Cambodia is Southeast Asia’s long-stay secret. It has no nomad visa and a smaller remote-work scene than its neighbours, but it has something else: a visa system that lets foreigners stay for a year at a time for a few hundred dollars, an economy that runs on US dollars, low costs, and a relaxed pace in places like Kampot and Siem Reap. Phnom Penh has a large expat community, good cafes, coworking spaces and riverside life.
The catch is paperwork. Since 2024, the long-stay business visa extension has needed a work permit, so people who want to stay more than a few months need to sort both. Healthcare outside Phnom Penh is limited, and you will occasionally head to Bangkok for anything serious.
This guide covers Cambodia’s bases, visas, money and practicalities as of October 2026.
Why Cambodia Works for Remote Workers#
- Year-long stays. An ordinary (E) visa can be extended in Cambodia for up to 12 months at a time, without visa runs.
- US dollars. Prices, rent and ATMs are in dollars, so there is no exchange-rate guesswork.
- Low costs. A comfortable month costs about $1,100 to $1,500 in Phnom Penh and less in Kampot or Siem Reap.
- Character. Angkor, colonial towns, river life, islands and some of the warmest people in Asia.
- Location. On UTC+7, an hour’s flight from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur.
Who Cambodia Suits (and Who It Doesn't)#
Cambodia suits nomads who want to settle for a year or more at a low cost, people who like small cities and a slower pace, and anyone who wants to be close to Thailand and Vietnam without their visa limits. It is a good base for writers, developers and people who don’t need a big community around them.
It suits you less if you want a large nomad scene, excellent healthcare nearby, or a choice of beaches with good infrastructure. US business hours are hard (9am in New York is 8pm or 9pm in Cambodia). The heat in April and May is intense.
Where to Base Yourself#
- Phnom Penh: the capital, with the most coworking spaces, cafes, restaurants, hospitals and expats. Most foreigners live in BKK1, Tonle Bassac or Toul Tom Poung.
- Siem Reap: the gateway to Angkor, smaller and greener, with a cafe scene, cheap villas and a relaxed community.
- Kampot: a riverside town near the coast, famous for pepper, sunsets and a laid-back expat crowd.
- Kep: a tiny seaside town known for crab, quiet and very cheap living.
- Koh Rong: islands for a beach break, with basic infrastructure.
Our where to base yourself in Cambodia page compares them in more detail.
Visas for Remote Workers in Cambodia#
- Tourist (T) visa: 30 days for $30, as an e-visa or on arrival, extendable once for 30 days. It can’t be converted to a long-stay visa.
- Ordinary (E) visa: 30 days for $35, as an e-visa or on arrival. This is the one long-stayers need, because it can be extended inside Cambodia.
- EB extension: the business extension of an E visa, for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months. Since 2024, immigration has required a valid work permit for 6- and 12-month EB extensions.
- EG extension: a general extension of 1, 3 or 6 months for people looking for work, not renewable.
- ER extension: for retirees, with proof of pension or savings.
Everyone completes the free Cambodia e-Arrival card online before arriving. Our visas, taxes and money page explains work permits and the process step by step.
What It Costs to Live in Cambodia#
A comfortable month for one person costs about $1,100 to $1,500 in Phnom Penh and $900 to $1,300 in Siem Reap or Kampot. A lean budget is about $700 to $900. A modern one-bedroom serviced apartment in central Phnom Penh rents for $350 to $600, a Khmer meal costs $2 to $4, and a good coffee $2 to $3. These are ballpark figures.
Costs that catch people out: imported groceries, electricity for air-conditioning (often billed by the landlord at a mark-up), ATM fees of $4 to $6 per withdrawal, and medical evacuation to Bangkok if you need it.
Time Zone#
Cambodia is on UTC+7 all year, with no daylight saving, the same as Thailand and Vietnam. Your afternoon overlaps with the European morning. US hours are hard: 9am in New York is 8pm or 9pm in Cambodia.
Weather#
| Season | Months | What it’s like |
|---|---|---|
| Cool dry season | November to February | The best months: sunny, around 30°C by day, cooler nights. |
| Hot season | March to May | Very hot, up to 38°C in April, and humid. |
| Wet season | May to October | Afternoon storms, green countryside and fewer tourists. Some rural roads flood. |
Internet and Staying Online#
Fibre from providers such as Ezecom, Opennet and SINET is common in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, at 50 to 300 Mbps, and many apartments include it. For mobile, Smart, Cellcard and Metfone have good 4G and some 5G in the cities; a SIM with a large data package costs a few dollars a month, registered with your passport. Kampot and Kep are slower, and power cuts happen in the hot season.
Getting Around#
PassApp and Grab cover tuk-tuks and cars in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for a few dollars. Long-distance buses and minivans (Giant Ibis is a reliable company) link the main towns, and Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport and Siem Reap’s airport connect to Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and beyond. Many long-stayers rent a scooter; you need a Cambodian licence or valid International Driving Permit and a helmet.
Health and Safety#
Phnom Penh has a few good private hospitals and international clinics, such as the Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and Sunrise Japan Hospital, but for serious or specialist care many people go to Bangkok. Elsewhere, care is basic. Get nomad health insurance with evacuation cover, and use repellent against dengue.
Cambodia is generally safe for foreigners. The main risks are bag and phone snatching from motorbikes in Phnom Penh, traffic, and unexploded ordnance in remote rural areas (stay on marked paths). Be very wary of online job offers in Cambodia: criminal “scam compounds” have trafficked foreigners with fake job ads.
Laws to Know#
- Work permits are required for any work in Cambodia, and for long EB extensions.
- Drugs carry long prison sentences.
- Politics: avoid public criticism of the government or royal family.
- Temples: cover shoulders and knees at Angkor and other temples, and don’t touch monks if you are a woman.
Cambodia Digital Nomad FAQs#
Is Cambodia good for digital nomads?
Yes, for people who want a low-cost, long-stay base. Cambodia allows year-long stays through visa extensions, uses US dollars and has a comfortable life for about $1,100 to $1,500 a month in Phnom Penh. The drawbacks are a small nomad community, limited healthcare and the work permit needed for long extensions.
Does Cambodia have a digital nomad visa?
No. Long-stayers enter on an ordinary (E) visa and extend it in Cambodia, usually as an EB business extension, which now needs a work permit for 6- and 12-month stays.
How long can I stay in Cambodia?
A tourist visa gives 30 days plus one 30-day extension. An ordinary (E) visa can be extended for 1, 3, 6 or 12 months at a time and renewed repeatedly.
Which visa should I get for Cambodia if I want to stay long term?
The ordinary (E) visa, which costs $35. Unlike the tourist visa, it can be extended into a long-stay EB, EG or ER extension.
What currency is used in Cambodia?
US dollars are used for most prices, rent and ATM withdrawals. The Cambodian riel is used for small change, at about 4,000 riel to the dollar.
Is Phnom Penh or Siem Reap better for digital nomads?
Phnom Penh has more coworking spaces, restaurants, hospitals and expats. Siem Reap is smaller, greener and cheaper, with Angkor on the doorstep and a relaxed community.