A Month as a Digital Nomad in Phnom Penh
I arrived in Phnom Penh planning to stay two weeks. I left after five. That's how this city gets you — it's chaotic, dusty, loud, and absolutely addictive.
I rented a studio apartment in BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) for $450/month, fully furnished with air conditioning and fast WiFi. The neighborhood is the expat hub — walkable to coworking spaces, cafes, restaurants, and everything you need. Some digital nomads find places for $300-350 if they look harder.
For coworking, I split my time between Factory Phnom Penh and Small World. Factory has the better community and events; Small World has faster internet and quieter zones for focus work. Both cost around $100-150/month for unlimited access. Many cafes also have excellent WiFi if you prefer the café-hopping lifestyle.
The food scene blew me away. BKK1 alone has incredible Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, and of course Khmer restaurants. Street food breakfast (num pang baguettes, congee, or noodle soup) costs under $2. A nice restaurant dinner with drinks might hit $15-20. I averaged about $10/day on food, eating really well.
The expat community is surprisingly tight-knit. There are regular meetups, pub quizzes, sports leagues, and networking events. I joined a weekly football game and a monthly entrepreneurship meetup. Within a week, I had a solid social circle.
Phnom Penh's nightlife deserves its own chapter. Bassac Lane has craft cocktail bars, the riverside has rooftop venues, and the emerging Toul Tom Poung area has indie music venues. A cocktail costs $4-6, a draft beer $1-2. Coming from Amsterdam, the prices felt almost absurd.
The downsides? The traffic is chaotic (though you adapt), the air quality isn't great, and the wet season (June-October) brings serious downpours. But for the price, the community, and the sheer energy of the place, Phnom Penh is one of Southeast Asia's best-kept digital nomad secrets.
Trip Highlights
- ✦$450/month apartment in the heart of the expat district
- ✦Street food breakfast for under $2 — every single morning
- ✦$2 craft beers on Bassac Lane with an international crowd
- ✦Football with locals and expats every Wednesday evening
Tips from Alex K.
- 1.BKK1 is the best neighborhood for nomads — walkable to everything
- 2.Get a monthly SIM with unlimited data from Smart or Cellcard ($10-15)
- 3.Factory Phnom Penh is the best coworking for community and events
- 4.Join the "Digital Nomads Phnom Penh" Facebook group before arriving
- 5.Rent a monthly scooter ($50-70) or use Grab for getting around
- 6.The wet season has cheaper accommodation but bring a rain jacket
- 7.Try the Russian Market area for cheaper rent if BKK1 is too pricey
- 8.Open a local bank account (ABA Bank) — it takes 30 minutes with your passport
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