Phnom Penh

Regional snapshot

• Why people narrow here: The country profile highlights very low living costs versus a US composite on Numbeo, a growing expat and startup scene, English-friendly pockets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and private hospitals in the capital that handle much expat care—Phnom Penh is the default base for employers, NGOs, and families who need the widest clinic and school choice in-country.
• Main airport: Phnom Penh International (PNH) is the primary gateway for long-haul and regional hops; domestic and cross-border planning still sits under the same national visa and immigration rules the country page documents—not city-specific shortcuts.
• Daily life: USD and riel circulate together; right-hand traffic, heavy motorbikes, seasonal flooding, and dry-season air-quality spikes are practical adjustment points the national overview calls out—housing elevation and drainage matter in monsoon months.
• Languages: Khmer is official; English is common in tourism, international schools, NGOs, and many startups in Phnom Penh per the profile, but immigration counters, provincial care, police reports, and lease disputes still run primarily on Khmer—budget translation for contracts and disputes.
• Watch-outs: Petty theft, phone snatching, and scams target distracted newcomers; land titles and long leases need vetted lawyers where the profile flags governance gaps versus OECD peers. Ordinary-visa extensions and labour enforcement evolve—align stay purpose with GDI / MLVT guidance linked from the country page, not forum summaries alone.