Thinking about moving to Phnom Penh? Here's what daily life looks like for an American who works remotely: what it costs in dollars, where people live, the weather all year, and what to sort out before you land. The weather, local time and exchange rate on this page are live.
Right now in Phnom Penh
Live weather by Open-Meteo · Rates by ExchangeRate-API. Updates each time you open the page.
At a glance
| Population | About 2.3 million in the city |
|---|---|
| Language | Khmer |
| Currency | Cambodian riel (KHR) |
| Time zone | … |
| Main airport | Techo International (KTI), about 1 hour |
| Flights from the US | No US nonstops; connect via Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul or Taipei |
| Power plugs | Type A, C and G, 230 V (check your devices) |
| Emergency number | 117 (police), 119 (ambulance) |
| Visa route for remote workers | E-class visa with extensions · Cambodia visa guide |
What it costs
| Item | About in USD |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom, city center | $617 |
| 1-bedroom, outside center | $414 |
| 3-bedroom, city center | $1,311 |
| 3-bedroom, outside center | $717 |
Estimated from Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living and rent indices for Phnom Penh, scaled from New York prices. Monthly totals add living costs to rent from outside the center (low end) to the center (high end). The couple figure assumes 1.7 times one person's costs.
Weather through the year
Loading weather history…
Monthly averages from 2016–2025, from Open-Meteo historical weather data (ERA5 reanalysis). Rain totals from weather models can run high in mountain cities, so treat them as a guide to the wet and dry seasons.
Where to live
BKK1
Expat hub with cafés.
Tonle Bassac
Riverside and upscale.
Toul Kork
Local and residential.
Our plans match neighborhoods to how you work, your budget and who's moving with you.
Getting around
Tuk-tuks and ride-hailing (PassApp, Grab); riverside promenade.
Language and English
Common in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and among younger people; Khmer elsewhere.
Healthcare
Healthcare is limited; many expats go to Bangkok for serious care. Carry insurance with evacuation cover.
Safety
Check the US State Department's current advisory for Cambodia before you go. It changes, so we link to it rather than copy it. Like any big city, Phnom Penh has areas that are safer than others, and your plan flags the ones to know about.
Your first week in Phnom Penh
Land with people, not just a lease.
With a Complete or Household plan, you join everyone moving to Phnom Penh the same month in a group chat before you fly, then meet in person during your first week.
See how cohorts workSources
Checked on Nov 2, 2026. Live sections update automatically.
- Numbeo: Cost of Living Index 2026 (city indices scaled from New York prices)
- US State Department: Cambodia travel advisory
- Open-Meteo: live weather, forecast and 10-year climate data (CC BY 4.0)
- ExchangeRate-API: live exchange rates
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