Austin vs Phnom Penh: A Complete Data-Driven Comparison
Austin
United States ยท $2,400/mo
Phnom Penh
Cambodia ยท $700/mo
Choosing between Austin, United States and Phnom Penh, Cambodia is one of the most common dilemmas facing digital nomads, expats, and remote workers in 2026. Both cities offer unique advantages. But the right choice depends entirely on your priorities, budget, and lifestyle preferences.
In this comprehensive comparison, we analyze Austin and Phnom Penh across 12 critical categories: Economic Factors, Quality of Life, Infrastructure & Connectivity, Housing & Living Spaces, and 8 more categories. Each category is scored on a 0-100 scale using data from over 20 verified sources, including Numbeo, WHO, Speedtest, and local government statistics.
Austin earns an overall score of 79.86/100, while Phnom Penh scores 63.01/100. A 16.85-point significant gap that Austin leads. But headline scores never tell the full story. Let's break down exactly where each city excels and where it falls short.
Austin is described as: "Tech boom town with live music culture. Growing fast with no state income tax." Meanwhile, Phnom Penh is known as: "Cambodia's rapidly developing capital. Ultra-cheap with a growing expat scene." These reputations are earned. But how do they hold up under rigorous data analysis? Read on.
Economic Factors
Austin
80Phnom Penh
69In economic factors, Austin takes the lead with a score of 80/100 compared to 69/100. This category covers employment & income, cost factors, economic environment.
Austin has a commanding lead in employment & income (85 vs 53). Phnom Penh has a solid advantage in cost factors (78 vs 65). Austin has a commanding lead in economic environment (94 vs 73).
Austin stands out for currency stability, banking system, tax rates, though housing costs and education costs could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in daily living costs and housing costs despite the overall gap.
Employment & Income
Austin
85Phnom Penh
53Job Market Strength
Salary Levels
Freelance/Remote Work Market
Entrepreneurship Environment
Cost Factors
Austin
65Phnom Penh
78Housing Costs
Daily Living Costs
Transportation Costs
Entertainment Costs
Healthcare Costs
Education Costs
Economic Environment
Austin
94Phnom Penh
73Tax Rates
Business Regulations
Economic Stability
Currency Stability
Banking System
Quality of Life
Austin
74Phnom Penh
54In quality of life, Austin takes the lead with a score of 74/100 compared to 54/100. This category covers healthcare, education, safety & environment, climate & nature.
Austin has a solid advantage in education (78 vs 60). Austin has a commanding lead in safety & environment (70 vs 49). Austin has a commanding lead in climate & nature (73 vs 45).
Austin stands out for english-speaking medical staff, universities, political stability, though beach/water access and healthcare affordability could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in english-speaking medical staff and healthcare affordability despite the overall gap.
Healthcare
Austin
75Phnom Penh
66Healthcare Quality
Healthcare Accessibility
Healthcare Affordability
English-Speaking Medical Staff
Mental Health Services
Dental Care
Education
Austin
78Phnom Penh
60School Quality
International Schools
Universities
Language Schools
Vocational Training
Safety & Environment
Austin
70Phnom Penh
49Crime Rates
Personal Safety
Political Stability
Natural Disaster Risk
Air Quality
Water Quality
Noise Pollution
Climate & Nature
Austin
73Phnom Penh
45Climate Suitability
Sunshine Hours
Rainfall Patterns
Natural Beauty
Green Spaces
Beach/Water Access
Mountains/Hiking
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Austin
70Phnom Penh
61In infrastructure & connectivity, Austin takes the lead with a score of 70/100 compared to 61/100. This category covers transportation, connectivity, digital infrastructure.
Austin has a solid advantage in transportation (67 vs 52).
Austin stands out for internet speed, taxi/rideshare, coworking spaces, though ferry connections and train connections could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in public transport affordability and internet cost despite the overall gap.
