Phnom Penh vs Takeo
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, Takeo where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Takeo's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Phnom Penh | Takeo |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 59 | 60 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 44 | 45 |
| Climate | 70 | 73 |
| Safety | 65 | 64 |
| Summer °C | 29.9 | 29.4 |
| Winter °C | 26.0 | 26.1 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Phnom Penh vs Takeo: the short answer
Takeo comes out ahead on overall livability (60/100), only marginally above Phnom Penh (59/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Takeo is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Phnom Penh 44 vs Takeo 45, 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 29.4°C in Takeo), while winter lows sit near 26.0°C in Phnom Penh and 26.1°C in Takeo. On natural-disaster exposure Phnom Penh is the safer choice (safety 65/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Phnom Penh and flooding for Takeo.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Takeo — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Phnom Penh — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Phnom Penh — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Takeo — 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.
FAQ
Is Phnom Penh or Takeo better to live in?
Takeo scores higher overall — 60 vs 59 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Takeo?
Takeo has the lower cost of living (cost index 45 vs 44; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Phnom Penh or Takeo?
Phnom Penh — summer highs reach about 29.9°C versus 29.4°C in Takeo.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Phnom Penh or Takeo?
Phnom Penh (disaster-safety 65/100). Main hazard: flooding in Phnom Penh, flooding in Takeo.
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 Takeo 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.