Cost of Living in Cambodia: Rent, Housing & Income

Cambodia attracts teachers, retirees and remote workers with some of the lowest prices in this series. The amounts below are for the whole country, and Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the coast will differ from small towns. They are crowd-sourced estimates from Numbeo and Livingcost, converted to US dollars, so treat them as approximate and expect them to move with exchange rates.

The data were last checked on Oct 13, 2026.

The World Bank's price level ratio for Cambodia was 33.6 in 2025, with the U.S. at 100. At market exchange rates, the same basket of goods and services cost about 34% of its U.S. price.

GDP per capita, adjusted for purchasing power, was 8,543 international dollars in 2025 (U.S.: 90,027 international dollars in 2025). Consumer prices rose 2.4% in 2025 (U.S.: 2.9% in 2024).

Numbeo puts a single person at $574.80/mo before rent and a family of four at $2,071.80/mo. Livingcost estimates $428/mo without rent and $832/mo with it.

The two sources disagree on the rent-free total because they weigh categories differently. Livingcost's total with rent is the more useful number for planning, since it includes the one thing everyone pays.

A one-bedroom apartment in a city center is $250 – $1,010/mo, and outside the center $180 – $520/mo. The top of the central range is several times the bottom, which reflects the gap between a simple local flat and a serviced apartment aimed at foreigners.

Three-bedroom homes cost $500 – $1,500/mo in the center and $350 – $1,070/mo outside it. Families will find that space is easy to buy compared with most countries here, though quality and building services vary a lot.

Basic utilities for an 85 square meter apartment are $65 – $150/mo. Cooling may push the figure up in the hot season. Broadband is $12 – $34/mo and a mobile plan $4 – $10/mo. A monthly transit pass is listed at $9.20 – $15/mo.

Public transit options are limited in many places, so tuk-tuks, ride-hailing and motorbikes take the place of a pass. Those costs are not in this table.

An inexpensive restaurant meal averages $3 each. A liter of milk is $2.20 each and a dozen eggs are $1.80 each.

Local meals are very cheap, while milk costs more than you might expect from the meal price. Imported dairy and packaged goods follow a different price pattern from street food and markets.

Numbeo lists an average monthly net salary after tax of $280.15/mo.

That is well below the single-person total of $574.80/mo. The two numbers describe different lives: the salary reflects local wages, and the spending figure reflects the habits of contributors, many of whom are expats or travelers. If you plan to earn in Cambodia, check what an actual employer pays before assuming the budget works.

• Health insurance and emergency evacuation coverage.
• Visa fees and extensions. Check the official Cambodian immigration pages.
• Flights and shipping.
• International school tuition.
• Taxes and legal help. Ask a licensed advisor.

Furnished apartments are common, and a lease may be negotiated directly with the landlord. Ask what the rent covers, since some include water, cleaning or internet. Look at the building in the evening and in the rainy season if you can, because noise and flooding differ by street. A short first lease lets you move if the neighborhood does not suit you.

Because the single-person figure is so low, small mistakes matter more than in an expensive place. Habits such as eating at Western restaurants or buying imported groceries can change a food budget a lot. Build your plan from your own routine, not from the average.

The low and high ends of each range describe two different lifestyles. A local-style setup with a simple flat, market food and motorbike transport sits near the bottom. A serviced apartment, Western groceries and ride-hailing sit near the top, and the total moves accordingly. Decide which one you are planning before you quote a figure to anyone.

Ask how rent is paid and whether the landlord expects a deposit of more than one month. Electricity and water are sometimes billed at rates set by the landlord, not the utility company, so ask to see a recent bill. Written receipts for every payment protect you if there is a dispute later.