Cambodia vs El Salvador
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Cambodia is approximately 12% less expensive than El Salvador based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cambodia a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Cambodia has a FIRE Score of 98/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 52.7, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Cambodia is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowPhnom Penh
Cambodia
San Salvador
El Salvador
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
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.
Cambodia costs roughly 12% less than El Salvador, though El Salvador scores higher on healthcare. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Cambodia is approximately 12% less expensive than El Salvador based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cambodia a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Cambodia has a FIRE Score of 98/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 52.7, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Cambodia is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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.
$2,008/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About El Salvador
Safety Index of 31.4 with a crime score of 58.6 is the real barrier here, not the paperwork. Remote workers chasing the Digital Nomad Visa at just $1,636/mo income should look past it, since Quality of Life scores 87.2 and rent runs $739/mo for a 1BR. Bitcoin-friendly tax rules help, but 30% progressive income tax still bites for high earners.
$1,568/mo
Not sure which El Salvador visa you qualify for?
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Cambodia | El Salvador |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 1: Normal Precautions |
| Quality of Life Index | 93.8 +6.6 | 87.2 |
| Healthcare Index | 25.8 | 36.9 +11.1 |
| Safety Index | 52.7 +21.3 | 31.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 33.9 +4.0 | 37.9 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $576.1 +116.7 | $692.8 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $2,072.5 +440.3 | $2,512.8 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $415.52 +323.72 | $739.24 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $272.75 +377.41 | $650.16 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $800 +460 | $1,260 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $523.2 +353.51 | $876.71 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 54.94 Mbps | 139.62 Mbps +84.7 |
| Ballpark effective tax rate ($80,000) | 12.0% +6.0pt | 18.0% |
| Top income tax rate | 20.0% +10.0pt | 30.0% |
| Capital gains tax rate | 20.0% | 10.0% +10.0pt |
| Dividend tax rate | 14.0% | 5.0% +9.0pt |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Cambodia
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
El Salvador
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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