Cambodia vs Vietnam
Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Cambodia is about 6% cheaper than Vietnam overall. In practical terms, a $3,000/month budget in Vietnam is roughly equivalent to $2,818/month in Cambodia in terms of purchasing power — a saving of $182/month. Similarly, a $2,000/month lifestyle in Vietnam translates to around $1,879/month in Cambodia. Dining out in Cambodia is approximately 17% more affordable (Restaurant Index: Cambodia=26, Vietnam=32). These savings can compound significantly for long-term expats or retirees choosing Cambodia as their base.

Cambodia has lower average housing costs based on the Rent Index (Cambodia: 8.4, Vietnam: 9.9 — NYC = 100). In absolute terms, average monthly rent is around $168 in Cambodia versus $198 in Vietnam. In both countries, city-centre apartments command a 30–50% premium over suburban equivalents. Expats consistently find the best rent-to-quality ratio by living 15–30 minutes from the city core. Local purchasing power is broadly similar.

Both Cambodia and Vietnam attract significant expat communities, but for different reasons. Cambodia edges ahead on our Expat Value Score (Cambodia scores 4.4, Vietnam scores 1.7). Cambodia offers lower day-to-day costs, which matters most for those on fixed incomes, remote salaries, or early retirement budgets. Vietnam has a higher GNI per capita ($15.8k vs $7.9k) — meaning average incomes are higher, which partly offsets the cost differences for locals. Climate, language accessibility, visa pathways, healthcare quality, and expat community size are equally decisive factors — budget alone rarely determines the right choice.

With a cost of living index of 25 (NYC=100), Cambodia allows a $2,000/month budget to stretch very comfortably. A frugal single-person lifestyle — shared or suburban housing, home cooking, local transport — typically costs $223–$423/month. A comfortable lifestyle with a private 1-bedroom, regular dining out, and leisure runs $446–$846/month. Inflation is currently lower in Cambodia (Cambodia: 0.8%, Vietnam: 3.6%), which affects how purchasing power evolves over time. Expats from high-cost Western countries typically see their purchasing power increase significantly in Cambodia, particularly outside capital cities.