Cambodia suits adaptable remote workers, regional operators and retirees who value community and can plan around uneven infrastructure. Phnom Penh is the practical services base, Siem Reap the tourism and cultural hub, and Kampot the slower small-town option; none should be chosen without a healthcare contingency.
Choose a city by the service you cannot lose
Phnom Penh concentrates government, business, international schools and the country's deepest private healthcare. Siem Reap combines an international visitor economy with access to Angkor and a more manageable urban scale. Kampot offers a relaxed river-town routine and nearby countryside, but its professional market and clinical depth are much smaller.
Other provincial centres can work for a specific role or relationship, not as interchangeable low-cost bases. Before moving, rank employment, school, specialist care, airport access and reliable workspace. The more remote the setting, the more important transport and medical evacuation become.
Entry permission is not work permission
Cambodia operates an official eVisa service and publishes current entry updates through that portal. Eligible travellers should check nationality, entry point, validity and eArrival requirements immediately before travel; unofficial websites often imitate government services or preserve obsolete fees.
Cambodian labour law states that a foreigner cannot work without a work permit and employment card. Employees, founders and people supplying services locally should confirm the correct immigration and labour route rather than assuming a renewable visitor status covers the activity. Tax registration is a separate question.
Housing value depends on operations
Headline rent can be attractive, but electricity pricing, generator coverage, water, internet, furnishing and building management vary. In Phnom Penh, check lifts, fire exits, nearby construction and flood-prone access. In Siem Reap and Kampot, test water pressure, road condition, insects, damp and whether power and fibre backups support a full workday.
Use a short first lease, document the inventory and clarify deposits, repairs and utilities in writing. Compare at least three properties in the same micro-area. A cheap house that requires frequent tuk-tuk journeys or loses connectivity during storms may not be the lower-cost option.
Road travel connects very different city systems
Most urban movement relies on road transport: walking in selected cores, tuk-tuks and ride-hailing for short trips, and buses or private vehicles between cities. Phnom Penh traffic is the main daily constraint; Siem Reap's centre is more compact; Kampot's outer housing quickly becomes motorbike-dependent.
Domestic journeys can be slow relative to map distance, and seasonal road conditions matter. Check operator safety and live schedules before every intercity trip. If riding or driving, verify licence, vehicle class and insurance rather than assuming local availability equals legal entitlement.
Budget for imported standards and resilience
Local food and services can be inexpensive, while imported groceries, international schooling, premium apartments and medical treatment can change the budget sharply. Cambodia uses the riel officially, with US dollars also common in many transactions; payment practice differs by place and merchant.
Build a city-specific budget from current quotes and include utilities, insurance, visa and work compliance, transport, flights and backup power or data. Keep payment options diversified and understand bank and tax reporting obligations relevant to residence and income.
Wet-season access is a housing test
Cambodia is hot year-round with broad wet and dry seasons, but local drainage and road conditions determine the lived impact. Visit prospective housing after rain, ask what flooded previously and check whether the building remains accessible. Shade, ventilation and dependable air-conditioning matter for health and work.
Use official and reputable local weather updates, keep drinking water and essential medication available and allow extra travel time during severe rain. Rural and river-adjacent plans need an explicit route back to a city with appropriate care.
Healthcare should decide the acceptable distance
Phnom Penh has the broadest private-care options; provincial cities offer more limited routine and emergency capability. Serious illness or trauma may require transfer within the country or abroad. Insurance must describe direct billing, evacuation authorization and exclusions in terms that fit the chosen base.
Identify a nearby clinic, a receiving hospital and the transport path between them before committing. Families should similarly confirm school places and learning support first. Cambodia is most sustainable when low daily costs are paired with a realistic reserve for the systems that are not locally deep.
