Official guide — updated
Where to live in Cambodia: comparing cities for expats
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kampot — cost of living, expat profile, housing and community. Find the Cambodian city that fits your lifestyle.
Your choice of city directly determines your cost of living, access to medical services, ease of administrative procedures, and the size of the expat community around you. Four cities account for the vast majority of French-speaking expats in Cambodia — each with a radically different profile, budget and pace of life.
The profiles below draw on official data (NIS 2019 census, verified rates) and community experience. Rent ranges reflect 2025 prices for one-to-two-bedroom apartments.
The 9 cities to settle in
- Expat capital
Phnom Penh
Professionals, families, active retirees
- French Embassy
- Visa & permits on-site
- International hospitals
- Best connectivity
- Temples & Tourism
Siem Reap
Tourism entrepreneurs, retirees, creatives
- International airport
- Tourism economy
- Active expat community
- Moderate cost of living
- Coast & Beaches
Sihanoukville
Investors, coastal tourism, freelancers
- Sea & beach access
- Very competitive rents
- Coastal development
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Arts & Culture
Battambang
Artists, retirees, budget long-stay
- 2nd city of Cambodia
- Phare Circus & arts
- Colonial architecture
- Very affordable
- Retirement & Nature
Kampot
Retirees, digital nomads, artists
- Lowest cost of living
- Close-knit expat community
- PGI pepper & Bokor park
- Slow pace
- River & Dolphins
Kratié
NGOs, ecotourism, authentic Mekong
- Irrawaddy dolphins
- Koh Trong by bicycle
- Colonial architecture
- Very affordable
- Sea & Retirement
Kep
Retirees, holiday homes, sea
- Kep crab PGI
- Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island)
- Minimal cost of living
- 30 min from Kampot
- Nature & Adventure
Banlung
NGOs, ecotourism, adventurers
- Yeak Laom volcanic lake
- Indigenous communities
- Jungle trekking
- Minimal cost
- Island & Nature
Koh Rong
Seasonal digital nomads, island tourism
- Pristine beaches
- Bioluminescence
- National marine park
- Satellite internet
Compare cities
Rents, cost of living and expat profile — all cities side by side.
| City | Cost of living | Rent 1–2 bd (USD/month) | Internet | Distance from PP | Expat community | Best for | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh | High | USD 400–1,200 | Excellent | Reference | Very large | Professionals, families | Guide → |
| Siem Reap | Mid | USD 250–700 | Good | ~6h (road) | Large | Tourism, creatives | Guide → |
| Sihanoukville | Low–Mid | USD 200–600 | Fair | ~4h (road) | Medium | Investors, coast | Guide → |
| Kampot | Very low | USD 150–400 | Fair | ~3h (road) | Small, close-knit | Retirees, nomads | Guide → |
| Battambang | Very low | USD 150–450 | Good | ~6h (road) | Small, stable | Artists, retirees | Guide → |
| Kratié | Very low | USD 150–350 | Fair | ~6h (road) | Very small | NGOs, ecotourism | Guide → |
| Kep | Very low | USD 200–500 | Limited | ~3h (road) | Very small | Retirees, holiday homes | Guide → |
| Banlung | Very low | USD 100–300 | Limited | ~12h (road) | NGOs, missionaries | NGOs, ecotourism | Guide → |
| Koh Rong | Mid | USD 300–700 | Satellite | ~5h (ferry+road) | Seasonal | Nomads, tourism | Guide → |
* Indicative 2025 rents — observed ranges for a furnished 1–2 bedroom apartment. Verify current prices in each city guide.
Living in Phnom Penh
2,129,371 residents · Phnom Penh (autonomous capital)
The capital concentrates most expat services: embassies, consulates, international hospitals, law firms and visa agencies. It is the natural base for any expat with a job, a family or administrative procedures to handle.
Strengths
- Densest transport network
- Full medical and schooling offer
- Fibre internet (Ezecom, SINET)
- All regional embassies
Watch out for
Higher rents and heavy traffic at peak hours.
Living in Siem Reap
245,494 residents · Siem Reap Province
Siem Reap, gateway to the Angkor temples, is Cambodia's second expat city. Its economy is built on international tourism, making it an ideal base for sector entrepreneurs, guides, hotel operators and independent workers.
Strengths
- Cost of living 30–40% lower than Phnom Penh
- International airport
- Active English-speaking expat community
- Quieter pace of life
Watch out for
Economy heavily dependent on tourism — vulnerable to external shocks.
Living in Sihanoukville
90,000 residents · Preah Sihanouk Province
Sihanoukville underwent a dramatic transformation between 2016 and 2020 (Chinese-investment casino boom), then restructured after the pandemic. The city is gradually recovering a balanced coastal economy, with some of the most competitive rents in the country.
Strengths
- Sea and beach access
- Very competitive rents
- Ongoing coastal development
- Relaxed atmosphere
Watch out for
Limited medical and schooling infrastructure — budget for insurance with medical evacuation to Phnom Penh.
