Vietnam vs Cambodia

Vietnam costs roughly 27% less than Cambodia. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.

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Vietnam is approximately 27% less expensive than Cambodia based on cost of living including rent. This makes Vietnam a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Vietnam has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 59.2, suggesting moderate safety levels.

Recommended profile: Vietnam is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.

Overall Winner

Vietnam

Hanoi

About Vietnam

A 1BR near central Hanoi or Saigon runs $400.6, less than half typical US suburban rent, while monthly costs excluding rent sit near $430.8, meaning a couple can live comfortably under $1,200. Fast internet at 343 Mbps supports remote work, and safety metrics beat most Southeast Asian peers. The dealbreaker: no retirement or digital nomad visa exists, so long-term legal residency stays messy regardless of your budget.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$2,169/mo

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Living Costs (excl. rent)

Single (excl. rent)$431
Family (excl. rent)$1,555

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)
$401
1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$264
3 Bedroom (City Centre)
$847
3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$547

Attractiveness Scores

FIRE Score
100/100
Retiree Score
63/100
Nomad Score
81/100


Country Details →

Cambodia

Phnom Penh

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 under $420 and a real digital nomad visa route, will find it hard to beat.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$2,008/mo

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Not sure which Cambodia visa you qualify for?

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Living Costs (excl. rent)

Single (excl. rent)$576
Family (excl. rent)$2,073

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)
$416
1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$273
3 Bedroom (City Centre)
$800
3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)
$523

Attractiveness Scores

FIRE Score
98/100
Retiree Score
40/100
Nomad Score
67/100


Country Details →

Battle of Lifestyles

Scroll to compare

MetricVietnamCambodia
Travel Advisory
Level 1 — Normal PrecautionsLevel 2 — Increased Caution
Quality of Life Index
95.8 +2.0
93.8
Healthcare Index
61.3 +35.525.8
Safety Index
59.2 +6.5
52.7
Cost of Living Index
26.6 +7.333.9
Living Costs (Single, excl. rent)$430.8 +145.3$576.1
Living Costs (Family, excl. rent)$1,554.9 +517.6$2,072.5
1BR Apartment (Center)$400.6 +14.92$415.52
1BR Apartment (Outside)$263.55 +9.2$272.75
3BR Apartment (Center)$846.6 $800 +46.6
3BR Apartment (Outside)$547.09 $523.2 +23.89
Avg Internet Speed343.05 Mbps +261.981.17 Mbps
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Click any question to expand the answer.

We use a "Pure Data" approach, pulling raw facts from high-authority sources including private sources for real-time crowd-sourced pricing, the World Bank for stability metrics, and official government visa portals.

The FIRE Score is a dynamic metric based on your Monthly Income vs. Total Expenses. It calculates your potential savings rate; the more you save, the higher the score.

Our indices (Quality of Life, Healthcare, Safety, Cost of Living) are relative metrics. For example, a higher Quality of Life Index indicates better purchasing power, safety, and healthcare, while a higher Cost of Living Index means the country is more expensive relative to others.

The Retiree Score is a holistic measure of how suitable a country is for long-term retirement. It is calculated from three main factors: healthcare system quality, safety index, and the general cost of living.

The Nomad Score measures how well a country supports remote workers. It is calculated from average internet speeds, the cost of living, and the safety index.

The "Single" toggle calculates costs based on a 1-Bedroom apartment. "Family" assumes a 3-Bedroom apartment and the expenses for a household of four.