Sihanoukville vs Kampong Cham
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Sihanoukville leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Kampong Cham where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Kampong Cham's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Sihanoukville | Kampong Cham |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 71 | 70 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 62 | 62 |
| Climate | 74 | 73 |
| Safety | 77 | 75 |
| Summer °C | 29.1 | 29.4 |
| Winter °C | 26.5 | 25.5 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | storms (hurricane/cyclone) |
Sihanoukville vs Kampong Cham: the short answer
Sihanoukville comes out ahead on overall livability (71/100), only marginally above Kampong Cham (70/100). The two cities diverge most on natural-disaster exposure. On affordability Kampong Cham is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Sihanoukville 62 vs Kampong Cham 62, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Kampong Cham runs warmer in summer (about 29.4°C peak vs 29.1°C in Sihanoukville), while winter lows sit near 26.5°C in Sihanoukville and 25.5°C in Kampong Cham. On natural-disaster exposure Sihanoukville is the safer choice (safety 77/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Sihanoukville and storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Kampong Cham.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Kampong Cham — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Kampong Cham — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Sihanoukville — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Sihanoukville — 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 Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham better to live in?
Sihanoukville scores higher overall — 71 vs 70 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham?
Kampong Cham has the lower cost of living (cost index 62 vs 62; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham?
Kampong Cham — summer highs reach about 29.4°C versus 29.1°C in Sihanoukville.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham?
Sihanoukville (disaster-safety 77/100). Main hazard: flooding in Sihanoukville, storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Kampong Cham.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Sihanoukville?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Sihanoukville on our risk index.
How is the Sihanoukville vs Kampong Cham 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.