Moving to Cambodia from Sao Tome and Principe

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Sao Tome and Principe to Cambodia — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from Sao Tome and Principe to Cambodia, and you’d need to navigate life in Khmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How Sao Tome and Principe and Cambodia stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2011

per 100,000 people per year

ST
3.2
KH
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ST
11.7
KH
18.8

Sao Tome and Principe 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

ST
$355
KH
$350
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

affects wait times and access to care

ST
4.9
KH
2.1

Sao Tome and Principe 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

ST
85.0
KH
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ST
0.6t
KH
1.1t

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on environment, though Cambodia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ST
2.0
KH
3.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ST
1.9%
KH
1.0%

Cambodia performs significantly better than Sao Tome and Principe across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ST
14.2%
KH
0.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ST
$5,500
KH
$5,100

Cambodia generally does better on employment & economy, though Sao Tome and Principe leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ST
67.1 yrs
KH
70.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ST
44.4
KH
29.6

Sao Tome and Principe generally does better on family life, though Cambodia leads in life expectancy.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sao Tome and Principe 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.

Sao Tome and Principe passport

Sao Tome and Principe passport holder visiting Cambodia

Visa on Arrival
Sao Tome and Principe passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Cambodia.
Cambodia passport

Cambodia passport holder visiting Sao Tome and Principe

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Cambodia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Sao Tome and Principe.

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?

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 Sao Tome and Principe and Cambodia.

Is Cambodia safe for expats?

Sao Tome and Principe 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 3.2 in Sao Tome and Principe.

How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to Sao Tome and Principe?

Sao Tome and Principe 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 4.9 in Sao Tome and Principe. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sao Tome and Principe: 59).

What language do they speak in Cambodia?

The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Sao Tome and Principe, the official language is Portuguese.

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At a Glance

ST KH
Population 217,164 16,713,015
Currency São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra (STD) Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Languages Portuguese Khmer
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +239 +855
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 117