Single expat budget in Cambodia

In 3 bullets

• Phnom Penh, single profile: ~ 700-1,000 USD/month frugal, ~ 1,500-2,500 USD/month comfortable, 3,000+ USD/month generous.
• All figures are estimates anchored to the cost-of-living guide — each line item links to the relevant sourced guide rather than re-asserting raw prices.
• Siem Reap ~ 20-30% cheaper than Phnom Penh at an equivalent lifestyle (housing, food, services).

Overview

Cambodia runs on USD / KHR dual currency (near-fixed rate ~ 4,100 KHR/USD). The structuring expat costs — rent, health, internet — are priced in USD.

This guide invents no figures: it reuses the ranges from the cost-of-living guide and organises them by line item for a single person. For detailed prices and their sources, follow each row’s link.

Monthly budget by line item — Phnom Penh

• Housing: detailed ranges and deposit (2-3 months) in the renting guide and the cost of living.
• Utilities + internet: residential fibre is covered in the fibre internet guide.
• Health / insurance: options (CFE, international insurers) and their costs are compared in the health insurance guide.
• Food, transport, leisure: sourced unit prices (street food, restaurants, groceries, PassApp/Grab) in the cost of living.

Reading the 3 tiers

• Frugal (~ 700-1,000 USD/month): peripheral studio or flatshare, street food + home cooking, few expat outings. Close to a local lifestyle.
• Comfortable (~ 1,500-2,500 USD/month): 1-bedroom in a good area (BKK1, Tonle Bassac), supermarket/restaurant mix, regular outings, occasional travel.
• Generous (3,000+ USD/month): premium condo, upscale dining, frequent travel, broad international insurance.

Siem Reap and other cities

At an equivalent lifestyle, Siem Reap costs ~ 20-30% less than Phnom Penh (housing, food, services), per the city comparison in the cost-of-living guide. The trade-off: fewer high-end medical services and few international schools — minor for a single person, structuring for a family.

How to optimise

• Mix expat and local: the line item that blows up is imported European food — often more expensive than in France (see cost of living). Markets + home cooking cut the bill sharply.
• Neighbourhood: a studio outside BKK1 (Toul Tom Poung, Toul Kork) lowers rent by 30-40% at similar comfort — detail in the renting guide.
• Internet: a residential plan is enough for a single person; no need for a pro dedicated line (see fibre internet).
• Health: weigh CFE-only vs international insurance against your risk tolerance — comparison in the health insurance guide.

FAQ

Can a single person live on under 1,000 USD/month in Phnom Penh?

Yes, in frugal mode (~ 700-1,000 USD/month): peripheral studio, street food, few expat outings. The cost-of-living guide notes this is close to the average Cambodian lifestyle, not advised long-term if you want to stay in the expat community.

What budget for living comfortably single?

~ 1,500-2,500 USD/month allows a relaxed life: 1-bedroom in a good area, regular outings, occasional travel — consistent with the “comfortable single expat” profile in the cost of living.

And in Siem Reap?

Budget ~ 20-30% less than Phnom Penh at an equivalent lifestyle, per the city comparison. Ideal for a single person at a calm pace.

How does this differ from a couple or a digital nomad?

A couple spends more (larger home, two insurances) but enjoys economies of scale; a digital nomad looks like the frugal-to-comfortable single, with an added coworking line. All stay anchored to the same cost-of-living guide.