Country Guide
Cambodia is a smaller, quieter workation destination than Thailand or Bali, and that is part of its appeal. Phnom Penh is a lively capital on the Mekong, while Siem Reap is a relaxed town next to the temples of Angkor. Both are affordable and easy to combine with Thailand or Vietnam.
Best for
Remote workers who want a quieter, affordable base and to see Angkor
Best months
November to March (dry and cooler)
Time difference with CET
+6 hours in winter, +5 hours in summer
Cost per day
Roughly €50–€100 including a good hotel
Internet
Decent in hotels and cafés in the cities; keep mobile data as a backup
Less suited if you want a big coworking community or very reliable internet everywhere. Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok are easier for that.
Cambodia's two main bases offer very different workweeks. Here is how they compare, with where to work and where to stay in each, followed by the stays I list there.
The coworking scene is small, and many remote workers simply work from their hotel, often by the pool, or from air-conditioned cafés.
🏙️ City · 🏛️ Culture
Best months
Most popular🏛️ Culture · 🌿 Nature
Best months
The capital, with a busy riverside, markets, a growing café scene and the most coworking options. More city energy, more traffic.
Where to work
Emerald Hub and other spaces, with hot desks from around $80 a month
Where to stay
Boeung Keng Kang 1 (BKK1), a leafy area with cafés and many expats, or the livelier riverside (Sisowath Quay)
A laid-back town with a pedestrian-friendly centre, lots of small hotels with pools, and the Angkor temples just outside town. A lovely place for a slower workweek.
Where to work
AngkorHub, with 24-hour access, or a hotel with a good desk and fast WiFi; monthly coworking costs around $80–$120
Where to stay
Within walking or tuk-tuk distance of the old market and the river
In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, hotels and cafés aimed at travellers usually have WiFi that works for email and video calls, but quality varies more than in Thailand or Malaysia. Always check recent reviews that mention the internet, and ask for a speed test.
Mobile data is cheap and generally fast in the cities, which makes it a good backup for calls. An eSIM gets you online as soon as you land. Read my guide to eSIMs for workations.
A rough week for one person, excluding international travel:
Stay
€200–€450
For a good hotel room, often with a pool
Food
€60–€130
Local restaurants are very cheap
Coworking
€25–€50
For a week
Transport
€15–€35
On tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps
Also budget for
US dollars are widely used alongside the Cambodian riel, and prices are often quoted in dollars. Bring clean, undamaged notes, as torn notes are often refused.
Cambodia is six hours ahead of CET in European winter and five in summer. A 9:00 CET meeting is at 15:00 local time in winter, so mornings are yours.
Nov–Feb
Dry and relatively cool, the best time for a workation and for the temples
Mar–May
Very hot and dry, with April usually the hottest month
Jun–Oct
Rainy season, with afternoon downpours; green, quieter and cheaper
Phnom Penh's new Techo International Airport opened in 2025, and Siem Reap is served by Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport, which lies some distance outside town, so plan a transfer. Both connect with regional hubs such as Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
In town, tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps such as Grab and PassApp are cheap and convenient. Buses and minibuses connect Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and many travellers continue overland to Thailand or Vietnam.
EU citizens can apply online for a Cambodia e-visa, which costs US$30 plus a processing fee of about US$6 and allows a single stay of up to 30 days for tourism. All air arrivals must complete the free Cambodia e-Arrival card within seven days before arrival.
A tourist visa does not allow local employment. If you plan to stay longer and work remotely, check the current business (E-class) visa rules.
Explore the temples of Angkor. Angkor Wat at sunrise, the faces of the Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm are highlights; a three-day pass lets you spread visits over a week.
Walk the riverside in Phnom Penh at sunset, when locals come out to exercise and eat.
Visit the Royal Palace and the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
Learn about Cambodia's recent history at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek memorial; a sobering but important visit.
Take a Khmer cooking class, or visit the floating villages on the Tonlé Sap lake near Siem Reap.
For a week or two, yes, especially combined with Thailand or Vietnam. The remote work scene is smaller, so choose your stay carefully.
Phnom Penh for city life and coworking, Siem Reap for a slower pace and the Angkor temples.
Yes. EU citizens can apply online for a 30-day e-visa for US$30.
Yes, US dollars are widely accepted, with change often given in riel.
Six hours ahead in European winter, five in European summer.
Cambodia is part of my Southeast Asia workation guide. It combines well with Thailand and Vietnam; see also my Kuala Lumpur and Bali guides.
