Fukuoka 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.

Fukuoka, Japan
🇯🇵Japan

Fukuoka

73Freedom Score#37Global rank$1,600Per month

Japan's most livable city — compact, green, and affordable by Japanese standards, with legendary ramen, a startup boom, and 90-day visa-free access.

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.

ExpenseFukuokaPhnom Penh
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,600$1,268✓
Rent, 1BR city centre$500✓$642
Meal, mid-range$10$6✓
Coworking deskper month$180$150✓
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper64.040.0✓

Quality of life

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

MeasureFukuokaPhnom Penh
Safety
85
58
Healthcare
90
45
Walkability
85
55
English spoken
42
42
Food & dining
90
70
Nightlife
65
65
Outdoors
58
36
Nomad community
58
58
Climate quality
60
68
Public transit
95
42

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFukuokaPhnom Penh
Freedom Score73/100✓62/100
Global rankof 100 cities#37✓#80
Internet100 Mbps✓55 Mbps
Average temperature63°F84°F
Air quality30/10055/100✓
Airport connectivity78/100✓62/100
Nomad visa90 days freeE-visa 30d
Headline tax rateon local income20%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Fukuoka if rent is $142/mo lower, internet is faster at 100 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (85 vs 58) and it is more walkable.

Choose Phnom Penh if runs $332/mo cheaper, the climate scores better and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

Fukuoka

  • Most livable big city in Japan
  • Legendary Hakata ramen scene
  • 90-day visa-free for Western passports
  • Growing startup and coworking hub

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: Fukuoka or Phnom Penh?
Fukuoka scores higher on the Freedom Score (73/100 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: Fukuoka or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,268 against $1,600, a difference of $332 a month or about $3,984 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $500/mo in Fukuoka versus $642/mo in Phnom Penh.
Which is safer: Fukuoka or Phnom Penh?
Fukuoka scores higher on safety, 85/100 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 Fukuoka and Phnom Penh?
Fukuoka averages 100 Mbps and Phnom Penh averages 55 Mbps, so Fukuoka has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Fukuoka or Phnom Penh?
Fukuoka sits in Japan (90 days free) 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.
Open the interactive comparison

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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.