Manila vs Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh comes out ahead overall, winning 3 of 7 criteria.
Summary
Phnom Penh edges out Manila overall (5.9 vs 5.6), but the margin is thin enough that a single strong priority — like cost of living — could reasonably flip your personal decision the other way.
Quick answers
Safety: Manila and Phnom Penh tie on this (5/10 each).
Climate: Phnom Penh (8/10 vs 7/10).
Overall, Phnom Penh scores higher (5.9/10 vs 5.6/10) across all seven criteria combined.
Cost of living: Phnom Penh (8/10 vs 7/10).
Phnom Penh — Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (5.3 vs 5.6 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by safety.
Phnom Penh — Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base (6.2 vs 6.4 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by cost of living.
Where each city wins
- +Internet & connectivity: slightly better than Phnom Penh (8.0 vs 7.0)
- +Cost of living: slightly better than Manila (8.0 vs 7.0)
- +Environment & air quality: slightly better than Manila (4.0 vs 3.0)
- +Climate: slightly better than Manila (8.0 vs 7.0)
Which city fits your profile?
Phnom Penh comes out ahead for nearly every profile we tested — digital nomad, freelancer, young family, budget-conscious mover, safety-first mover and retiree, among others — winning 9 of 10 weighted comparisons against Manila. There's no profile in our set where Manila pulls ahead.
See the full breakdown by profile
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward remote workers who need fast internet and an affordable, pleasant base (6.2 vs 6.4 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by cost of living.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward independent workers balancing cost of living against healthcare access (5.9 vs 6.2 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by cost of living.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward households with kids prioritizing safety, healthcare and clean air (5.3 vs 5.6 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by safety.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward movers for whom affordability outweighs every other factor (5.8 vs 6.2 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by cost of living.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward people relocating somewhere unfamiliar who weigh personal safety above all (5.1 vs 5.3 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by safety.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward retirees prioritizing healthcare, climate and a calm environment over nightlife or internet speed (5.4 vs 5.8 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by climate.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward students who need affordability, transit and a lively social scene (5.7 vs 6.0 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by cost of living.
Manila and Phnom Penh score within a rounding error of each other for expatriates relocating for work who lean on safety, healthcare and internet to stay settled and connected, so this comparison won't settle it either way.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward founders and small business owners who need reliable connectivity and a livable base without big-city costs (6.0 vs 6.2 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by internet & connectivity.
Phnom Penh scores higher once we weight toward early-career movers who want nightlife and transit within budget, without yet prioritizing healthcare or climate (5.8 vs 6.0 for Manila vs Phnom Penh), driven largely by cost of living.
Which city should you choose?
Pick Phnom Penh instead if you're more of a digital nomad, freelancer, or young family.