Which is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Vientiane?

Vientiane is cheaper, with a NoodlePants Cost of Living index of 32 vs 34 for Phnom Penh. A 1-bedroom in the city centre averages $450 vs $550.

Which is better for digital nomads, Phnom Penh or Vientiane?

Phnom Penh edges ahead with a NoodlePants Nomad Score of null vs null, factoring in internet (—), affordability and community.

All city comparisons

Phnom Penh vs Vientiane — Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

COL Index

very affordable

Vientiane

Laos

COL Index

very affordable

NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data

Vientiane edges out Phnom Penh on affordability with a NoodlePants COL Index of 32 vs 34 (very affordable vs very affordable). Vientiane scores higher on safety (null/100), and Vientiane wins on internet at ~—. Overall, Phnom Penh takes the Nomad Score crown with null/100 — best for .

* Some figures are country averages — full city-level data coming soon.Pro members get neighbourhood-level breakdowns.

Metric

Phnom Penh

Vientiane

Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)

$550

$450

Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)

$380

$310

NoodlePants COL Index

Safety Score

—

Internet Speed

—

Nomad Score

—

Healthcare Score

—

Digital Nomad Visa

Not available

Who is each city for?

Phnom Penh is better for…

See the Cambodia country profile

Vientiane is better for…

See the Laos country profile

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