Kampong Cham vs Phnom Penh: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Kampong Cham costs roughly 15% less than Phnom Penh. Phnom Penh has significantly faster average internet speeds (54 Mbps vs 30 Mbps). Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Kampong Cham is approximately 115% less expensive than Phnom Penh based on cost of living including rent. This makes Kampong Cham a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Kampong Cham has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 50, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Kampong Cham is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Kampong Cham
Kampong Cham is a dirt-cheap Cambodian town where a single person can live comfortably on $2,200 a month, but the local average salary of $150 a month tells you this place is built for expats with remote income, not local jobs. The riverfront area is the only real expat neighborhood, and with a safety index of 50 and limited English, it's not for the faint of heart. If you're chasing the FIRE dream on a shoestring, the $300 rent for a city-center one-bedroom and $3 restaurant meals are unbeatable, but retirees and digital nomads should look elsewhere given the mediocre scores of 50 and 53 respectively.
About Cambodia
A Healthcare Index of 25.8 rules this out for retirees with serious medical needs. Skip it if you need English-language ease too, proficiency is low. But budget-focused remote workers or younger retirees chasing sub-$1,000/month living, with rent from around $273 and a real digital nomad visa route, will find it hard to beat.
$1,700/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is a budget expat's dream, with a single adult living comfortably on $2,000 a month including rent, and a local meal costing just $4. The trade-off is real: safety is shaky, healthcare is only fair, and English proficiency is limited, so you'll need patience and street smarts. The large expat community in areas like BKK1 and Tonle Bassac softens the landing, but the low average local salary of $324 a month highlights the stark economic divide. It's a gritty, cheap, and lively base for digital nomads, not a cushy retirement haven.
About Cambodia
A Healthcare Index of 25.8 rules this out for retirees with serious medical needs. Skip it if you need English-language ease too, proficiency is low. But budget-focused remote workers or younger retirees chasing sub-$1,000/month living, with rent from around $273 and a real digital nomad visa route, will find it hard to beat.
$1,000/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Kampong Cham | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $300 | $646.36 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $220 | $370.33 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $650 | $1144.48 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $450 | $806.58 |
| Safety Index | 50 | 45 |
| Internet Speed | 30Mbps | 54.2Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
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Kampong Cham vs Phnom Penh -- Frequently Asked Questions
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