In this report, I will share the cost to retire in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, including rent, utilities, groceries, restaurants, transportation, and other expenses for low to middle-range living costs.
I first visited Cambodia eleven years ago and did my first cost of living report for Phnom Penh when I visited 5 years ago. So, during this visit in 2025, I updated my cost of living data and will now share it with you.
I left the United States 18 years ago, and I have been to 73 countries so far. As I travel the world, I report on the best places to retire cheap in paradise. Five years ago, Cambodia was one of the cheapest places to live, and that is still true.
I flew to Cambodia from the USA, where I was visiting family and friends for two weeks. I found the cheapest one-way flight to Phnom Penh on Skyscanner for $541 USD. Once I learned the cheapest flight from Skyscanner, I booked it directly with Korean Airlines only 5 days before I flew.
Once I cleared immigration and got my luggage in Phnom Penh, I bought a Cambodian SIM card for my unlocked Samsung smartphone for $15 USD in Cambodia. I used a Grab taxi to get to my hotel for $7 USD.
On this visit to Phnom Penh, I stayed in this Airbnb Condo for about $25 USD per night, links are provided.
In this video, I will only share my updated cost of living numbers, but the full written report includes retirement desirability factors such as Medical, Walkability, Internet, Food, Weather, Things to Do, Social considerations, Expat Community, Real Estate, and My Overall Retirement Desirability Score for Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The written report also includes my favorite restaurants, things to do, nightlife walking tour, city walking tour, and other useful information, plus my report from 5 years ago.
Okay, here are my estimated costs of living converted into US dollars if the two of us moved to Phnom Penh year-round on a tight budget. As I go, I will also share what more typical middle-range expats might spend.
Estimated Cost to Retire in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Rents: I found this furnished 1 Bedroom Apartment advertised today for rent for $299 USD per month for a one year lease in one of our favorite parts of the city. If you rent for a shorter period on Airbnb it would be much more expensive.
If you rent a larger apartment on a one year lease, the middle range rent would be higher, around $600 USD per month on up depending upon area and size.
Here is the process we use to find great apartments. So, we will show you a table of all expenses in a moment. We will use $299 per month for our lower rent estimate and $600 per month rent for the middle cost of living estimate for expats who want a little more space.
If you are willing to ride public transportation or drive a scooter or car 30 minutes outside of central. You could easily save an additional 20 to 40% on rent.
Utilities: We estimate that the year-round average for our utilities would be about $50 USD per month. The utilities would cost more for the larger space, starting at around $100 USD per month.
Groceries: When possible, we would purchase fruits and vegetables from the Farmer’s Market, small shops, and street vendors to save money. But we would also shop in grocery stores for nonperishable foods and other things like shampoo and detergents. We estimate about $250 per month for groceries. Other expats are likely to shop more often in expensive grocery stores, often spending more than $350 per month on groceries.
Restaurants: We would eat out twice per week, mostly in more local-style restaurants a few blocks back from the tourist areas, for about $3 to $4 USD per meal per person and one or two splurges per month of $6 to $10 USD per meal per person. If you add all that up, we would spend around $150 per month for the two of us in restaurants. We may have a beer here and there, but that is covered below in alcohol.
Other expats are likely to eat more often at expensive expat-style restaurants and less in local-style restaurants, and cook less at home, so they would likely spend more like $300 per month for 2 people in restaurants. It is lifestyle-dependent.
Cell Phone Data: The cost to get a single prepaid SIM card for your unlocked smartphone is about $15 USD per month. When we were out of the house together both phones could be online using the hot spot. Other expat couples are likely to buy two prepaid SIM cards so they would spend $30 USD per month.
Laundry: Many apartments in Phnom Penh have a washing machine and my above grocery estimate includes laundry detergent, so laundry would cost nothing extra. People in SE Asia hang dry their clothes.
Drinking Water: We didn’t see reverse osmosis delivery in 20-liter jugs here so we would probably get a Brita water filter for the refrigerator. The filter refills would be about $5 USD per month.
Internet: 50 MBPS up and down is about $45 USD for in-home wifi.
Transportation: The city of Phnom Penh has local buses that cosy about $0.40 USD no matter where you are going. We walked mostly while in Phnom Penh but they also have Grab Taxi Tuk-Tuks that are pretty cheap. They take you around most places in the central area for around $3 to $4 USD. So we would walk mostly and spend about $40 USD for transportation.
Other expats may take more Grab Taxis, walk less, and possibly buy a scooter, so I estimate $120 per month for them.
Alcohol (Optional): Domestic beers in corner markets in Phnom Penh are about $1 USD for a half-liter, which is about 16 ounces. That works out to be about $0.75 USD for a standard-size can of beer in the USA. In bars and restaurants, domestic beers range from around $1 to $6 USD. So, we estimate about $80 per month on alcohol for the two of us.
Other expats often spend a higher amount for imported foreign or craft beers in convenience stores, bars, and restaurants, so we estimate about $200 USD per month for 2 people.
Entertainment (Optional): We would budget about $200 per month for entertainment for the two of us. We generally enjoy doing more do-it-yourself kinds of entertainment, so other expats would spend a little more, maybe $300 per month, for the 2 of them?
