Cambodia · Southeast Asia · Currency: USD
Phnom Penh has a cost of living index of 24.8, making it a very low cost city compared to New York (baseline = 100). It ranks #97 out of 113 cities tracked globally.
The local currency is USD. A salary of $75,000 USD in New York would need to be approximately $18,600 in Phnom Penh to maintain the same purchasing power.
The approximate average effective income tax rate in Cambodia is 0%. This is a tax-free jurisdiction with no mandatory employee deductions.
Estimated monthly expense allocation for a mid-range earner living in Phnom Penh. Housing costs are based on average one-bedroom rent in the city center ($450/month), with other categories adjusted for the local cost of living index.
Estimates based on a mid-range salary adjusted for Phnom Penh's COLI of 24.8 and Cambodia's total deduction rate of 0.0%. Individual expenses will vary.
Estimated annual deductions for a mid-range salary of $18,600 in Phnom Penh. This shows all mandatory payroll deductions as a local employee.
Rates shown are for a local employee. Expat rates may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.
Two numbers per role: local market (verified national stats, OECD estimate, or COLI fallback — same badges as /is-my-salary-good/) and a lifestyle equivalent (NYC baseline × city COLI / 100). The equivalent is not market pay. Senior column is COLI-scaled.
| Job Title | Local market (mid) | Lifestyle equivalent (mid) | COLI senior equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor (General) | $12,600 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $44,640 COLI equivalent | $86,800 |
| Surgeon | $19,600 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $69,440 COLI equivalent | $124,000 |
| Dentist | $11,200 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $39,680 COLI equivalent | $74,400 |
| Pharmacist | $7,500 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $31,000 COLI equivalent | $49,600 |
| Nurse | $3,480 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $14,384 COLI equivalent | $24,800 |
| Psychologist | $5,100 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $21,080 COLI equivalent | $37,200 |
| Software Engineer | $8,500 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $21,080 COLI equivalent | $44,640 |
| DevOps Engineer | $9,500 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $23,560 COLI equivalent | $43,400 |
| Data Scientist | $9,500 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $23,560 COLI equivalent | $42,160 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $5,460 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $19,344 COLI equivalent | $34,720 |
| Civil Engineer | $5,040 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $17,856 COLI equivalent | $33,480 |
| Electrical Engineer | $5,600 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $19,840 COLI equivalent | $35,960 |
| Architect | $5,040 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $17,856 COLI equivalent | $32,240 |
| UX Designer | $7,500 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $18,600 COLI equivalent | $34,720 |
| Product Manager | $10,000 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $24,800 COLI equivalent | $47,120 |
| Project Manager | $5,600 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $19,840 COLI equivalent | $37,200 |
| Financial Analyst | $6,240 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $19,344 COLI equivalent | $35,960 |
| Accountant | $4,960 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $15,376 COLI equivalent | $27,280 |
| Business Analyst | $5,250 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $18,600 COLI equivalent | $34,720 |
| Consultant | $6,300 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $22,320 COLI equivalent | $44,640 |
| Investment Banker | $12,000 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $37,200 COLI equivalent | $86,800 |
| Actuary | $8,800 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $27,280 COLI equivalent | $49,600 |
| Lawyer | $6,000 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $24,800 COLI equivalent | $54,560 |
| Paralegal | $3,120 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $12,896 COLI equivalent | $21,080 |
| Marketing Manager | $5,040 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $17,856 COLI equivalent | $33,480 |
| Sales Manager | $5,600 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $19,840 COLI equivalent | $39,680 |
| Graphic Designer | $13,640 COLI estimate only — not market pay | $13,640 COLI equivalent | $24,800 |
| Content Writer | $12,400 COLI estimate only — not market pay | $12,400 COLI equivalent | $22,320 |
| HR Manager | $4,900 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $17,360 COLI equivalent | $32,240 |
| Operations Manager | $5,740 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $20,336 COLI equivalent | $37,200 |
| CEO / Executive | $15,400 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $54,560 COLI equivalent | $124,000 |
| Teacher | $2,880 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $11,904 COLI equivalent | $21,080 |
| Professor | $5,700 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $23,560 COLI equivalent | $44,640 |
| Research Scientist | $5,100 OECD / estimated · Estimated · NIS Cambodia | $21,080 COLI equivalent | $38,440 |
| Pilot | $29,760 COLI estimate only — not market pay | $29,760 COLI equivalent | $62,000 |
| Chef | $12,400 COLI estimate only — not market pay | $12,400 COLI equivalent | $24,800 |
| Journalist | $12,896 COLI estimate only — not market pay | $12,896 COLI equivalent | $23,560 |
Salary ranges are estimates adjusted by Phnom Penh's COLI (24.8) relative to the New York baseline (100). Actual salaries depend on experience, company, and industry.
