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Cambodia is a fantastic country in Southeast Asia, spread across the low-lying plains of the Mekong Delta, the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand, and the mountains. The average cost of living in Cambodia for a person is around 596 USD, excluding the rent. In addition, the average cost of rent in Cambodia is approximately 388 USD per month around the city centre.
People bear the cheapest cost of living in Cambodia because it takes the most affordable cost for visiting, working and retiring. Let’s find out how cheap it is to live and how convenient the lifestyle is in Cambodia. In this blog, we have broken down the various aspects of the cost of living in Cambodia, such as monthly rent, grocery and meal costs, transportation costs, average tuition fees, utility bills, accommodation costs and more. Let’s dive right into our discussion without any further delay.
This Blog Includes:
Which Currency is used in Cambodia?
The Riel and the USD are the currencies used in Cambodia because businesses accept both currencies here. People of Cambodia and foreigners use USD for expensive transactions and Cambodian Riel(KHR) for small changes. Cambodia’s currency exchange rate is about 4,000 KHR = 1 (United States Dollar) USD. Moreover, ATMs dispense money in USD only unless one chooses the KHR option. Further in this blog, we will use USD to show the cost of living in Cambodia in various categories or sectors.
Also Read: Cost of Living in Vietnam: A Guide on Expected Expenses for International Students
Cost of Living in Cambodia for International Students
The cost of living in Cambodia is a financially feasible option for anyone compared to other countries. The estimated cost of living in Cambodia is around 500 USD a month. With this amount, you can live in a fully furnished apartment with a bathroom with hot water, all the kitchen equipment, a television set, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and an air conditioner on site.
Let’s now examine in detail the average cost of living in Cambodia in various categories such as transportation, groceries, rent, and utility.
Cost of Transportation in Cambodia
The cost of transportation in Cambodia is cheap. Moreover, the transport industry of Cambodia offers tourists several options, like buses and taxis. A solo rider can hop on a scooter, and a tourist seeking novelty can ride a tuk-tuk. A one-way bus ticket can cost around 2 USD from one city to another. Taxi fare can be around 1 USD / km. These fares make the cost of living in Cambodia a little bit easy and accessible for visitors. For you reference the costs of transportation in Cambodia are shown in the table given below:
| Mode of Transportation | Approx. Cost of Transportation |
| One-way Ticket (Bus) | 1.25 USD |
| Monthly Pass (Bus) | 10.60 USD |
| Taxi Start (for 1km) | 1.00 USD |
| Taxi 1 hour Waiting | 4.00 USD |
| Gasoline per liter | 1.18 USD |
Cost of Grocery in Cambodia
The cost of groceries in Cambodia is very affordable. It also depends on the lifestyle and type of food a person is having. 1-2 people in Cambodia would cost roughly 200 USD per month on groceries. These grocery costs can impact the cost of living in Cambodia as it is a part of daily expenses. The table below lists the average grocery prices in Cambodia:
| Grocery Name | Approx. Grocery Cost |
| Milk (1 L or 1 qt) | 2.14 USD |
| Bread( 0.5 kg or 1.1 lb) | 1.78 USD |
| Rice, (1 kg or 2.2 lb) | 0.92 USD |
| Eggs (12) | 1.88 USD |
| Fruits (1 kg or 2.2 lb) | 3 USD |
| Tomato, (1 kg or 2.2 lb) | 1.41 USD |
| Potato, (1 kg or 2.2 lb) | 1.39 USD |
| Onion, (1 kg or 2.2 lb) | 1.24 USD |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 0.69 USD |
Cost of Rent and Utility in Cambodia
Utility costs in Cambodia, such as water, internet, and electricity, are also relatively low. The house rent is around 381 USD, water rent is 0.02 USD/liter, while the electricity bill costs around 30-35 USD /month. Cost of rent and utility is relatively low as compared to the cost of living in Cambodia. Here in the table, we have given the average cost of rent and utility in Cambodia:
| Rent and Utility | Approx. Cost of Rent and Utility |
| 1 bedroom apartment in City Center | 381 USD |
| 3-bedroom apartment in City Center, | 876 USD |
| Utility Bill for 85m2 Apartment(electricity, heating, water, etc.) | 93 USD |
| Internet plan for 1 month unlimited at 60 Mbps+ | 28 USD |
Also Read: Cost of Living in Thailand: A Guide for International Students
Average Tuition Fees in Cambodia
Apart from cheaper cost of living in Cambodia, it is also the home of the world’s best university because it has 45 universities and these universities contain 834 study programs. If we go further and categorise these programs into 442 Bachelor programs, 311 Master programs,and 81 PhD programs. The table below lists the popular Bachelor programs, Master programs,and PhD programs with their average tuition fees.
