comparison intelligence
Phnom Penh vs Siem Reap
Phnom Penh has the stronger overall score, while Siem Reap has the lower monthly estimate.
Phnom Penh wins overall
near identical$45/mo gap0.3 score gap
quick decision
Who wins where?
Phnom Penh
7.6/10
$985/month · Cambodia
GOpros
- Extremely low cost of living, even for a Southeast Asian capital
- Simple, cheap monthly visa extensions with little bureaucracy
- Riverside cafes and a growing specialty coffee scene
cons
- Healthcare facilities are limited for serious medical needs
- Traffic and road safety take getting used to
- Air quality dips noticeably during the dry, dusty season
Siem Reap
7.3/10
$940/month · Cambodia
MAYBEpros
- Among the cheapest cost of living of any nomad-friendly city in Asia
- Angkor Wat and hundreds of temples right on your doorstep
- Easy, well-documented visa extensions and business visa runs
cons
- Internet is workable but drops out more than regional hubs
- Healthcare is limited; serious issues mean a flight to Bangkok
- Intense heat and humidity for much of the year
cost breakdown
Where the money goes
Rent$365$335
Food$225$230
Transport$60$50
Coworking$135$115
Entertainment$105$135
Utilities$95$75
money / equivalent lifestyle
What your money buys
To keep roughly the same spending flexibility you get from $1,500 in Siem Reap, you would need about $1,575 in Phnom Penh.
Based on relative monthly cost estimates in this guide.With $1,500/month
Phnom PenhLeaves about $515Estimated cost: $985
Siem ReapLeaves about $560Estimated cost: $940
score breakdown
Category-by-category
Money
Cost of living5.05.0tied
Remote work
Internet3.22.8Phnom Penh
Daily life
Walkability2.62.8Siem Reap
Food4.03.9Phnom Penh
Comfort & safety
Safety3.54.0Siem Reap
Healthcare2.82.6Phnom Penh
Weather3.03.0tied
Lifestyle
English friendly3.03.4Siem Reap
Nightlife3.53.3Phnom Penh
what changes if you move?
Relocation impact
Moving from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap gives you day-to-day safety and English usability and saves about $45 per month, but trades off remote-work reliability and social energy.
Monthly spending-$45
Annual spending-$540
Overall scoreSlightly lower
SafetyBetter (+0.5)
InternetSlightly worse (-0.4)
English friendlySlightly better (+0.4)
NightlifeSlightly worse (-0.2)
Safety
3.5 → 4.0 · +0.5
Internet
3.2 → 2.8 · -0.4
Moving from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh gives you remote-work reliability and social energy for about $45 more per month, but trades off day-to-day safety and English usability.
Monthly spending+$45
Annual spending+$540
Overall scoreSlightly higher
SafetyWorse (-0.5)
InternetSlightly better (+0.4)
English friendlySlightly worse (-0.4)
NightlifeSlightly better (+0.2)
Internet
2.8 → 3.2 · +0.4
Safety
4.0 → 3.5 · -0.5
Choose Phnom Penh if...
- You want the stronger overall score without a major monthly cost penalty.
- You need a stronger remote-work connection signal.
- You prioritize social energy and nightlife.
- You care enough about remote-work reliability to accept weaker day-to-day safety.
Choose Siem Reap if...
- You want to keep monthly spending below roughly $1,000.
- You want stronger budget room, saving about $45 per month versus Phnom Penh.
- Day-to-day safety is one of your top priorities.
- You prefer easier day-to-day English usability.
final verdict
So, which one makes more sense?
Phnom Penh has the stronger overall score, while Siem Reap has the clearer budget advantage. Siem Reap is measurably stronger on day-to-day safety.