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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,626 per month in United States vs $551 in Cambodia, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,830 per month in United States vs $872 in Cambodia, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,033 per month in United States vs $1,192 in Cambodia, rent included.

The cost of living in United States is about 377% higher than in Cambodia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

United States sits 90% above the global median, while Cambodia is 60% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.83 $19.83
$3.02 ៛12.2K
556.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 $78.8
$30.41 ៛123.1K
159.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 $12.19
$7.15 ៛29.0K
70.49%
Cappuccino
$5.59 $5.59
$2.39 ៛9,675
133.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$1.04 ៛4,216
167.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 $2.18
$0.61 ៛2,482
257.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.86 $5.86
$0.97 ៛3,942
504.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$2.48 ៛10.0K
223.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$2.17 ៛8,768
-50.69%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$1.71 ៛6,934
115.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.66 $4.66
$0.91 ៛3,697
412.09%
Eggs
$4.20 $4.20
$1.78 ៛7,205
135.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.78 $12.78
$14.40 ៛58.3K
-11.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.40 $12.40
$3.92 ៛15.9K
216.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.90 $16.90
$9.43 ៛38.2K
79.22%
Apples (1kg)
$5.23 $5.23
$3.67 ៛14.9K
42.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.46 ៛5,915
13.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$4.20 ៛17.0K
3.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$1.57 ៛6,376
215.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.28 ៛5,167
120.31%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 $3.11
$1.14 ៛4,616
172.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.36 ៛5,522
61.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.79 ៛3,192
186.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.35 $10.35
$1.77 ៛7,183
484.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.81 $14.81
$10.36 ៛41.9K
42.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.00 ៛4,045
109.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65 $3.65
$1.84 ៛7,456
98.37%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Cambodia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.38 $2.38
$0.97 ៛3,936
145.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.5 $64.5
$9.83 ៛39.8K
556.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 $3.54
$1.12 ៛4,552
216.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.01 ៛4,098
84.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.34 $30.34
$4.93 ៛20.0K
515.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.28 ៛5,183
-21.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$34.9K ៛141.2M
1.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$33.9K ៛137.2M
-23.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$222 $222
$106 ៛428.8K
109.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.1 $61.1
$6.65 ៛26.9K
819.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.7 $74.7
$22.05 ៛89.3K
238.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.49 $44.49
$40.65 ៛164.6K
9.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.35 $22.35
$10.08 ៛40.8K
121.73%
Cinema Ticket
$15.03 $15.03
$5.07 ៛20.5K
196.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,431 $1,431
$534 ៛2.2M
168.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K $25.9K
$6,471 ៛26.2M
299.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.6 $53.6
$27.75 ៛112.4K
93.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.46 $43.46
$22.73 ៛92.0K
91.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.5 $91.5
$76.5 ៛309.7K
19.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$49.16 ៛199.1K
131.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Cambodia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 $1,633
$371 ៛1.5M
340.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,328 $1,328
$261 ៛1.1M
408.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,606 $2,606
$791 ៛3.2M
229.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,206 $2,206
$563 ៛2.3M
292.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,323 $3,323
$2,658 ៛10.8M
25.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,653 $2,653
$1,325 ៛5.4M
100.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,306 $4,306
$283 ៛1.1M
1420.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
8.19
-24.18%

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

Last update for United States: September 7, 2026

Last update for Cambodia: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,604 in United States vs $140 in Cambodia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,360 in Columbia, TN and $630 in Phnom Penh.

Average salary: $4,526 in United States vs $226 in Cambodia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 1046% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 213% more in United States.

Public transport is 1250% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 1903% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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
United States vs Cambodia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambodia more expensive than United States?
Cambodia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 519% 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 519% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget in Cambodia or in United States?
$1,500 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 to 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.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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