Funchal 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.

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.

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.

ExpenseFunchalSiem Reap
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$2,000$885
Rent, 1BR city centre$800$334
Meal, mid-range$14$5
Coworking deskper month$150n.a.
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper80.032.0

Quality of life

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

MeasureFunchalSiem Reap
Safety
82
68
Healthcare
80
40
Walkability
65
58
English spoken
72
42
Food & dining
75
68
Nightlife
55
55
Outdoors
92
36
Nomad community
78
55
Climate quality
88
68
Public transit
62
25

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureFunchalSiem Reap
Freedom Score84/10064/100
Global rankof 100 cities#8#71
Internet200 Mbps55 Mbps
Average temperature68°F82°F
Air quality25/10045/100
Airport connectivity60/10058/100
Nomad visa90 daysLong-stay visa
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 68), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

Choose Siem Reap if runs $1,115/mo cheaper, rent is $466/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

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: Funchal or Siem Reap?
Funchal scores higher on the Freedom Score (84/100 against 64/100), 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 Siem Reap?
Siem Reap is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $885 against $2,000, a difference of $1,115 a month or about $13,380 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $800/mo in Funchal versus $334/mo in Siem Reap.
Which is safer: Funchal or Siem Reap?
Funchal scores higher on safety, 82/100 against 68/100. 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 Siem Reap?
Funchal averages 200 Mbps and Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap?
Funchal sits in Portugal (90 days) 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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