Moving to Cambodia from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Cambodia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Cambodia, you would find that Cambodia is 53.5% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly KHR161,739,862 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Cambodia.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → KHR161,739,862
To maintain the same standard of living in Cambodia
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 65.5% less
Groceries
pay 30.2% less
Transportation
pay 13.8% less
Housing
pay 72.5% less
Childcare
pay 80.9% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 65.0% 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 United States to Cambodia, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Cambodia.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though Cambodia leads in homicide rate.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
United States generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cambodia leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
United States 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
United States 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
Cambodia generally does better on employment & economy, though United States leads in gdp per capita.
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
United States performs better than Cambodia across all family life metrics.
Data: Internal Revenue Service, 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 | Washington | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) | 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) | 94°/78°F (34°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) | 87°/73°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Washington | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) | 88°/71°F (31.2°/21.5°C) |
| Feb | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) | 91°/72°F (32.7°/22.5°C) |
| Mar | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) | 94°/76°F (34.5°/24.2°C) |
| Apr | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) | 95°/78°F (34.9°/25.4°C) |
| May | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) | 94°/78°F (34.3°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.3°C) |
| Jul | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) | 90°/76°F (32.4°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) | 90°/77°F (32.2°/25.0°C) |
| Sep | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) | 87°/75°F (30.8°/23.9°C) |
| Nov | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) | 87°/73°F (30.4°/22.8°C) |
| Dec | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) | 86°/71°F (30.2°/21.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 holder visiting Cambodia
Visa on Arrival
Cambodia passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: 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 States?
Yes — Cambodia is on average about 46% cheaper than United States. 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 KHR40,434,966 in Cambodia on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, deposits, 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 States 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 6.4 in United States.
How is healthcare in Cambodia compared to United States?
United States 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 36.1 in United States. Cambodia scores 58 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86).
What's the weather like in Cambodia compared to United States?
The average high temperature in Phnom Penh is 90°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Phnom Penh receives around 51.8 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in.
What language do they speak in Cambodia?
The official language in Cambodia is Khmer. In United States, the official language is English.
