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Phnom Penh
#113 of 124
Asia

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Phnom Penh compare to Calgary?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Phnom Penh is 52% worse off vs in Calgary

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Phnom Penh compared to Calgary, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$16,800
-$63K (-79%) vs Calgary
Based on 14 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$14,700
-$41K (-74%) vs Calgary
Tax Rate: 13%

Community Insights

New

Phnom Penh is a polarizing "Wild West" destination that offers an unpolished, raw Southeast Asian experience. For software engineers, it presents a stark dichotomy: local employment is financially discouraging, but for remote workers, it is an aggressive geo-arbitrage opportunity.

The city lacks the polish of Bangkok or the safety of Singapore, but it compensates with easy long-term visas and a cost of living so low that a Western junior developer salary allows for a luxury lifestyle. However, the trade-offs are significant: residents must tolerate high pollution, chaotic infrastructure, and genuine safety risks regarding petty crime. It is not a "plug-and-play" digital nomad hub; it requires a certain level of street smarts and adaptability.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents describe a love-hate relationship with the city. Long-term expats (transplants) often praise the freedom and lack of bureaucracy, affectionately calling it the "Kingdom of Wonder." They enjoy the ability to live comfortably on very little.

However, a significant portion of sentiment leans negative regarding safety and environment. Many developers report "burnout" from the constant vigilance needed against phone snatching and the mental toll of the heat and dust, often citing it as a reason for eventually moving on to Vietnam or Thailand.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Calgary.

Rankings

Tax Rate

Top 5%

#6

of 124 cities

13%

Current value (lower is better)

Cost of Living

Top 14%

#17

of 124 cities

27/100

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#82

of 124 cities

49.4/100

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Phnom Penh compared to Calgary?

Avg. Property Price
$2,170 / m²
39% cheaper than Calgary
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Phnom Penh to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
45% cheaper than Calgary
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

The Good

  • Extremely Low Cost of Living: One of the cheapest capitals in Southeast Asia, allowing remote workers to save a massive portion of their income.
  • Accessible Visa Policy: Unlike neighbors like Thailand, Cambodia offers a relatively straightforward Business Visa (E-class) that can be renewed indefinitely without strict income requirements.
  • Emerging Cafe Culture: A surprising density of high-quality, laptop-friendly cafes (e.g., in BKK1 district) with decent Wi-Fi, catering specifically to digital nomads.
  • Western Amenities: The BKK1 and Riverside areas offer a "Western bubble" with imported goods, international restaurants, and high-end condos at a fraction of Western prices.
  • Friendly Local Community: Expats frequently report that Khmers are exceptionally welcoming and friendly compared to more tourist-weary populations in the region.

The Bad

  • Low Local Salaries: Local tech wages are very low (median ~$16.8k/year); working for a local company is often financially unviable for expats compared to remote work.
  • Safety Concerns: Snatch theft (phones/bags) is a persistent issue, requiring constant vigilance in public spaces, unlike safer hubs like Chiang Mai or Da Nang.
  • Severe Pollution & Dust: Air quality is poor (Rank #108/124) with high dust levels and limited green spaces, which can wear down residents over time.
  • Chaotic Traffic: The roads are notoriously dangerous and congested, with a "might makes right" driving culture that discourages walking or cycling.
  • Limited Healthcare: Medical facilities are generally below international standards; serious conditions often require medical evacuation to Bangkok or Singapore.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

The Adventurous Remote Worker: Software engineers with a secure remote job earning $40k+ USD who want to save aggressively while living in a luxury condo.

The Bootstrap Founder: Developers building a startup who need maximum runway (low burn rate) and a hassle-free long-term visa without strict capital requirements.

Skip it if...

The Career Climber: Engineers looking for local mentorship, high-paying local FAANG-tier jobs, or a sophisticated tech ecosystem—it simply doesn't exist here yet.

The Risk-Averse Family: Those with children or health concerns who need world-class healthcare, clean air, and safe, walkable streets.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather1.5/10-62% vs Calgary
Safety49-20%
Pollution77+223%
Events0-100%
1.5/10TechCities weather score vs 3.9/10 in Calgary

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
32°C(vs 11°C in Calgary)
Average Low
25°C(vs 0°C in Calgary)
Sunshine Hours
2,170h/yr-226h/yr(-9%)
Hottest Month High
35°C(vs 23°C in Calgary)
Coldest Month Low
23°C(vs -11°C in Calgary)
Rainy Days
132/yr+87/yr(+195%)

Community & Quality

Phnom Penh community pulse

Phnom Penh has 0 Luma events listed.

100% fewer events than Calgary.

Home Affordability

Bottom 32%

#86

of 124 cities

≈11.8 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Community Events

Bottom 14%

#108

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 13%

#109

of 124 cities

77.2/100

Current value (lower is better)

Purchasing Power

Bottom 10%

#113

of 124 cities

Net Income

Bottom 9%

#114

of 124 cities

$14,700/yr

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 5%

#119

of 124 cities

15/100 weather score

Current value

SWE Affordability
11.8 years
6.7 years longer than Calgary
Muggy Days
336/yr+336/yr(+Infinity%)
Cloud Cover
75%(vs 54% in Calgary)