Living in Kampot
39,537 residents · Kampot Province
Kampot is the cheapest city in the country for comfortable living. A small French colonial town on its namesake river, it attracts a close-knit expat community of French-speaking retirees, digital nomads and artists.
Strengths
- Lowest rents in the country
- French-speaking expat community
- Nature nearby (Bokor, Gulf)
- Quality local food
Watch out for
Very limited medical services — consulate and hospitals in Phnom Penh (3h). Internet decent but uneven depending on the district.
Living in Battambang
200,000 residents · Battambang Province
Cambodia's second city, Battambang has one of the country's best-preserved French colonial centres. Its arts scene — Phare Ponleu Selpak, galleries, pottery workshops — and very low cost of living make it a serious alternative to Kampot for retirees and creatives.
Strengths
- Best-preserved French colonial architecture
- Phare Circus & arts school
- Very low cost of living (comparable to Kampot)
- Authentic local market, rice paddies
Watch out for
Limited medical services. Distance from the French Embassy and international hospitals (~6h from Phnom Penh).
Living in Kratié
70,000 residents · Kratié Province
On the banks of the Mekong, Kratié is a quiet and authentic town, internationally known for its population of Irrawaddy dolphins (critically endangered) observable at Kampi Pool. With Koh Trong island reachable by bicycle ferry and its French colonial architecture, it is one of Cambodia's most picturesque towns.
Strengths
- Irrawaddy dolphins (Kampi Pool)
- Koh Trong — cycling island on the Mekong
- Very low cost of living
- Preserved colonial architecture
Watch out for
Very limited medical services — reference hospitals in Phnom Penh (~6–7h). Expat community almost non-existent outside NGOs.
Living in Kep
41,000 residents · Kep Province
Kep is Cambodia's smallest province — a colonial seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand, world-famous for its crab (PGI) and access to Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) in 20 minutes by boat. The expat community is tiny but resolutely calm.
Strengths
- Kep crab PGI — waterfront market
- Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island) 20 min away
- Cost of living among the lowest
- 30 min from Kampot (services)
Watch out for
Almost no medical services — hospitals in Phnom Penh (~3–4h). Very limited furnished housing supply. Pronounced isolation off-season.
Living in Banlung
32,000 residents · Ratanakiri Province
Banlung, Ratanakiri's capital in the far north-east, is Cambodia's most remote expat outpost. Surrounded by primary forest, waterfalls and volcanic Yeak Laom lake, it attracts exclusively humanitarian workers, researchers and adventurers. It is not a retirement or digital nomad destination.
Strengths
- Yeak Laom volcanic lake (protected area)
- Cha Ong and Ka Tieng waterfalls
- Indigenous communities (Bunong, Kreung)
- Minimal cost of living
Watch out for
Extreme remoteness from Phnom Penh (~12h by road). No medical services for serious care. Road difficult in the rainy season.
Living in Koh Rong
8,000 residents · Preah Sihanouk Province
Koh Rong is a preserved island in the Gulf of Thailand, designated as a national marine park. Living on Koh Rong means choosing a radical island lifestyle: no cars, satellite internet, resupply by ferry from Sihanoukville. In return, some of Asia's most beautiful beaches and the night bioluminescence phenomenon.
Strengths
- Among Asia's most pristine beaches
- Night bioluminescence (June–October)
- National marine park — underwater wildlife
- Unique atmosphere, no traffic
Watch out for
Satellite internet only (unreliable). No medical services on the island. Food and housing more expensive than the mainland (everything imported by ferry).
Frequently asked questions
- Which is the best city to settle in Cambodia?
- Phnom Penh remains the first choice for working professionals and families: it concentrates the French Embassy, international hospitals and the best internet connections. Kampot suits budget retirees. Siem Reap fits tourism entrepreneurs. Sihanoukville attracts property investors looking for the coast.
- Can you live in Kampot on a small retirement income?
- Yes. A single retiree can live comfortably in Kampot for USD 800–1,200/month all in (rent, food, transport, basic health). That is significantly less than Phnom Penh where the same comfort level costs USD 1,500–2,500. The trade-off is very limited medical services — health insurance with medical evacuation cover is essential.
- Is Sihanoukville safe for expats?
- The situation has stabilised since 2020. The city is returning to a more balanced coastal economy after the Sino-Cambodian casino boom. It remains suitable for expats who accept limited medical and schooling infrastructure. A scouting visit before committing to a long stay is recommended.
- Do you need to speak Khmer to live in Cambodia?
- No, it is not essential. English works for the vast majority of daily interactions in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. In Kampot, the active French-speaking community makes life easy without English. A few Khmer courtesies do however significantly improve relations with locals.
- Can you easily change city after settling?
- Yes. No administrative constraint ties an expat to a specific city — visa and work permit are valid across the entire territory. The only hurdle is logistical: breaking a lease, moving. Many expats start in Phnom Penh for paperwork, then move to Kampot or Siem Reap once their situation is settled.