| Sn. | Programs | Approx. Tuition Fees for Bachelor programs | Approx. Tuition Fees for Master programs | Approx. Tuition Fees for PhD programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Management | 960.17 USD | 1,158.70 USD | 724.70 USD |
| 2 | Economics | 915.70 USD | 702.42 USD | 669.38 USD |
| 3 | Business | 1,266.02 USD | 1,063.87 USD | 816.32 USD |
| 4 | Finance and Banking | 1,182.50 USD | 1,245.19 USD | – |
| 5 | Accounting | 1,075.86 USD | 799.49 USD | – |
| 6 | Education and Teaching | 1,348.54 USD | 657.66 USD | 680.22 USD |
| 7 | Law and Jurisprudence | 1,181.51 USD | 762.11 USD | 625.14 USD |
| 8 | Humanities | 932.49 USD | 730.19 USD | 397.33 USD |
| 9 | Computer Science | 1,457.47 USD | 852.52 USD | – |
| 10 | IT | 1,472.50 USD | 779.68 USD | 454.81 USD |
| 11 | Tourism | 1,176.62 USD | 1,198.79 USD | 879.64 USD |
| 12 | Sociology | 689.65 USD | 648.43 USD | 579.75 USD |
| 13 | Arts | 716.50 USD | 722.55 USD | 269.89 USD |
| 14 | Hospitality | 1,751.35 USD | 884.63 USD | – |
| 15 | Engineering | 859.29 USD | 778.55 USD | 602.25 USD |
| 16 | Technology | 675.18 USD | 721.93 USD | 269.89 USD |
| 17 | Architecture | 1,490.91 USD | 753.96 USD | – |
| 18 | Marketing | 958.02 USD | 1,674.47 USD | – |
| 19 | Agriculture | 844.65 USD | 804.11 USD | – |
| 20 | Philology | 895.16 USD | 770.69 USD | 249.89 USD |
| 21 | Administration | 1,412.01 USD | 949.44 USD | 925.45 USD |
| 22 | Mathematics | 692.61 USD | 683.11 USD | 697.71 USD |
| 23 | International Relations | 906.62 USD | 701.71 USD | 779.68 USD |
| 24 | History | 697.08 USD | 637.99 USD | 979.60 USD |
| 25 | Dentistry | – | – | 827.15 USD |
Things to Know When Moving to Cambodia
Now, you understand the all important aspects which gave some idea of the cost of living in Cambodia. There are other things about Cambodia that every immigrant must be aware of before moving there. So, here are some points one should know and keep in mind:
Employment Opportunities for Immigrants in Cambodia
Cambodia has become a popular destination for migrant teachers due to the construction of many international schools. Many foreign companies even hire settlers—people who wish to work as writers, digital nomads, marketing professionals, or academic staff must have a high level of English communication. These employment opportunities for immigrants make the cost of living in Cambodia affordable.
Cost Of Work Permits and Visas
Expats need a work permit and a visa to work legally in Cambodia. The cost of work permits for immigrants to live in Cambodia is around 100 USD to 300 USD, while the visa cost can range from 30 USD to 300 USD, depending on the type and duration of stay. Immigrants need to know this essential factor, which comes under the cost of living in Cambodia when planning their move here.
The following paperwork is required if you are applying for a Cambodian visa:
- A visa application
- A passport must be valid for at least the next six months
- A passport-sized photograph
- A self-addressed stamped and pre-paid return envelope
You must submit a few other documents for business visa applications, and a small fee will be charged during the visa process. First, when you apply for a business visa, and second, after moving to Cambodia, if you extend the visa to the Ministry of Interior. This can increase the Cost of Living in Cambodia.
Any of the documents can be valid for a business visa, supporting the need for you to apply for a business visa:
- an invitation from Cambodia,
- a letter from your company
- a letter from your sponsor
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FAQs
Ans: The monthly cost of living in Cambodia for a four-member family is estimated at around 2,092 USD excluding the rent. Moreover, the estimated monthly fee for a single person is 594 USD, excluding the rent.
Ans: The Cost of food to live in Cambodia is around 1 USD – 2 USD. The Cost of making food at home and taking away meals is almost similar. Even the sit-down restaurant costs about 6 USD. These lower food costs make the Cost of living in Cambodia affordable.
Ans: The cost of work permits for immigrants to live in Cambodia is around 100 USD to 300 USD, while the visa cost can range from 30 USD to 300 USD, depending on the type and duration of stay.
So, this was all about the cost of living in Cambodia. Many Indian students dream of pursuing education in foreign nations due to the exposure and career growth they offer. Consider joining a free counselling session with Leverage Edu if you plan to study abroad.
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