Phnom Penh vs Vilnius

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.

Vilnius, Lithuania
🇱🇹Lithuania

Vilnius

71Freedom Score#45Global rank$1,526Per month

Lithuania's compact capital — a UNESCO baroque old town, strong fiber, and a surprisingly deep fintech scene in the heart of the Baltics.

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 PenhVilnius
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,268$1,526
Rent, 1BR city centre$642$686
Meal, mid-range$6$12
Coworking deskper month$150$137
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper40.033.9

Quality of life

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

MeasurePhnom PenhVilnius
Safety
58
71
Healthcare
45
65
Walkability
55
75
English spoken
42
75
Food & dining
70
65
Nightlife
65
65
Outdoors
36
62
Nomad community
58
50
Climate quality
68
55
Public transit
42
70

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasurePhnom PenhVilnius
Freedom Score62/10071/100
Global rankof 100 cities#80#45
Internet55 Mbps150 Mbps
Average temperature84°F48°F
Air quality55/10035/100
Airport connectivity62/10055/100
Nomad visaE-visa 30d90-day+ stay
Headline tax rateon local income10%24%

Which should you choose?

Choose Phnom Penh if runs $258/mo cheaper, rent is $44/mo lower, the climate scores better and the nomad community is larger.

Choose Vilnius if internet is faster at 150 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (71 vs 58), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

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

Vilnius

  • EU & Schengen access at low Baltic prices
  • Baroque UNESCO old town, small and very walkable
  • Europe's fintech hub — strong digital infrastructure
  • Quiet, safe, green — great for focused work

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for digital nomads: Phnom Penh or Vilnius?
Vilnius scores higher on the Freedom Score (71/100 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 Vilnius?
Phnom Penh is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $1,268 against $1,526, a difference of $258 a month or about $3,096 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $642/mo in Phnom Penh versus $686/mo in Vilnius.
Which is safer: Phnom Penh or Vilnius?
Vilnius scores higher on safety, 71/100 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 Phnom Penh and Vilnius?
Phnom Penh averages 55 Mbps and Vilnius averages 150 Mbps, so Vilnius has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Phnom Penh or Vilnius?
Phnom Penh sits in Cambodia (E-visa 30d) and Vilnius in Lithuania (90-day+ stay). Requirements, income floors and processing times change often, so check the visa and residency guide before you commit to either.
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