Cambodia

South-eastern Asia

Asia

A low-cost Asian country with residence by investment and low university tuition, but a weaker passport.

42
Overall score
Limited · Penalty applied · 92% data coverage
Language
Khmer
Currency
KHR
Citizenship
7 years
Personal tax
Progressive salary tax up to 20%
Cost of living
$850 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown
43
Access
17%
39Residence12%
54Citizenship and passport5%
66
Earning power
25%
66Salary and work12%
66Buying power13%
58
Business and wealth
20%
70Taxes7%
48Business8%
59Investment5%
50
Daily life
25%
54Quality of life18%
40Education7%
22
Rights and institutions
13%
31Freedom6%
15Rule of law7%

Weak rights and institutions (22) cut the overall score from 50 to 42.

Pros

  • Residence by investment
  • Low university tuition

Cons

  • A weaker passport

Best for

StudentsInvestors

Score profile

Access
Residence
39
Citizenship
67
Passport
33
Earning power
Salary & work
66
Buying power
66
Cost of living
89
Economy
62
Business and wealth
Taxes
70
Personal tax
64
Corporate tax
43
Business
48
Investment
59
Wealth building
65
Daily life
Safety
66
Healthcare
42
Environment
81
Infrastructure
56
Education
40
HDI
61
Rights and institutions
Freedom
31
Rule of law
15
How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence
Openness to residents
Limited
39
Migrant stock0.5% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-0.63 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship
Citizenship accessibility
Good
67
Years required7 years
Dual allowedYes
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 7 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport
Passport power
Limited
33
65 / 198
Mobility
#77
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free27
  • On arrival34
  • eTA4
  • Visa required133

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Good
66
Output per worker$12,150 PPP (2024)
Unemployment0.3% (2025)
Participation82.4% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees
Overall$243 · $663 PPP (2023)
Tech (IT & comms)$389 · $1,060 PPP (2023)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
66
GNI / person$8,390 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$4,278 PPP (2024)
Price level37 (US = 100) (2025)
Inflation2.4% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Excellent
89
Price level37 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$850 / mo (single)
CitiesPhnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville
Economy
Economic strength
Moderate
62
Output & income
GDP$51.3B (2025)
GDP / person$2,872 (2025)
GNI / person$8,390 PPP (2025)
GDP growth6.0% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation2.4% / yr (2025)
Unemployment0.3% (2025)
Output per worker$12,150 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture16.1% of GDP (2025)
Industry43.1% of GDP (2025)
Services35.0% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Garments & footwearTourismAgricultureConstruction
Top exports
Garments & footwearRiceRubberTravel goods
TypeLower-middle-income, garment- and tourism-led
Key sectorsGarment manufacturing, Tourism (Angkor), Agriculture
SummaryA fast-growing economy built on garment exports, tourism and agriculture, with strong Chinese investment.
CurrencyCambodian riel (US dollars widely used)

Business and wealth

Taxes
Tax friendliness
Good
70
PersonalProgressive salary tax up to 20%
CorporateGenerally 20%
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax
Personal tax
Moderate
64
PersonalProgressive salary tax up to 20%
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
Limited
43
CorporateGenerally 20%
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companiesManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Moderate
48
Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-0.63 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-0.29 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign companyGenerally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local companyAvailable company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment
Investing environment
Moderate
59
Private credit121% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building
Wealth accumulation
Good
65
Salary & work
Good
66
Business
Moderate
48
Investment
Moderate
59
Tax friendliness
Good
70
Cost of living
Excellent
89

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Good
66
Personal safety
Homicide rate1.8 per 100,000 (2011)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-1.23 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability0.13 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Limited
42
Outcomes
Life expectancy70.8 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality18.4 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.21 per 1,000 (2019)
Hospital beds0.73 per 1,000 (2018)
Health spending$350 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Excellent
81
Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure19.4 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress1.0% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Moderate
56
Digital infrastructure
Internet use68.5% (2024)
Internet resilience53 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed64 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed80 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access95.0% (2023)
Grid losses11.6% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality2.10 / 5 (2022)
Rail density3.7 km / 1,000 km² (2004)
Air connectivity513 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Limited
40
Attainment
Expected schooling11.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling5.2 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment21% gross (2024)
Education spending2.2% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$2,000-8,000 / yr
Public universityVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesKhmer
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Moderate
61
HDI0.606 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy70.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling11.2 years (2023)
Mean schooling5.2 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$4,931 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Limited
31
Freedom in the World24 / 100 (Not free)
Freedom on the Net42 / 100 (Partly free)
Sources
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Low
15
Rule of Law percentile15 / 100
Sources
Resources
Official references
UN Statistics: M49 country and area codesunstats.un.orgPwC: Worldwide Tax Summariestaxsummaries.pwc.comASEAN: Member Statesasean.orgUNDP Human Development Report 2025hdr.undp.orgInternet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Indexpulse.internetsociety.orgWorld Bank World Development Indicatorsdata.worldbank.orgILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)ilostat.ilo.org
Quick links
Cambodia visa & immigrationgoogle.comCambodia tax residency rulesgoogle.comCambodia citizenship requirementsgoogle.comCost of living in Cambodiagoogle.com

Data is illustrative. Not legal or tax advice.