Moving to Cambodia from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from United Kingdom to Cambodia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from United Kingdom to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 53.5% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly KHR181,692,035 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Phnom Penh averages 90°F vs 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from United Kingdom to Cambodia.

What does your salary buy?

£55,958 KHR181,692,035

To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 61.4% less

Groceries

pay 8.5% less

Transportation

pay 38.5% less

Housing

pay 68.2% less

Childcare

pay 79.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 65.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 5371.25 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?

How many people actually move from United Kingdom to Cambodia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
97 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom 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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United Kingdom to Cambodia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.0
KH
1.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
KH
18.8

United Kingdom performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
KH
$350
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
KH
2.1

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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

GB
13.0
KH
60.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
KH
1.1t

United Kingdom 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

GB
41.4
KH
3.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
KH
1.0%

United Kingdom 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

GB
4.1%
KH
0.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
KH
$5,100

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
KH
70.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
KH
29.6

United Kingdom performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Phnom Penh
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 91°/73°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 94°/78°F (34°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 90°/76°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 87°/73°F (30°/23°C)
View all months
Month London Phnom Penh
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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 Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Cambodia

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

Cambodia passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Cambodia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to United Kingdom.

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 United Kingdom?

Yes — Cambodia is on average about 40% cheaper than United Kingdom. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Cambodia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly KHR45,423,009 in Cambodia on a £55,958 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?

United Kingdom performs better than Cambodia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Cambodia is 1.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to United Kingdom?

Cambodia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 2.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Cambodia, compared to 31.7 in United Kingdom. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 60°F in London. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Cambodia?

The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB KH
Population 67,791,400 16,713,015
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Cambodian Riel (KHR)
Languages English Khmer
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +855
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 117