Florianópolis vs Phnom Penh

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.

Florianópolis, Brazil
🇧🇷Brazil

Florianópolis

75Freedom Score#33Global rank$1,500Per month

Florianópolis — Brazil's safest city — pairs 42 tropical beaches with a laid-back island lifestyle, fast-growing nomad scene, and the same 0% foreign-income tax as Rio.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
🇰🇭Cambodia

Phnom Penh

62Freedom Score#80Global rank$1,268Per month

Cambodia's riverside capital blends Royal Palace grandeur, French-colonial boulevards, and an easy e-visa with one of Southeast Asia's lowest cost floors.

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.

ExpenseFlorianópolisPhnom Penh
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,500$1,268
Rent, 1BR city centre$550$642
Meal, mid-range$22$6
Coworking deskper month$160$150
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper37.040.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureFlorianópolisPhnom Penh
Safety
75
58
Healthcare
70
45
Walkability
65
55
English spoken
45
42
Food & dining
70
70
Nightlife
65
65
Outdoors
85
36
Nomad community
65
58
Climate quality
75
68
Public transit
50
42

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFlorianópolisPhnom Penh
Freedom Score75/10062/100
Global rankof 100 cities#33#80
Internet60 Mbps55 Mbps
Average temperature72°F84°F
Air quality40/10055/100
Airport connectivity65/10062/100
Nomad visa1 yearE-visa 30d
Headline tax rateon local income0%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Florianópolis if rent is $92/mo lower, internet is faster at 60 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (75 vs 58) and it is more walkable.

Choose Phnom Penh if runs $232/mo cheaper.

What each city is known for

Florianópolis

  • Safest capital in Brazil — ranked #1 by IPEA's 2024 Security Atlas
  • 42 beaches on one island — from surfing Praia Mole to calm Campeche
  • VITEM XIV digital nomad visa — 1 year, $1,500/mo income, 0% foreign tax
  • Island lifestyle with excellent hiking, dunes, and lagoons

Phnom Penh

  • 30-day e-visa on arrival
  • Royal Palace and riverside promenade
  • Among the cheapest SE Asian capitals
  • Friendly, USD-friendly economy

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Florianópolis or Phnom Penh?
Florianópolis scores higher on the Freedom Score (75/100 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: Florianópolis or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,268 against $1,500, a difference of $232 a month or about $2,784 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $550/mo in Florianópolis versus $642/mo in Phnom Penh.
Which is safer: Florianópolis or Phnom Penh?
Florianópolis scores higher on safety, 75/100 against 58/100. 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 Florianópolis and Phnom Penh?
Florianópolis averages 60 Mbps and Phnom Penh averages 55 Mbps, so Florianópolis has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Florianópolis or Phnom Penh?
Florianópolis sits in Brazil (1 year) and Phnom Penh in Cambodia (E-visa 30d). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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