Moving to Cambodia from Samoa

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Samoa to Cambodia, and you’d need to navigate life in Khmer. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

Get free moving quotes to Cambodia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Cambodia compared to Samoa.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2018

per 100,000 people per year

WS
6.2
KH
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

WS
9.6
KH
18.8

Samoa 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

WS
$474
KH
$350
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

WS
5.5
KH
2.1

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

WS
34.0
KH
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

WS
1.6t
KH
1.1t

Samoa 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

WS
0.8
KH
3.0

Cambodia performs significantly better than Samoa across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

WS
9.8%
KH
0.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

WS
$6,000
KH
$5,100

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

WS
75.2 yrs
KH
70.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

WS
17.0
KH
29.6

Samoa performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Revenue, Samoa, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Apia Rain: 116.7 in/yr (2965 mm)
86° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Apia Phnom Penh
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 87°/74°F (30°/23°C) 94°/78°F (34°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/73°F (30°/23°C) 90°/76°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/74°F (30°/24°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month Apia Phnom Penh
Jan 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C) 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C)
Feb 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C) 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C)
Mar 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C) 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C)
Apr 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C) 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C)
May 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C) 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C)
Jun 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C)
Jul 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C) 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C)
Aug 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C) 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C)
Sep 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C) 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C)
Oct 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C)
Nov 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C) 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C)
Dec 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C) 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C)

Data: Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Samoa 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.

Samoa passport

Samoa passport holder visiting Cambodia

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

Cambodia passport holder visiting Samoa

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

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?

Samoa 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 6.2 in Samoa.

How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to Samoa?

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Cambodia, compared to 5.5 in Samoa. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Samoa: 55).

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

The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 86°F in Apia. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Apia gets 116.7 in.

What language do they speak in Cambodia?

The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Samoa, the official languages are English and Samoan.

Share this

At a Glance

WS KH
Population 206,179 16,713,015
Currency Samoan Tala (WST) Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Languages English, Samoan Khmer
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +685 +855
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 117