Understanding your take-home pay is critical when evaluating a move to Phnom Penh. With total deductions of approximately 0.0% (income tax + social security) in Cambodia and average one-bedroom rent of $450/month, here is what a mid-range salary looks like:
After taxes, a mid-range earner in Phnom Penh takes home approximately $1,550 per month. With housing consuming roughly 29% of after-tax income, careful budgeting is essential in this very low cost city. Your purchasing power in Phnom Penh is 403% of what it would be in New York for the same nominal salary.
17 neighborhoods tracked with cost multipliers relative to the city average. This neighborhood-level data helps you understand exactly how costs vary within Phnom Penh.
| Neighborhood | Multiplier | vs City Avg |
|---|---|---|
| BKK1 | 1.30x | +30% |
| Tonle Bassac | 1.22x | +22% |
| Daun Penh (Riverside) | 1.15x | +15% |
| BKK2 | 1.10x | +10% |
| Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market) | 1.05x | +5% |
| Chamkarmon | 1.02x | +2% |
| BKK3 | 1.00x | +0% |
| Toul Kork | 0.95x | -5% |
| Olympic | 0.92x | -8% |
| Chroy Changvar | 0.90x | -10% |
| Boeung Kak | 0.88x | -12% |
| Tuol Sleng | 0.85x | -15% |
| Sen Sok | 0.78x | -22% |
| Meanchey | 0.72x | -28% |
| Russey Keo | 0.72x | -28% |
| Chbar Ampov | 0.68x | -32% |
| Prek Pnov | 0.62x | -38% |
To maintain the same standard of living as $75,000 USD in Phnom Penh, here's what you'd need in other cities:
| City | COLI | Equivalent Salary | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 100 | $302,419 | +75% |
| London | 87.5 | £199,260 | +72% |
| Singapore | 87.7 | S$345,507 | +72% |
| Dubai | 72.4 | AED 793,205 | +66% |
| Berlin | 51.2 | €131,286 | +52% |
| Tokyo | 77.3 | ¥36,213,251 | +68% |
| Sydney | 74.5 | A$320,140 | +67% |
| Toronto | 62.3 | C$255,088 | +60% |
See detailed side-by-side comparisons of salaries, rent, taxes, and neighborhoods.
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Open Salary ConverterThe cost of living index (COLI) for Phnom Penh is 24.8, which ranks #97 out of 113 cities globally. New York is the baseline at 100.
To maintain the same purchasing power as $75,000 USD in New York, you would need approximately $18,600 in Phnom Penh.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Phnom Penh is approximately $450 per month (local currency).
The approximate effective income tax rate for a mid-range earner in Cambodia is a tax-free jurisdiction. Including social security and other mandatory contributions, total deductions are approximately 0.0%.
The most affordable neighborhoods include Russey Keo, Chbar Ampov, Prek Pnov.
The most expensive neighborhoods are BKK1, Tonle Bassac, Daun Penh (Riverside).
Our cost of living index (COLI) uses New York City as the baseline (COLI = 100). Indices are derived from multiple sources including Numbeo, Expatistan, and national statistics agencies. Exchange rates are sourced from the European Central Bank.
Tax rates represent approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages data and do not constitute tax advice. Neighborhood cost multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data. Salary ranges are modeled by adjusting global baseline figures by each city's COLI.
Last updated: 2026-08-31. Data is refreshed periodically and may not reflect very recent changes. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.
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