True Burn

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Can I live in Phnom Penh on $2,000/month?

Phnom Penh is a great choice for expats and digital nomads on a tight budget. It is possible to live a comfortable life here on less than $2,000 per month. If you're willing to sacrifice some comfort, you could get your budget under $1,500 per month or even lower.

Phnom Penh hasn't modernized as quickly as other Southeast Asian capitals but it is still a livable city. Most of the modern comforts are available here. The city is growing and developing. When I first traveled to Phnom Penh in 2013, the city felt a little rough. Now there are some very nice pockets.

One nice thing about Cambodia is that it is relatively straightforward to stay long-term. It's possible to apply for an Ordinary/Business (E-type) visa when you arrive instead of a standard tourist visa. You can then apply for an extension of stay for up to 1 year. This is much easier than applying for a long-term visa in neighboring countries, like Thailand and Vietnam. This visa is available for professionals, English teachers, remote workers, retirees, and even job seekers.

Another interesting thing to note about Cambodia is that the U.S. dollar is widely used. This can simplify things a bit if you’re American. Personally, I think it makes things more expensive though. Flights here are a bit pricier than flights to other countries in the region. This can increase your cost of living if you like to fly home frequently to visit.

Starting numbers checked . Every line below is editable. The estimates include often-forgotten costs like flights home and visas, plus what you lose moving money into KHR. The calculator will show you your true monthly burn rate as well as your adjusted exchange rate.

Start from

01

Money in

If income varies, enter a typical month in the currency you think in.

Not in the list? Choose “Enter my own…” and type the 3-letter code (GEL, VND, COP…).

02

True FX

How you turn this money into something you can spend.

How you receive money

These are typical estimates. Open Adjust fees if yours are different.

Loading live rate…

After fees

1 USD = 4,022 KHR

Mid-market is 4,050. You lose about 7.00 USD per $1,000 moved.

Adjust feesThese are typical estimates, not official numbers from the company›

Change these if your app or bank is different from the typical numbers.

03

Monthly costs

Start with these. Turn off anything that isn’t you.

Forgotten expenses

$508/mo

Expenses people often forget

›

Flights home, visas, a house helper. Turn off anything that isn’t you.

True monthly burn

$1,869

7,570,437 KHR

Keep $131

Phnom Penh cost of living breakdown

The figures the calculator starts with plus some notes. Everything here is an estimate you should change for your situation.

Monthly cost of living estimates for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in USD
ExpenseStarting estimatePer month
Everyday costs$1,180/mo
Rent$500/mo$500

Decent studios start at around $350. For a one-bedroom in a good area near the city center, expect to spend around $450-$550. For a 2-bedroom, expect to spend around $800-$1,200.

Utilities$50/mo$50
Food$300/mo$300

If you eat only local food, you could maintain a healthy diet for around $200 per month. If you like to eat out often and enjoy Western food, you might spend closer to $400-$500 per month on food. A street food meal costs around $1.50. A meal in a mid-range touristy restaurant costs around $15.

Transport$50/mo$50

A ride on a public bus costs 1,500 KHR (around $0.37) per ride. A tuk-tuk ride costs around $2-$8, depending on the distance.

Phone & internet$50/mo$50

A monthly phone bill costs around $6-$8.

Health (local)$80/mo$80
Entertainment$150/mo$150
Easy to forget$508/mo
Flights homeHolidays, family visits$1,200/yr$100

On average, a round-trip flight from Phnom Penh to Los Angeles costs $1,000-$1,400.

In-country tripsWeekends, nearby cities$600/yr$50

There are some interesting day trips and weekend getaways from Phnom Penh. You could visit Kampot, which is a nice riverside town. You could also visit Kep, which is a small beach town. If you have a bit more time, you could take a trip to Thailand, Vietnam, or Laos. You can find budget flights for less than $100 round-trip if you shop around.

Visa / border runsPermits, overstays$330/yr$28

A one-month ordinary/business visa costs $35. It is possible to apply for a one-year extension of stay for an additional $295.

Travel insurance$50/mo$50
Phone, laptop, clothes$600/yr$50
Laundry / cleaning help$30/mo$30
Medical bufferClinics, meds insurance skips$50/mo$50
Emergency fund$100/mo$100
SubscriptionsStreaming, iCloud, software$30/mo$30
Home SIM for 2FA$20/mo$20
Bad-week buffer, 10% on top$169
Cost of moving money in via Wise$13
True monthly burn in Phnom Penh$1,869

That is about 7,570,437 KHR a month at roughly 4,050 KHR to 1 USD; the calculator above uses the live rate. On $2,000 a month you would keep $131, and $10,000 of savings would last 5.3 months with no income. 5 more expenses are switched off by default. Turn on the ones that apply to you.

Run the numbers somewhere else

Same calculator, different starting figures. Phnom Penh lands at $1,869 a month on the defaults above.

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