Moving to Cambodia from Thailand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Thailand to Cambodia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Thailand to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 12.7% cheaper than Thailand overall. A THB2,497,395 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly KHR321,120,975 in Cambodia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Khmer. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Thailand to Cambodia.
What does your salary buy?
THB2,497,395 → KHR321,120,975
To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 25.7% more
Groceries
pay 9.7% more
Transportation
pay 7.3% less
Housing
pay 2.2% less
Childcare
pay 46.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 36.1% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Thailand to Cambodia, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Thailand to Cambodia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Cambodia performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Thailand generally does better on environment, though Cambodia leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Thailand generally does better on infrastructure, though Cambodia leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though Cambodia leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Thailand performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bangkok | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bangkok | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) |
| Mar | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) |
| Apr | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) |
| May | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) |
| Sep | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) |
Data:
Thai Meteorological Department,
Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand 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.
Thailand passport holder visiting Cambodia
Visa Free
Cambodia passport holder visiting Thailand
Visa FreeData: 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 Thailand?
No — Cambodia is on average about 7% more expensive than Thailand. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly KHR80,280,244 in Cambodia on a THB2,497,395 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Cambodia?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Cambodia has 3.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Cambodia safe for expats?
Cambodia performs significantly better than Thailand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cambodia is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand.
How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to Thailand?
Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Thailand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Cambodia, compared to 9.3 in Thailand. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).
What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to Thailand?
The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.
What language do they speak in Cambodia?
The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.
