Siem Reap
Cambodia · Asia · 250K people
Small Cambodian city built almost entirely around tourism to nearby Angkor Wat.
Ranked #293 of 303 overall · 13.37, 103.84
Overview
With a population of around 250,000, Siem Reap is one of Cambodia's notable cities, part of the wider Asia region. Its reputation is built on history, architecture and a dense cultural calendar. Part of its draw is that it's genuinely affordable to live in. People who choose to settle in Siem Reap tend to point to a genuinely affordable cost of living as the deciding factors. Against its 76 tracked peers in Asia, Siem Reap's 5.3/10 overall score sits 1.2 points below the regional average of 6.5, though a lower average score doesn't rule it out — it depends entirely on which criteria matter most to you. On CityMatch, Siem Reap scores 5.3/10 overall across cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet, ranking #293 of 303 cities in our database. Its strongest single criterion is cost of living at 8/10, while public transport is its softest spot at 3/10 — the full breakdown, honest trade-offs, and who this city actually suits are below.
Full scorecard
One of the more affordable picks in our database.
No particular red flags.
Worth checking seasonal pollution patterns.
Budget for a car or regular rideshares.
Reasonably comfortable year-round.
Healthcare access is average at best.
Covers standard connectivity needs.
Is Siem Reap right for you?
Set your own priorities and see where it ranks against every city in the dataset.
Run the recommender →How are these scores calculated?
Every city on CityMatch is scored 1-10 on seven criteria — cost of living, safety, environment, transport, climate, healthcare and internet — and those seven numbers are combined into the overall score shown throughout the site using a consistent, automated formula (an equal-weighted average by default, or your own weighting via the recommender tool). The same method is applied identically to every city, so scores are comparable across the full database.
Sources & data provenance
The current dataset is an internally curated starter dataset built for this version of the site, reflecting each city's general reputation on each criterion rather than a live feed from a single external provider. It is not yet sourced from a specific third-party API. If that changes, this section will be updated to name the exact sources in use.
Last updated: 17 July 2026
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
At 8/10, Siem Reap is genuinely easy on the budget — one of the more affordable options for the lifestyle it offers.
A 6/10 safety score puts Siem Reap among the more reassuring cities to walk around, day or night.
Climate scores 6/10 — genuinely pleasant weather is one of the clearer reasons people choose Siem Reap.
Trade-offs
Transport is the soft spot at 3/10 — plan on a car or regular rideshares rather than relying on public transit alone.
Environment and air quality score just 4/10 — a real consideration if pollution affects you personally.
Is Siem Reap safe?
Siem Reap scores 6/10 on safety — solidly average. Nothing here suggests a specific red flag, but the usual big-city precautions (watching belongings, being aware at night) still apply.
At night
Nighttime is fine in most central areas, but it's worth checking which neighborhoods quiet down early versus stay lively and populated.
For tourists
Tourists are generally fine sticking to well-trodden areas; the usual advice about watching belongings in crowds and transit hubs applies.
For families
Families would want to weigh the 4.7/10 average of safety, healthcare and environment carefully against what specifically matters most to your household.
For solo travelers
Solo travel here is broadly fine with standard precautions; it's worth reading recent, specific traveler reports rather than relying on the city's reputation alone.
On public transport
We'd be more selective about late-night public transport here — daytime use is generally fine, but off-peak service and platforms are worth a second thought.
Practical tips
- →Stick to well-lit, populated streets after dark, as you would in most cities.
- →Keep valuables out of sight rather than out of caution about any specific threat.
What's the climate like in Siem Reap?
Climate here (6/10) is comfortably in the "fine, not exceptional" range — a normal seasonal cycle rather than anything punishing.
Seasonal character
Expect a normal four-season rhythm (or a wet/dry split closer to the equator), without extremes dominating the calendar.
Comfort level
Comfort is generally good, with the odd day or short stretch that calls for planning ahead rather than year-round ease.
Best time to live here
Shoulder-season months (spring and autumn, broadly) tend to be the safest bet if you can choose when to visit or move.
Note: this reflects our single aggregate 1-10 climate score rather than month-by-month temperature, humidity or rainfall data, which we don't currently track — treat it as a general read rather than a forecast.
Quality of life in Siem Reap
Put together, quality of life in Siem Reap is shaped less by any single number and more by the combination: siem reap doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place, paired with an outdoor/environment picture that's more mixed and transport that's worth planning around.
Pace & lifestyle
Siem Reap doesn't lean strongly toward any particular pace — it's neither a nightlife-driven city nor a notably sleepy one, more of a middle-ground, live-and-let-live kind of place.
Nature & outdoors
Outdoor and green-space time comes with more caveats here — environment (4/10) and climate (6/10) scores suggest it's more weather- and air-quality-dependent than in higher-scoring cities.
Getting around
Transport is a genuine weak point (3/10); budgeting for a car or regular rideshares is close to a practical necessity for daily life.
Culture & leisure
Siem Reap is specifically known for its cultural and historical scene — museums, architecture and a dense calendar of things to do are part of its identity, not an afterthought.
Based on its actual score profile, Siem Reap tends to suit people who prioritize cost of living and safety over public transport — see "Who Siem Reap suits" above for the specific profiles that fit best.
How clean is Siem Reap?
Environment (4/10) points to some real seasonal pollution patterns worth knowing about if air quality affects you personally.
Public spaces
We don't have a dedicated public-space or waste-management score — the environment figure above (driven mainly by air quality) is the best available proxy, and it suggests room for improvement in at least some areas.
