Krakow 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.

Krakow, Poland
🇵🇱Poland

Krakow

72Freedom Score#40Global rank$1,765Per month

Poland's cultural heart — a UNESCO medieval old town, fast cheap internet, and a strong tech scene at a fraction of Western European cost.

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.

ExpenseKrakowPhnom Penh
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,765$1,268
Rent, 1BR city centre$794$642
Meal, mid-range$12$6
Coworking deskper month$158$150
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper39.240.0

Quality of life

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

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

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasureKrakowPhnom Penh
Freedom Score72/10062/100
Global rankof 100 cities#40#80
Internet140 Mbps55 Mbps
Average temperature49°F84°F
Air quality62/10055/100
Airport connectivity62/10062/100
Nomad visa90-day+ stayE-visa 30d
Headline tax rateon local income24%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Krakow if internet is faster at 140 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (75 vs 58), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

Choose Phnom Penh if runs $497/mo cheaper, rent is $152/mo lower, the climate scores better and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

Krakow

  • EU access at Eastern-European prices — very affordable
  • UNESCO medieval old town, fully walkable centre
  • Fast, cheap fiber and a large IT/startup labor market
  • Growing nomad community with cheap flights across Europe

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: Krakow or Phnom Penh?
Krakow scores higher on the Freedom Score (72/100 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: Krakow or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,268 against $1,765, a difference of $497 a month or about $5,964 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $794/mo in Krakow versus $642/mo in Phnom Penh.
Which is safer: Krakow or Phnom Penh?
Krakow 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 Krakow and Phnom Penh?
Krakow averages 140 Mbps and Phnom Penh averages 55 Mbps, so Krakow has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Krakow or Phnom Penh?
Krakow sits in Poland (90-day+ stay) 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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