Is Phnom Penh a good place to live?

59/100 livability · Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia scores 59/100 for livability — a mixed pick: cost 44/100, climate 70/100, safety 65/100. Warmest-month high ~29.9°C, coldest-month low ~26.0°C. Main natural-disaster exposure: flooding. Safety 65/100 blends disaster (66) and crime (70).
Phnom Penh — average monthly high (°C, WorldClim)
JFMAMJJASOND
Livability pillars (0-100)
44Cost70Climate65Safety
Disaster risk by type (1-5)
1Quake4Flood1Storm1Wildfire3Heat1Drought1Cold1Tsunami

How each score is calculated: CostiAffordability, 0–100. Higher = cheaper. = 100 − (country price level vs US × a city-size premium). Source: World Bank PPP ÷ exchange rate (US = 100). · ClimateiComfort, 0–100, from WorldClim monthly temperatures. Penalises hot summers (above ~24°C), cold winters (below ~6°C) and too-cool summers (below 15°C). Higher = milder. · Safetyi0–100. Higher = safer. Blends 55% natural-disaster safety (8 hazards — earthquake from real USGS records, plus flood, storm, wildfire, heat, drought, cold, tsunami) and 45% crime safety (homicide rate). · LivabilityiOverall score, 0–100 = 0.35 × Cost + 0.30 × Climate + 0.35 × Safety. (hover the i)

How to read the scores — all on a 0–100 scale, higher is better.

What living in Phnom Penh actually looks like

On cost, Cambodia sits at 56 on the World Bank price level (US=100) — well below US prices — which maps to an affordability score of 44/100. The climate brings warm summers (warmest-month highs around 29.9°C) and mild winters (coldest-month lows near 26.0°C), scoring 70/100 on our comfort index. Personal safety is moderate at 65/100 — a blend of natural-disaster exposure (66/100; main risk flooding) and crime safety (70/100). Weighted together (0.35 cost, 0.30 climate, 0.35 safety) that produces an overall livability of 59/100 — a mixed pick. On balance, Phnom Penh suits people who prioritise climate comfort best; weigh it against the disaster profile below before committing.

Natural-disaster risk in Phnom Penh

Does Phnom Penh flood?

Flood risk in Phnom Penh is high (4/5), based on regional river/coastal flood exposure.

Does Phnom Penh get dangerously hot?

Extreme-heat risk in Phnom Penh is moderate (3/5); warmest-month mean high ~29.9°C (WorldClim).

How scored: livability = 0.35·cost + 0.30·climate + 0.35·safety. Climate from WorldClim v2.1 normals; cost from World Bank PPP÷FX (real, open); earthquake from USGS (real); flood/storm/wildfire/drought/tsunami tiers indicative — verify before publish.

FAQ

Is Phnom Penh a good place to live?

Phnom Penh scores 59/100 for livability — cost 44, climate 70, safety 65.

Is Phnom Penh safe?

Safety 65/100 = disaster safety 66 (main risk flooding) blended with crime safety 70.

What's the climate like in Phnom Penh?

Warmest-month highs average ~29.9°C and coldest-month lows ~26.0°C (WorldClim climate normals).

How much does it cost to live in Phnom Penh?

Cambodia sits at 56/100 on the World Bank price level (US=100) — affordability score 44/100.

See also

All cities in Cambodia → Best places to retire in Cambodia → Digital nomad guide to Cambodia → Natural-disaster risk in Cambodia → Safest cities from flooding → Tropical-climate cities →

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