Chiang Mai vs Phnom Penh for Digital Nomads
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai vs 🇰🇭 Phnom Penh · updated 2026-07
Verdict
Cheaper: Phnom Penh · Faster internet: Chiang Mai · Higher Nomad Score: Chiang Mai.
Head-to-head
| 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai | 🇰🇭 Phnom Penh | |
|---|---|---|
| Comfortable / month | $1,000 | $990 ★ |
| 1-bed rent | $380 ★ | $450 |
| Food | $300 | $250 ★ |
| Coworking | $100 | $90 ★ |
| Internet (Mbps) | 110 ★ | 70 |
| Affordability | 92 | 93 ★ |
| Weather | 82 ★ | 74 |
| Community | 92 ★ | 72 |
| Nomad Score | 87 ★ | 79 |
| Climate | Tropical, dry season Nov–Feb | Tropical, hot |
★ = better on that row. Figures are aggregated estimates.
FAQ
Is Chiang Mai or Phnom Penh cheaper for digital nomads?
Phnom Penh is cheaper — about $990/month vs $1,000/month for a comfortable solo setup.
Which has faster internet, Chiang Mai or Phnom Penh?
Chiang Mai has faster average broadband (110 Mbps vs 70 Mbps).
Which has the higher Nomad Score?
Chiang Mai scores 87 vs 79 on our composite of affordability, connectivity, weather and community.