Alexandria vs Siem Reap

Real cost of living, rent, internet, safety and visa terms for both cities, side by side — then open the interactive tool to weight them against your own priorities.

Alexandria, Egypt
🇪🇬Egypt

Alexandria

62Freedom Score#77Global rank$700Per month

Egypt's Mediterranean pearl — the Qaitbay Citadel on the Corniche, the modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and seafront cafés at a fraction of Cairo's cost.

Siem Reap, Cambodia
🇰🇭Cambodia

Siem Reap

64Freedom Score#71Global rank$885Per month

Gateway to Angkor Wat — sunrise over the world's largest religious monument, a laid-back café scene, and a long-stay visa built for nomads.

The short answer

Compare these two in the full toolBoth cities pre-loaded — add your income and priorities to get a personal match score

Cost of living

Monthly figures for one person. Rent, meals and coworking are measured values, not shares of the total budget.

ExpenseAlexandriaSiem Reap
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$700✓$885
Rent, 1BR city centre$180✓$334
Meal, mid-range$6$5✓
Coworking deskper monthn.a.n.a.
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper28.0✓32.0

Quality of life

Scored 0–100 on the same attributes the match engine weights, so these agree with the interactive tool.

MeasureAlexandriaSiem Reap
Safety
62
68
Healthcare
45
40
Walkability
62
58
English spoken
35
42
Food & dining
65
68
Nightlife
32
55
Outdoors
37
36
Nomad community
35
55
Climate quality
72
68
Public transit
45
25

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureAlexandriaSiem Reap
Freedom Score62/10064/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#77#71✓
Internet40 Mbps55 Mbps✓
Average temperature72°F82°F
Air quality65/100✓45/100
Airport connectivity48/10058/100✓
Nomad visaE-visa 30dLong-stay visa
Headline tax rateon local income18%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Alexandria if runs $185/mo cheaper, rent is $154/mo lower, it is more walkable and the climate scores better.

Choose Siem Reap if internet is faster at 55 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (68 vs 62), English is more widely spoken and the nomad community is larger.

What each city is known for

Alexandria

  • Citadel of Qaitbay on the Mediterranean
  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina reborn
  • Seafront Corniche and seafood
  • Cheaper and calmer than Cairo

Siem Reap

  • Angkor Wat: the largest religious monument on earth
  • 6–12 month long-stay visa
  • Tiny expat town, easy community
  • Temples, rice paddies, low costs

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Alexandria or Siem Reap?
Siem Reap scores higher on the Freedom Score (64/100 against 62/100), which makes it the stronger all-round base. That is an average, though — if cost, climate or community is what actually decides it for you, the tables above will point the other way as often as not.
Which is cheaper: Alexandria or Siem Reap?
Alexandria is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $700 against $885, a difference of $185 a month or about $2,220 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $180/mo in Alexandria versus $334/mo in Siem Reap.
Which is safer: Alexandria or Siem Reap?
Siem Reap scores higher on safety, 68/100 against 62/100. Safety scores blend crime levels, political stability and healthcare access, and they describe a city as a whole — individual neighbourhoods vary far more than the headline number suggests.
How fast is the internet in Alexandria and Siem Reap?
Alexandria averages 40 Mbps and Siem Reap averages 55 Mbps, so Siem Reap has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Alexandria or Siem Reap?
Alexandria sits in Egypt (E-visa 30d) and Siem Reap in Cambodia (Long-stay visa). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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Cost, connectivity and quality-of-life figures come from the YourLifeMatch city dataset. Where a value is not confirmed it reads n.a. rather than an estimate. Figures are for planning, not professional advice.