Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambodia and United States Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambodia and United States

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $546 per month in Cambodia vs $2,645 in United States, rent included.

A couple spends around $852 per month in Cambodia vs $3,858 in United States, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,157 per month in Cambodia vs $5,071 in United States, rent included.

Cambodia is roughly 79% cheaper than United States on average — the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Cambodia sits 59% below the global median, while United States is 97% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

United States has a wider regional cost range ($1,335$5,185) than Cambodia ($0$955), so location matters more when choosing where to live in United States.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cambodia
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 ៛11.7K
$20.28 $20.28
-85.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.38 ៛109.3K
$73.7 $73.7
-62.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.08 ៛28.3K
$11.57 $11.57
-38.81%
Cappuccino
$2.31 ៛9,236
$5.34 $5.34
-56.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ៛3,631
$2.50 $2.50
-63.60%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ៛3,067
$2.10 $2.10
-63.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ៛3,948
$5.96 $5.96
-83.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 ៛10.2K
$7.03 $7.03
-63.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cambodia
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 ៛8,622
$1.09 $1.09
98.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 ៛6,886
$3.56 $3.56
-51.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ៛3,598
$4.75 $4.75
-81.05%
Eggs
$1.82 ៛7,272
$4.26 $4.26
-57.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.14 ៛56.4K
$13.05 $13.05
8.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.29 ៛17.1K
$12.32 $12.32
-65.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.90 ៛39.5K
$16.03 $16.03
-38.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 ៛14.7K
$5.34 $5.34
-30.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 ៛4,987
$1.72 $1.72
-27.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.43 ៛13.7K
$4.55 $4.55
-24.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 ៛5,618
$4.96 $4.96
-71.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.35 ៛5,369
$2.92 $2.92
-53.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 ៛4,511
$3.03 $3.03
-62.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 ៛6,486
$2.23 $2.23
-26.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 ៛2,752
$2.26 $2.26
-69.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 ៛7,796
$10.13 $10.13
-80.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.86 ៛39.3K
$14.93 $14.93
-33.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ៛3,652
$1.94 $1.94
-52.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ៛6,751
$3.51 $3.51
-51.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Cambodia
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 ៛3,914
$2.55 $2.55
-61.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.81 ៛43.1K
$65.8 $65.8
-83.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 ៛4,070
$3.82 $3.82
-73.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ៛3,922
$1.69 $1.69
-42.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.30 ៛17.1K
$29.65 $29.65
-85.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ៛4,523
$0.90 $0.90
25.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.2K ៛168.6M
$30.5K $30.5K
38.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.5K ៛149.5M
$26.4K $26.4K
42.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambodia
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.2 ៛356.1K
$205 $205
-56.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.13 ៛24.4K
$57.2 $57.2
-89.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.15 ៛96.4K
$71.5 $71.5
-66.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cambodia
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.88 ៛171.1K
$45.76 $45.76
-6.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.95 ៛35.7K
$22.31 $22.31
-59.88%
Cinema Ticket
$5.05 ៛20.1K
$13.89 $13.89
-63.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cambodia
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 ៛1.3M
$1,380 $1,380
-76.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,878 ៛27.4M
$22.5K $22.5K
-69.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cambodia
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.05 ៛92.0K
$52.9 $52.9
-56.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.88 ៛87.3K
$42.81 $42.81
-48.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.4 ៛285.0K
$88.8 $88.8
-19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.3 ៛228.5K
$113 $113
-49.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cambodia
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$411 ៛1.6M
$1,742 $1,742
-76.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 ៛976.8K
$1,431 $1,431
-82.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$760 ៛3.0M
$2,864 $2,864
-73.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$452 ៛1.8M
$2,422 $2,422
-81.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,722 ៛10.9M
$3,466 $3,466
-21.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,291 ៛5.2M
$2,650 $2,650
-51.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cambodia
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 ៛1.1M
$4,320 $4,320
-93.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.09
6.51
70.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cambodia: April 20, 2026

Last update for United States: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $161 in Cambodia vs $1,634 in United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $502 in Phnom Penh and $2,570 in Washington, DC.

Average salary: $229 in Cambodia vs $4,489 in United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 915% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 248% more in United States.

Public transport is 2400% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1860% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cambodia vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambodia more expensive than United States?
Cambodia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 583% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in United States, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but United States consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Cambodia, contributing to the overall 583% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Cambodia or United States?
$1,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Cambodia, but in United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Cambodia or United States?
Cambodia is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Cambodia vs other spots: cost of living compared

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