Phnom Penh vs Ubud

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.

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.

Ubud, Indonesia
🇮🇩Indonesia

Ubud

76Freedom Score#32Global rank$2,102Per month

Bali's spiritual heart — rice terraces, yoga, and a world-leading coworking scene set in lush jungle at low tropical prices.

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.

ExpensePhnom PenhUbud
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,268✓$2,102
Rent, 1BR city centre$642✓$945
Meal, mid-range$6✓$12
Coworking deskper month$150✓$189
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper40.0✓46.7

Quality of life

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

MeasurePhnom PenhUbud
Safety
58
49
Healthcare
45
45
Walkability
55
50
English spoken
42
60
Food & dining
70
75
Nightlife
65
55
Outdoors
36
92
Nomad community
58
85
Climate quality
68
84
Public transit
42
30

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasurePhnom PenhUbud
Freedom Score62/10076/100✓
Global rankof 100 cities#80#32✓
Internet55 Mbps✓30 Mbps
Average temperature84°F77°F
Air quality55/100✓45/100
Airport connectivity62/10070/100✓
Nomad visaE-visa 30dIndonesia visa
Headline tax rateon local income10%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Phnom Penh if runs $834/mo cheaper, rent is $303/mo lower, internet is faster at 55 Mbps and it scores higher on safety (58 vs 49).

Choose Ubud if English is more widely spoken, the climate scores better and the nomad community is larger.

What each city is known for

Phnom Penh

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

Ubud

  • Huge nomad & wellness community — instant social circle
  • Tropical jungle setting with rice terraces and temples
  • 0% tax on foreign income for most nomads
  • Coworking density rivals any island on earth

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Phnom Penh or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on the Freedom Score (76/100 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: Phnom Penh or Ubud?
Phnom Penh is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,268 against $2,102, a difference of $834 a month or about $10,008 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $642/mo in Phnom Penh versus $945/mo in Ubud.
Which is safer: Phnom Penh or Ubud?
Phnom Penh scores higher on safety, 58/100 against 49/100. 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 Phnom Penh and Ubud?
Phnom Penh averages 55 Mbps and Ubud averages 30 Mbps, so Phnom Penh has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Phnom Penh or Ubud?
Phnom Penh sits in Cambodia (E-visa 30d) and Ubud in Indonesia (Indonesia visa). 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.