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Cambodia passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 North Carolina?

On average Cambodia is about 35% less expensive than North Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?

Budget about KHR49,288,698 for 3 months in Cambodia (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Cambodia?

From major Cambodia cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in North Carolina and Cambodia are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to North Carolina?

Cambodia performs significantly better than North Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to North Carolina?

The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 67°F in Asheville. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Asheville gets 37.0 in.

What language do they speak in Cambodia?

The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In North Carolina, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

KH
Population 9,535,483 16,713,015
Currency United States Dollar ($) Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Languages English Khmer
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +855
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 117