Infrastructure maintenance
General infrastructure maintenance isn't a criterion we score independently, so treat any specific claims about road quality, public bins, or graffiti with caution unless they come from a recent, first-hand source.
The "environment" score behind all of this is CityMatch's single combined measure of air quality and general environmental conditions — 10 meaning consistently clean air, 1 meaning significant pollution. It doesn't separately break out waste management, noise, or visual upkeep, which aren't part of our current dataset.
Who Siem Reap suits
Budget-conscious mover
Budget-conscious movers — movers for whom affordability outweighs every other factor (fit score 5.8/10 here).
Freelancer
Freelancers — independent workers balancing cost of living against healthcare access (fit score 5.6/10 here).
Digital nomad
Digital nomads — remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base (fit score 5.8/10 here).
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs — founders and small business owners who need reliable connectivity and a livable base without big-city costs (fit score 5.6/10 here).
In depth
Cost of living
With a cost-of-living score of 8/10, Siem Reap sits among the more budget-friendly options in our database, which matters as much for a short stay as for a permanent move.
Safety
Safety here (6/10) is solidly average: no specific area to avoid categorically, but standard urban awareness applies.
Climate
Weather here (6/10) is reasonably pleasant most of the year, with a normal seasonal cycle rather than anything punishing.
Quality of life
Quality of life in Siem Reap is uneven rather than uniformly good or bad — a 5.3/10 average built on a clear high point in cost of living and a clear weak point in public transport. The average across all seven criteria is 5.3/10.
Transport
Public transport is a genuine weak point in Siem Reap (3/10) — plan on driving or ride-hailing for most of what a metro system would otherwise cover.
Internet & remote work
Siem Reap's internet score of 6/10 covers standard remote-work needs without much friction.
Why choose Siem Reap?
Siem Reap isn't the right fit for everyone, but for the right profile — someone who values cost of living and can live with public transport — it scores well at 5.3/10 overall. Use the comparisons and rankings below to see how it stacks up against the alternatives.
Featured in these rankings
You may also like
Kathmandu
Nepal · Asia
Himalayan gateway city with significant seasonal air quality issues.
Agra
India · Asia
Home to the Taj Mahal, one of the most-searched tourist landmarks on earth.
Jaipur
India · Asia
India's 'Pink City', a major stop on the Golden Triangle tourist circuit.
Lahore
Pakistan · Asia
Pakistan's cultural capital, known for Mughal-era architecture.
Hoi An
Vietnam · Asia
Lantern-lit former trading port, increasingly popular with long-stay remote workers.
Continue exploring
Best cities in Cambodia
Nearby cities
Cities with a similar climate
Safer alternatives
Cheaper alternatives
Comparable quality of life
If you're interested in Siem Reap, you may also compare:
Frequently asked questions
Is Siem Reap safe?
Siem Reap scores 6/10 on safety — generally fine, with the usual precautions you'd take in any mid-sized city.
What budget do I need to live in Siem Reap?
Siem Reap scores 8/10 on affordability — one of the cheaper cities in our database. A modest budget covers a comfortable lifestyle here compared to most of the 303 cities we track.
Is Siem Reap good for families?
Siem Reap isn't a natural fit for families on paper: the average of safety, healthcare and environment scores (4.7/10) is below what most family-focused cities on our site score.
Is Siem Reap a good city for students?
Siem Reap isn't an obvious student pick: affordability (8/10) and transport (3/10) average out lower than the cities we specifically tag for students.
Is Siem Reap suitable for digital nomads?
Siem Reap isn't specifically marketed to remote workers, but the fundamentals are there: internet scores 6/10 and cost of living 8/10.
What's the climate like in Siem Reap?
Siem Reap scores 6/10 on climate — a normal seasonal mix without real extremes.
Is Siem Reap pleasant to live in year-round?
Reasonably — Siem Reap scores 6/10 on climate and 4/10 on environment, a fair rather than exceptional combination across the year.
Is Siem Reap a good choice for a first move abroad?
A first move abroad is more demanding in Siem Reap: safety, healthcare, transport and environment average out to just 4.3/10, so more preparation and local research is worth doing before committing.
Is the internet good enough for remote work in Siem Reap?
Siem Reap scores 6/10 on internet — generally fine for remote work, without being a standout choice for it.
Is Siem Reap a good place to retire?
Siem Reap isn't an obvious retirement pick on our data: healthcare, climate and safety average out to just 5.3/10, below what most retiree-friendly cities on our site score.
What are good alternatives to Siem Reap?
Based on continent, tags and overall score, Kathmandu and Agra are the closest matches to Siem Reap in our database — worth comparing directly if you're still deciding.
Is Siem Reap worth living in?
It depends heavily on your priorities — Siem Reap's overall score of 5.3/10 reflects real trade-offs rather than an easy yes. Check the strengths and trade-offs sections above before deciding.
Who should move to Siem Reap?
Based on its score profile, Siem Reap suits people who value cost of living and safety more than the average mover — see the "Who Siem Reap suits" section above for the specific profiles (families, digital nomads, students, etc.) that fit best.
Is Siem Reap walkable, and is public transport good?
Not especially — Siem Reap scores just 3/10 on transport, so expect to lean on a car, bike or rideshares more than public transit alone.
What's the biggest advantage of living in Siem Reap?
Cost of living is Siem Reap's standout strength, scoring 8/10 — the highest of its seven criteria on CityMatch.
What's the biggest downside of living in Siem Reap?
Public transport is the clearest trade-off, scoring just 3/10 — the lowest of Siem Reap's seven criteria, and worth weighing against its strengths.