Cambodia’s remote workers are spread across a capital, a temple town and a handful of small riverside and seaside places. None has a big nomad scene, but each has a settled expat community and a very different pace. This page compares six bases.
The costs below are ballpark figures for a comfortable month for one person: a one-bedroom apartment or small house on a monthly rate, eating out most days, transport and a social life.
The Bases at a Glance#
| Base | Comfortable month | Best months | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh | $1,100 to $1,500 | November to February | City life, coworking, healthcare |
| Siem Reap | $900 to $1,300 | November to February | Angkor, cafes, relaxed community |
| Kampot | $900 to $1,200 | November to April | Riverside town, slow life |
| Kep | $800 to $1,100 | November to April | Seaside quiet, very cheap |
| Battambang | $700 to $1,000 | November to February | Art, countryside, few foreigners |
| Koh Rong | $1,000 to $1,400 | December to April | Island life, short stays |
Phnom Penh#
The capital sits where the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers meet, with French colonial buildings, royal palaces, a riverside promenade and a fast-growing skyline. BKK1 is the expat heart, with cafes, restaurants and serviced apartments; Toul Tom Poung (around the Russian Market) is more bohemian; Tonle Bassac and the riverside are central and modern. It has the country’s coworking spaces, best hospitals and international flights from the new Techo International Airport. Traffic, heat and bag snatching are the downsides.
Siem Reap#
The town next to Angkor Wat is smaller, greener and calmer, with a pub street for tourists and quieter neighbourhoods of villas and cafes for residents. Rents are low, a bicycle is enough to get around, and you can watch sunrise at the temples on a weekday morning. It has a small but loyal community of long-stayers and creatives. The new airport is 50 km out of town.
Kampot#
A sleepy riverside town near the south coast, with colonial shophouses, pepper farms, Bokor Mountain and riverside guesthouses where people come for a week and stay for years. It has a few cafes for working and a friendly expat scene. Internet is fine in town but slower outside it, and healthcare is basic, so serious cases go to Phnom Penh.
Kep#
A tiny seaside town half an hour from Kampot, famous for its crab market and quiet. It suits people who want calm, nature and very low costs. There is little to do in the evenings and very few services.
Battambang#
Cambodia’s second city by population feels like a big country town, with colonial streets, an arts scene, the famous circus school, and countryside full of temples and rice fields. It has very few foreigners, cheap rents and decent internet in town. It suits nomads who want an authentic, quiet base.
Koh Rong#
The islands off Sihanoukville have white sand and clear water, with guesthouses and bungalows. Power and internet are unreliable, healthcare is minimal and boat schedules depend on the weather, so they are better for a short break than a long-term base. Sihanoukville itself, transformed by casino development, is not a good base.
Choosing Your Base#
- Start in Phnom Penh to sort your visa, work permit, bank account and SIM, then decide.
- Visit in the cool season. November to February is the most comfortable everywhere.
- Check the internet before you rent, especially outside Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
- Think about healthcare. Outside the capital, serious cases need a long drive or a flight to Bangkok.
Where to Base FAQs#
Where do most digital nomads live in Cambodia?
Most live in Phnom Penh, which has the coworking spaces, hospitals and biggest expat community. Siem Reap and Kampot have smaller, settled groups of long-stayers.
What is the cheapest place in Cambodia for digital nomads?
Battambang and Kep are the cheapest, at about $700 to $1,100 a month for a comfortable life.
Is Kampot good for digital nomads?
Kampot suits nomads who want a slow, cheap riverside life with a friendly expat scene. Internet is fine in town, but healthcare is basic and there is little coworking.
Is Sihanoukville good for digital nomads?
Not really. Casino development has changed the city, and it lacks the community and charm of Kampot or Siem Reap. The nearby islands are better for short breaks.