Living in Phnom Penh
What it really costs to live in Phnom Penh, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Cambodia, updated 2026. As Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh commands the country's highest rents — but also its deepest job market. Phnom Penh lies in South-Eastern Asia. The main language is Khmer. Cambodia borders Laos, Thailand, Vietnam.
Cost of Living in Phnom Penh
Full Monthly Breakdown for Phnom Penh
How Phnom Penh Compares to Other Cambodia Cities
Phnom Penh is not the only option in Cambodia. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€575) stacks up against the other cities we track — Sihanoukville is the cheapest, Siem Reap the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Sihanoukville | €552/mo | -4% vs Phnom Penh |
| Siem Reap | €644/mo | +12% vs Phnom Penh |
What You Can Earn in Cambodia
Typical gross annual salaries in Cambodia by sector (entry · median · senior). Phnom Penh pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €6 000 | €8 500 | €12 000 |
| retail | €1 500 | €2 000 | €3 000 |
| finance | €4 500 | €6 000 | €8 500 |
| education | €2 500 | €4 000 | €5 500 |
| healthcare | €3 000 | €4 000 | €6 000 |
| engineering | €4 000 | €5 500 | €8 000 |
| hospitality | €1 500 | €2 500 | €3 500 |
| construction | €2 000 | €3 000 | €4 500 |
Living in Phnom Penh: Safety, Health & Climate
Phnom Penh shares Cambodia's wider quality-of-life profile. Phnom Penh has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Cambodia
Affording Phnom Penh is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Cambodia. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~5 years — dual nationality allowed.
- Investment route from about €47 000 (USD).
Taxes in Cambodia
Top marginal rate 20%, VAT 10%. Special regime — Requires legal source verification
Settling into Phnom Penh
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Cambodia.
- Budget around €950 for first-month setup in Phnom Penh.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Architecture.
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Personalised visa options, costs and a 90-day plan for Cambodia.
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How much does it cost to live in Phnom Penh?
A single person in central Phnom Penh should budget about €575/month, roughly €489 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €1 840/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Cambodia?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Cambodia visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Cambodia Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries