Country Guide Living in Cambodia as an Expat
23 businesses across 1 city, curated by the expat community
Why expats choose Cambodia
Cambodia is the least bureaucratic country in Southeast Asia to live in, and that is most of its appeal. Long-stay visas are renewable in-country year after year without a sponsor for most people, the US dollar circulates alongside the riel, English is widely spoken in the places expats gather, and the cost of living is among the lowest in the region.
Siem Reap is the country's second expat centre after Phnom Penh, and a very different proposition: a compact, low-rise town built around the Angkor temple complex, with a food and cafe scene out of all proportion to its size, a long-established NGO and volunteer community, and a pace that suits people who want the region without a capital city. Everything in the centre is walkable or cyclable.
The trade-offs are real and worth knowing before committing. Serious healthcare means flying to Bangkok, which is an hour away and routine for residents. Infrastructure outside the centre is patchy, and the rainy season is genuinely wet. The international airport moved well east of town in 2023, so arrivals now involve a longer transfer than the old in-town runway required.
Expat cities in Cambodia
Frequently asked about living in Cambodia
What visa options are available for expats in Cambodia? +
Most long-stay foreigners enter on an ordinary visa (type E) and then extend it in-country. The EB extension is the common route for people working or job-hunting, ER covers retirees, and both are available for six or twelve months with multiple entries. Extensions are handled by agents almost universally, and unlike most of the region they do not require you to leave the country. A tourist visa (type T) can only be extended once, for a month, so it is not a long-stay option.
How much does it cost to live in Siem Reap? +
Siem Reap is among the cheapest places on this site. A modern one-bedroom apartment in the centre, eating out most days, a motorbike and normal utilities lands most single people comfortably under $1,000 a month, and a good deal less outside the tourist core. Imported goods and Western groceries carry the usual premium, and rents rise around the high season.
Is healthcare good in Cambodia for expats? +
For anything routine, yes: Siem Reap has private clinics used to treating foreigners, with English spoken and low costs. For anything serious, expats fly to Bangkok, which is a short flight away and the standard plan rather than a contingency. Health insurance that covers medical evacuation is considered essential rather than optional here.
Is it safe to live in Siem Reap? +
Siem Reap is generally calm, and violent crime against foreigners is rare. Bag snatching from motorbikes is the common complaint, particularly at night on quiet streets. Traffic is the real risk, as it is across the region. Unexploded ordnance remains a hazard in some rural parts of the country, so stay on marked paths well outside town.
What is the internet like for remote workers in Cambodia? +
Better than most people expect. Fibre is cheap and widely available in Siem Reap, mobile data is inexpensive with good coverage in town, and the cafes and coworking spaces are used to people working all day. Power cuts still happen, so a laptop with real battery life and a mobile hotspot as backup are worth having.
