Phnom Penh vs Siem Reap

How to read the comparison chart

The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Phnom Penh leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Siem Reap where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Siem Reap's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.

Phnom Penh vs Siem Reap: the short answer

Siem Reap comes out ahead on overall livability (62/100), modestly above Phnom Penh (59/100). The two cities diverge most on cost of living. On affordability Siem Reap is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Phnom Penh 44 vs Siem Reap 49, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Phnom Penh runs warmer in summer (about 29.9°C peak vs 29.8°C in Siem Reap), while winter lows sit near 26.0°C in Phnom Penh and 24.6°C in Siem Reap. On natural-disaster exposure Siem Reap is the safer choice (safety 68/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Phnom Penh and flooding for Siem Reap.

Which city should you choose?

• On a tight budget → Siem Reap — lower everyday costs..
• You want warmth → Phnom Penh — hotter summers.
• Safety is the priority → Siem Reap — lower disaster risk.
• Best all-rounder → Siem Reap — highest overall livability.

Data & methodology

Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.

Compiled by the CityLivably data team from open public datasets (World Bank, USGS, climate normals).

FAQ

Is Phnom Penh or Siem Reap better to live in?

Siem Reap scores higher overall — 62 vs 59 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.

Which is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

Siem Reap has the lower cost of living (cost index 49 vs 44; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).

Which is warmer, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

Phnom Penh — summer highs reach about 29.9°C versus 29.8°C in Siem Reap.

Which is safer from natural disasters, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

Siem Reap (disaster-safety 68/100). Main hazard: flooding in Phnom Penh, flooding in Siem Reap.

What is the main natural-disaster risk in Phnom Penh?

flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Phnom Penh on our risk index.

How is the Phnom Penh vs Siem Reap comparison calculated?

Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.