Funchal 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.

Funchal, Portugal
🇵🇹Portugal

Funchal

84Freedom Score#8Global rank$2,000Per month

Madeira's subtropical capital — Funchal offers a mild 68°F year-round climate, Atlantic ocean views, 200 Mbps fiber, and Portugal's favorable tax regime in a safe, family-friendly island setting.

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.

ExpenseFunchalPhnom Penh
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$2,000$1,268
Rent, 1BR city centre$800$642
Meal, mid-range$14$6
Coworking deskper month$150$150
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper80.040.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureFunchalPhnom Penh
Safety
82
58
Healthcare
80
45
Walkability
65
55
English spoken
72
42
Food & dining
75
70
Nightlife
55
65
Outdoors
92
36
Nomad community
78
58
Climate quality
88
68
Public transit
62
42

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFunchalPhnom Penh
Freedom Score84/10062/100
Global rankof 100 cities#8#80
Internet200 Mbps55 Mbps
Average temperature68°F84°F
Air quality25/10055/100
Airport connectivity60/10062/100
Nomad visa90 daysE-visa 30d
Headline tax rateon local income28%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Funchal if internet is faster at 200 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (82 vs 58), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

Choose Phnom Penh if runs $732/mo cheaper, rent is $158/mo lower and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

Funchal

  • Subtropical 'eternal spring' — 68°F year-round on the Atlantic
  • 200 Mbps fiber and a strong remote-work infrastructure
  • One of Europe's safest cities with excellent healthcare
  • Favorable Portuguese tax regime for foreign residents

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: Funchal or Phnom Penh?
Funchal scores higher on the Freedom Score (84/100 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: Funchal or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,268 against $2,000, a difference of $732 a month or about $8,784 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $800/mo in Funchal versus $642/mo in Phnom Penh.
Which is safer: Funchal or Phnom Penh?
Funchal scores higher on safety, 82/100 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 Funchal and Phnom Penh?
Funchal averages 200 Mbps and Phnom Penh averages 55 Mbps, so Funchal has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Funchal or Phnom Penh?
Funchal sits in Portugal (90 days) 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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