Official guide — updated
Living in Cambodia: the practical expat guide
Housing, health, banking, transport and schooling — verified, officially sourced guides for expats settling in Cambodia: cost of living and daily life.
Settling in Cambodia means navigating a Khmer-language administration, an unofficial dual currency (USD and Riel), a largely informal property market, and a healthcare system with no public reimbursement.
Regulations change frequently and with little notice — particularly for long-stay visas, work permits and foreign property ownership.
This hub brings together procedures verified against official Cambodian and consular sources: applicable laws, real observed costs and administrative timelines.
Each guide flags the practical pitfalls that on-the-ground experience reveals and that generic resources overlook.
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Housing in Cambodia
Find, rent or buy property in Cambodia
- Renting an apartment in Cambodia Contracts, neighbourhoods, budgetRead →
- Buying a condo as a foreigner Ownership rights and land titlesRead →
- Standard rental lease in Cambodia Key clauses, term, early terminationRead →
- Deposits and utility charges Typical amounts and recoverable chargesRead →
- Co-ownership rights for foreigners Condominium law, land share limitsRead →
- Real estate agents for expats How to choose, fees, pitfallsRead →
Health in Cambodia
Medical cover and healthcare access in Cambodia
- Expat health insurance in Cambodia Costs, essential coverRead →
- Health insurance comparison 2025 ACS, Cigna, Allianz — comparison tableRead →
- Hospitals in Phnom Penh Recommended international hospitalscoming soon
- Hospitals in Siem Reap Clinics, hospitals and emergenciescoming soon
- Recommended & required vaccines Vaccination schedule, tropical vaccinesRead →
- Pharmacies in Cambodia Available medicines, prescriptionsRead →
- Medical emergencies — useful numbers Ambulances, emergency services, numbersRead →
- Medical evacuation to Bangkok Procedure, Thai hospitals, costRead →
Finance and banking in Cambodia
Managing money and bank accounts in Cambodia
- Opening a bank account in Cambodia Required documents, timeline, stepsRead →
- Best banks for expats ABA, Acleda, Canadia — comparisonRead →
- Sending money to Cambodia Western Union, Wise, international wireRead →
- Wise & Revolut in Cambodia Availability, fees, alternativesRead →
- USD vs Riel in daily life Dual currency, when to use whichRead →
- Withdrawing cash in Cambodia ATM fees, networks, withdrawal limitsRead →
Personal taxation in Cambodia
Tax obligations for resident expats and taxation of foreign income
- Cambodian tax residency 183-day rule, resident vs non-resident statusRead →
- French pension taxed in Cambodia ToS on foreign income, no France–Cambodia treatyRead →
- ToS rates for individuals Progressive brackets, calculation and exemptionsRead →
- Filing income with the GDT Filing obligations, forms, deadlinesRead →
Transport and vehicles in Cambodia
Driving, registration and licences for expats
- Cambodian driving licence for foreigners Conversion, tests, costRead →
- Registering a vehicle in Cambodia Procedure, taxes, licence plateRead →
- Driving daily — rules & insurance Traffic rules, mandatory insuranceRead →
- Vehicle inspection (Chhiek) Frequency, approved centres, costRead →
- Annual vehicle tax 2025 rates, online paymentRead →
Civil status and family in Cambodia
Official documents and family procedures in Cambodia
- Getting married in Cambodia Procedure, documents, consular marriageRead →
- Registering a birth Legal deadlines, consulate, local officeRead →
- Document legalisation Apostille, consular legalisationRead →
- French Embassy in Phnom Penh Address, services, appointmentsRead →
- Volunteering & humanitarian missions Statuses, suitable visas, organisationsRead →
- Various permits and authorisations Criminal record, translations, legalisationsRead →
Employment and rights in Cambodia
Find work and understand employee rights as an expat
Daily life in Cambodia
Settling in, getting connected and organising daily life in Cambodia
- Moving to Cambodia Sea/air freight, customs, shipping agentRead →
- Cost of living in Cambodia Typical budgets by city, France comparisonRead →
- SIM and eSIM in Cambodia Smart, Cellcard, Metfone — comparisonRead →
- Fibre internet in Cambodia Ezecom, SINET, Online — speeds and pricesRead →
- Schools in Phnom Penh LFRD, ISPP, NISC, iCAN — fees, enrolmentcoming soon
- Importing a pet to Cambodia Rabies vaccine, ISO chip, health certificateRead →
Budget by expat profile
Monthly cost estimates for each expat profile
- Single expat budget Rent, food, transport, entertainmentRead →
- Couple expat budget Shared costs, couple lifestyleRead →
- Family budget with children International school, health, housingRead →
- Retired expat budget Comfortable retirement, activities, healthRead →
- Digital nomad budget Coworking, internet, mobile lifestyleRead →
- Student budget in Cambodia Student housing, canteen, leisureRead →
Frequently asked questions
- Can foreigners buy land or a house in Cambodia?
- No. The Cambodian Constitution reserves land ownership for Khmer citizens. Foreigners may only acquire condominium units located above the ground floor, subject to the 70% foreign ownership quota per building set by the 2010 Co-ownership Law.
- Do Cambodian hospitals require payment before treating patients?
- Yes. Almost all private international facilities require a deposit or full payment before treatment — including in emergencies. This is the main reason a health insurance policy with direct payment (cashless) cover is essential.
- Do ATMs in Cambodia accept foreign bank cards?
- Yes. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at the vast majority of Cambodian ATMs. Local banks charge a fixed fee of USD 3–5 per withdrawal, on top of any fees from your home bank. Cash is dispensed in USD.
- Do I need a work permit to work remotely from Cambodia?
- Technically yes — any paid activity on Cambodian soil requires a Business (EB) visa and a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour. In practice, many digital nomads operate on an Ordinary (E) visa, in a legal grey area. Cambodia does not yet have an official digital nomad visa.
- Is a marriage held in Cambodia legally valid in France?
- Yes, on two conditions: the marriage must be celebrated before the competent Cambodian authorities (local commune or town hall) and transcribed at the French Consulate in Phnom Penh. Without consular transcription, the marriage has no standing under French civil law.