😐A single person spends $2,643 per month in United States vs $543 in Cambodia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,857 per month in United States vs $852 in Cambodia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,071 per month in United States vs $1,160 in Cambodia, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in United States is about 387% higher than in Cambodia on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊United States sits 98% above the global median, while Cambodia is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.02$20.02
$2.95៛11.9K
578.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7$74.7
$27.27៛110.1K
174.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.67$11.67
$7.03៛28.4K
66.00%
Cappuccino
$5.30$5.30
$2.30៛9,298
130.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48$2.48
$0.89៛3,575
178.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11$2.11
$0.76៛3,062
177.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.82$5.82
$1.02៛4,129
470.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.92$6.92
$2.55៛10.3K
171.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07$1.07
$2.09៛8,434
-48.80%
White Bread(500g)
$3.62$3.62
$1.66៛6,694
118.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.68$4.68
$0.95៛3,837
392.63%
Eggs
$4.23$4.23
$1.75៛7,081
141.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.07$13.07
$14.08៛56.8K
-7.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.42$12.42
$4.25៛17.2K
192.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.12$16.12
$9.57៛38.6K
68.44%
Apples(1kg)
$5.27$5.27
$3.49៛14.1K
51.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$1.22៛4,913
36.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.51$4.51
$3.49៛14.1K
29.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.02$5.02
$1.40៛5,651
258.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.97$2.97
$1.39៛5,620
113.67%
Onion(1kg)
$3.16$3.16
$1.12៛4,510
182.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.18$2.18
$1.63៛6,598
33.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.28$2.28
$0.71៛2,851
221.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.07$10.07
$2.06៛8,298
388.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.27$15.27
$10.57៛42.6K
44.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.94៛3,777
106.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55$3.55
$1.74៛7,025
104.02%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Cambodia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.45$2.45
$0.99៛3,978
147.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.0$65.0
$10.72៛43.3K
506.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.84$3.84
$0.98៛3,972
291.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71$1.71
$0.98៛3,975
74.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$30.30$30.30
$4.22៛17.0K
618.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88$0.88
$1.17៛4,742
-24.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K$29.7K
$40.8K៛164.7M
-27.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K$26.5K
$37.4K៛150.9M
-29.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$204$204
$89.1៛359.6K
129.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.4$57.4
$5.93៛23.9K
867.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.5$70.5
$24.14៛97.4K
192.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.43$45.43
$41.60៛167.9K
9.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.15$22.15
$9.13៛36.9K
142.61%
Cinema Ticket
$14.14$14.14
$5.05៛20.4K
180.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,373$1,373
$327៛1.3M
320.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.0K$23.0K
$6,835៛27.6M
235.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5$51.5
$22.95៛92.6K
124.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.10$43.10
$22.19៛89.6K
94.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.1$90.1
$72.0៛290.7K
25.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115$115
$56.6៛228.5K
103.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Cambodia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,703$1,703
$410៛1.7M
314.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,451$1,451
$245៛990.1K
491.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,834$2,834
$759៛3.1M
273.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,365$2,365
$457៛1.8M
418.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,338$3,338
$2,703៛10.9M
23.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,570$2,570
$1,321៛5.3M
94.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Cambodia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,326$4,326
$286៛1.2M
1414.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
11.09
-41.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for United States: July 19, 2026
Last update for Cambodia: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,635 in United States vs $163 in Cambodia. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,604 in Washington, MI and $504 in Phnom Penh.
💰Average salary: $4,500 in United States vs $228 in Cambodia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 903% higher in United States.
⭐Dining out costs 248% more in United States.
⭐Public transport is 2400% more expensive in United States.
⭐Salaries are 1874% 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 594% 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 594% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Cambodia or in 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 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