Estimated Costs to Retire in Phnom Penh Cambodia
|
Phnom Penh Cambodia |
Lower (USD) |
Middle (USD) |
|
Rent |
299 |
600 |
|
Utilities |
50 |
100 |
|
Groceries |
250 |
350 |
|
Restaurants |
150 |
300 |
|
Cell Data |
15 |
30 |
|
Laundry |
0 |
0 |
|
Drinking Water |
5 |
5 |
|
Internet |
45 |
45 |
|
Transportation |
40 |
120 |
|
Total |
$854 |
$1550 |
|
|
|
|
|
Alcohol |
80 |
200 |
|
Optional Total |
$934 |
$1750 |
|
|
|
|
|
Entertainment |
200 |
300 |
|
Optional Total |
$1134 |
$2050 |
We gathered this data with our feet on the ground here in February of 2025, so adjust for inflation after that. The above lower estimated cost of living would be if the two of us lived in Phnom Penh on a tight budget.
The middle estimate is just an example of what more typical expats might spend if they moved here.
To understand what it would cost you to live here, you must put your feet on the ground, see how you would choose to live, eat, and entertain yourself, and add it all up. It doesn’t matter what anyone else spends because we are all different.
So, what would it cost you to live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia?
If you are going to try to retire cheap offshore, make sure to read my report, the Two Biggest Risks of Retiring Early for Cheap Offshore, which explains why you should have emergency funds available for unexpectedly large expenses (and how much).
To get a better understanding of things you should add to our estimated cost of living watch this video: 9 Reasons You Can’t Retire on $1000 Month Overseas.
Most people will likely be unable to retire for the lower range estimate above. I give example reasons why in this report. Plus, this other report explains how to avoid coming home early with your tail between your legs.
You should also add anything to the above table that you spend money on in your home country that is not listed in the above table. Presumably, you find those things necessary in life.
To do that, visit Numbeo Phnom Penh and add anything not mentioned in the above table. Anything not on Numbeo you should add during your exploratory visit to Phnom Penh so you learn your personal cost of living before deciding to move here.
Never move anywhere until you have visited first personally to verify the living costs for your lifestyle and needs. I am not guaranteeing these prices. These are just my notes and estimates from the time of my visit and this post. Your costs will likely be drastically different depending on your lifestyle and the time since this post.
Many of the expats we meet living overseas are self-insured for medical care. That means that not everyone buys health insurance when they move overseas. That probably sounds crazy to many of you.
I didn’t carry medical insurance for most of my first 17 years living overseas. But last year I bought medical insurance. If you are wondering what it costs and what it covers, watch my medical insurance video at this link. This is not an affiliate link.
More typical expats’ living costs in Phnom Penh range from about $1800 to $3500 per month. But people who spend that much often have higher savings, incomes, or pensions. They often report spending more on accommodations and entertainment, eating out more, traveling more, and drinking more alcohol. Many also have more expensive cars, houses, or apartments.
Cambodia Visas
Tourist Visa: Many countries can get a visa on entry for $40 USD. Make sure to bring one passport-size photo and US cash for your visa on entry. The USD cash you give to immigration must be the most recent version, they do not accept past versions even though past versions are legal tender in the USA. The notes must also be in pristine condition with no tears, marks, ink, or fading. I am not kidding. You can also apply for a tourist T-type visa before arriving in Cambodia.
Retiree Visa: If you think you may want to get a long-stay visa while you are in Cambodia, you must apply and obtain an E-Type visa before you arrive in Cambodia. If you enter Cambodia with an E-Type visa instead of a tourist visa, you will be eligible to apply for an ER-Type visa (retirement).
Employment or Business Visa: If you are under age 55, and you think you may want to get a long-stay visa while you are in Cambodia, you must apply and obtain an E-Type visa before you arrive in Cambodia. If you enter Cambodia with a tourist or T-Type visa or a tourist visa on arrival, you will be required to exit Cambodia and re-enter with an E-Type visa. Once in Cambodia, you can apply for a work permit if you need one, as discussed by the following two guests who were too young to get a retirement visa.
Interviews: Expats Living in Cambodia
2025 Phnom Penh Old Town Walking Tour
I updated the 2019 Old Town Walking Tour to include a few things including the large public market in the central area. That mark is where you will get the best deals on food to cook at home once you learn the market prices and how to bargain.
This Goolge Map Walking Tour should be walked in the morning before things get too warm. Break it into two if you get tired.
2025 BKK Nightlife Map
In our last report, we stayed in central Phnom Penh. But during that visit, we also found the area we would live if we moved here. That area is affectionately called BKK. If you get a chance, and you enjoy nightlife, take this Google Map Nightlife Walking Tour of BKK.
2025 Central Phnom Penh Nightlife Walking Map
2025 Restaurants Update
Mercy House: Veggie Tofu $3.50
SCORE Sports Bar: 2 Eggs Toast Hash Browns $5, Omelet $5, Capuccino $3, Fries $2.50, Diet Coke $2.50
Farm to Table: Jack Fruit Tacos $6.60
Backyard Cafe: Hummus, Pumpkin Sandwich $6.50
Element Restaurant: Amok $6.50
2025 Markets/Malls Update
AEON Mall: Modern brands and Western prices.
Lucky Supermarket: Expat Supermarket
Central Market: Local Market and Local Restaurants
This report will be added to the front of the Phnom Penh report created 5 years ago so you can see how things have changed. Next week, I will post the cost of living update for Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Make sure to grab a copy of the free e-book about financial independence so you can retire early. Click the video on-screen now if you would like to know my favorite places to retire overseas in 2025.