Question 1

Can I live in Cambodia on $1,000 a month?

Accepted Answer

Yes, $1,000 a month is comfortably above CostLiving's moderate benchmark of $925 for Cambodia, sitting between that and the comfortable tier of $1,435 per person per month. It funds a real expat life rather than a bare-bones one. In Phnom Penh or Siem Reap that money takes a modern, air-conditioned studio or one-bedroom in a decent area for $350 to $550, then covers utilities, a local SIM and fast internet, and most meals out, because a plate of local food runs a couple of dollars and even Western restaurants are affordable. Cambodia is also unusually easy on the practical side for long-stayers: the economy runs on US dollars, and the renewable business visa is one of the simplest in the region, so you are not fighting the paperwork that eats into budgets elsewhere. What $1,000 does not stretch to is heavy reliance on imported goods, frequent flights, or private international schooling. For a single person who rents modestly and eats locally, though, it is enough to live well with savings left over. For how Cambodia ranks globally, see our roundup of the cheapest places to live. Full tier breakdown on our Cambodia cost of living page.

Question 2

Can you retire in Cambodia on Social Security?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and comfortably. The average US Social Security retirement benefit runs around $1,900 to $2,100 a month in 2026, which clears CostLiving's comfortable tier for Cambodia of $1,435 per person per month and leaves a cushion, even approaching the luxury standard of $2,220. That makes Cambodia one of the few places where a single Social Security cheque funds not just survival but a comfortable retirement: an air-conditioned apartment in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, meals out most days, help with cleaning, and money set aside for travel or healthcare. The practical points matter as much as the budget. Cambodia's economy runs on US dollars, so there is no currency conversion to manage on your pension, and the long-stay visa is straightforward to renew, which removes the residency friction that complicates retirement in some neighbouring countries. The real gap to plan for is healthcare, since serious treatment often means travelling to Bangkok or Singapore, so most retirees budget for private insurance or a medical fund. On the everyday numbers, though, Social Security stretches further here than in almost any other retirement destination. For how Cambodia compares globally, see our roundup of the cheapest places to live. Full tier breakdown on our Cambodia cost of living page.

Question 3

How much does it cost to live in Cambodia for a year?

Accepted Answer

Annualised from CostLiving's tiers: roughly $6,660 for a year at the budget tier ($555 a month), $11,100 at the moderate tier ($925), and $17,220 living comfortably ($1,435). Base yourself in Phnom Penh specifically and the moderate year runs closer to $13,800 ($1,150 a month). The annual frame surfaces costs that monthly snapshots hide, and Cambodia has three worth budgeting explicitly. Visa renewals: the long-stay route is cheap by regional standards but still a recurring line every year. Health cover: private insurance with medical-evacuation cover to Bangkok is the sensible baseline, since Cambodian hospitals handle routine care well and serious cases poorly. And the hot-season energy spike: running air conditioning through March to May pushes utility bills up noticeably, enough to feel it at the budget tier. A single person on $12,000 a year lives a proper moderate life with all three covered. A couple should plan around $18,000 to $20,000 rather than double. Full breakdowns on our Cambodia cost of living page.

Question 4

Is Cambodia cheaper than Thailand?

Accepted Answer

They are close enough that the honest answer is "about the same, with a slight edge to Cambodia". CostLiving puts Cambodia at $1,150 a month at the moderate tier for a single person, against Thailand's moderate benchmark of $1,175, a difference of just $25 that is well within the margin of how and where you actually live. The two diverge more on texture than on total. Thailand offers deeper infrastructure, better healthcare, more polished cities, and a wider spread of price points, from cheap northern towns to pricey Bangkok and the islands, so it is easy to spend well above or below the benchmark. Cambodia is flatter and simpler: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap dominate, local prices are very low, and the dollar-based economy plus an easy long-stay visa keep friction down. Where Cambodia often wins on paper is the practical stuff around living there rather than the shopping basket. Where Thailand wins is quality and choice for a similar spend. So neither is dramatically cheaper; the moderate figures land within a rounding error of each other, and the decision usually comes down to lifestyle and visa fit rather than raw cost. Full tier breakdown on our Cambodia cost of living page.

Question 5

Is Cambodia cheap to live in?

Accepted Answer

Yes, among the cheapest in Southeast Asia. CostLiving's moderate benchmark for Cambodia is $925 a month for a single person, with the budget tier at $555 and comfortable at $1,435. Phnom Penh runs above the national figure at $1,150 a month moderate, and the pattern inverts in Siem Reap and the provinces, where the national benchmark stretches further. Housing is the standout: $410 a month at the moderate tier covers a modern one-bed in the capital's expat districts, and the dollar-based economy means no exchange-rate arithmetic, since US dollars circulate alongside riel for anything bigger than a market stall. Set against neighbours, Cambodia undercuts Thailand's moderate benchmark of $1,175 by about $250 on paper, but visas are where it really competes: long-stay options remain simpler and cheaper than almost anywhere in the region, which matters more to annual costs than grocery prices do. The trade-offs are infrastructure and healthcare, where serious treatment means Bangkok. Full tiers on our Cambodia cost of living page, and see how it ranks in our cheapest places to live guide.

Cambodia Cost of Living Questions