Porto 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.

Porto, Portugal
🇵🇹Portugal

Porto

86Freedom Score#5Global rank$1,800Per month

Portugal's second city delivers all the NHR tax benefits of Lisbon at 30% lower cost — plus Port wine cellars, Atlantic beaches, and a slower, more authentic pace of life.

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.

ExpensePortoSiem Reap
Comfortable budgetper month, all in$1,800$885
Rent, 1BR city centre$800$334
Meal, mid-range$22$5
Coworking deskper month$198n.a.
Cost of living indexlower is cheaper51.232.0

Quality of life

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

MeasurePortoSiem Reap
Safety
80
68
Healthcare
80
40
Walkability
80
58
English spoken
90
42
Food & dining
80
68
Nightlife
70
55
Outdoors
72
36
Nomad community
80
55
Climate quality
75
68
Public transit
70
25

Scores, connectivity and paperwork

MeasurePortoSiem Reap
Freedom Score86/10064/100
Global rankof 100 cities#5#71
Internet77 Mbps55 Mbps
Average temperature59°F82°F
Air quality28/10045/100
Airport connectivity80/10058/100
Nomad visaD8 visaLong-stay visa
Headline tax rateon local income20%10%

Which should you choose?

Choose Porto if internet is faster at 77 Mbps, it scores higher on safety (80 vs 68), it is more walkable and English is more widely spoken.

Choose Siem Reap if runs $915/mo cheaper, rent is $466/mo lower and the headline tax rate is lower.

What each city is known for

Porto

  • Same NHR 20% tax deal as Lisbon, lower cost of living
  • Best wine bars in Europe — ginjinha and port tasting culture
  • Matosinhos beach with world-class seafood 15 minutes away
  • EU residency via D8 Digital Nomad visa — Schengen access

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: Porto or Siem Reap?
Porto scores higher on the Freedom Score (86/100 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: Porto or Siem Reap?
Siem Reap is cheaper. A comfortable monthly budget is $885 against $1,800, a difference of $915 a month or about $10,980 a year. Rent is the biggest single line: $800/mo in Porto versus $334/mo in Siem Reap.
Which is safer: Porto or Siem Reap?
Porto scores higher on safety, 80/100 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 Porto and Siem Reap?
Porto averages 77 Mbps and Siem Reap averages 55 Mbps, so Porto has the headroom if you push large files or run video calls all day.
What visa would I need for Porto or Siem Reap?
Porto sits in Portugal (D8 visa) 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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