Transportation
Austin
67Phnom Penh
52Public Transport Quality
Public Transport Coverage
Public Transport Affordability
Bike Infrastructure
Walkability
Traffic Congestion
Driving Conditions
Taxi/Rideshare
Car Ownership Necessity
Connectivity
Austin
55Phnom Penh
55Airport Connectivity
Airport Distance
Train Connections
Bus Connections
Ferry Connections
Digital Infrastructure
Austin
86Phnom Penh
78Internet Speed
Internet Reliability
Internet Cost
Mobile Network Quality
Coworking Spaces
Public WiFi
Housing & Living Spaces
Austin
71Phnom Penh
70In housing & living spaces, Austin takes the lead with a score of 71/100 compared to 70/100. This category covers housing market, neighborhoods.
Austin stands out for proximity to amenities, housing variety, neighborhood diversity, though purchase prices and rental costs could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in rental costs and purchase prices despite the overall gap.
Housing Market
Austin
68Phnom Penh
70Rental Availability
Rental Costs
Purchase Prices
Housing Quality
Housing Variety
Landlord Regulations
Neighborhoods
Austin
76Phnom Penh
70Neighborhood Diversity
Expat/International Areas
Gentrification Trends
Proximity to Amenities
Daily Life & Services
Austin
86Phnom Penh
71In daily life & services, Austin takes the lead with a score of 86/100 compared to 71/100. This category covers shopping & retail, food & dining, essential services, utilities & connectivity.
Austin has a solid advantage in shopping & retail (86 vs 70). Austin has a solid advantage in essential services (86 vs 67). Austin has a solid advantage in utilities & connectivity (82 vs 65).
Austin stands out for supermarket availability, e-commerce, restaurant variety, though restaurant affordability and utility costs could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in street food and restaurant affordability despite the overall gap.
Shopping & Retail
Austin
86Phnom Penh
70Supermarket Availability
Shopping Mall Quantity
Shopping Mall Quality
International Brands
Local Markets
Opening Hours
E-commerce
Food & Dining
Austin
87Phnom Penh
83Restaurant Variety
Restaurant Quality
Restaurant Affordability
Cafรฉ Culture
Street Food
Alcohol Availability
Food Delivery
Essential Services
Austin
86Phnom Penh
67Pharmacy Density
24-Hour Pharmacies
Medicine Availability
Postal Services
Banking Services
Laundry Services
Repair Services
Hair Salons/Barbers
Pet Services
Utilities & Connectivity
Austin
82Phnom Penh
65Electricity Reliability
Water Reliability
Utility Costs
Heating/Cooling
Waste Management
Cultural & Social Life
Austin
85Phnom Penh
60In cultural & social life, Austin takes the lead with a score of 85/100 compared to 60/100. This category covers culture & entertainment, social life, community.
Austin has a commanding lead in culture & entertainment (83 vs 58). Austin has a commanding lead in social life (84 vs 57). Austin has a solid advantage in community (87 vs 67).
Austin stands out for language barriers, music scene, festival calendar, though nightlife safety and historical sites could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in local friendliness and historical sites despite the overall gap.
Culture & Entertainment
Austin
83Phnom Penh
58Museums & Galleries
Historical Sites
Theaters & Performing Arts
Music Scene
Cinema Options
Libraries
Art Scene
Social Life
Austin
84Phnom Penh
57Nightlife Quality
Nightlife Safety
Festival Calendar
Sports Culture
Social Clubs
Dating Scene
LGBTQ+ Scene
Community
Austin
87Phnom Penh
67Local Friendliness
Expat Community Size
Expat Integration
Language Barriers
Cultural Events
Professional & Career
Austin
85Phnom Penh
65In professional & career, Austin takes the lead with a score of 85/100 compared to 65/100. This category covers business environment, work environment, market opportunities.
Austin has a commanding lead in business environment (90 vs 53). Austin has a solid advantage in market opportunities (78 vs 65).
Austin stands out for startup ecosystem, internet for work, coworking culture, though competition level and business visa options could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in business visa options and internet for work despite the overall gap.
Business Environment
Austin
90Phnom Penh
53Industry Clusters
Major Companies
Startup Ecosystem
Coworking Culture
Professional Networking
Business Associations
Work Environment
Austin
83Phnom Penh
81Work-Life Balance
Remote Work Acceptance
Internet for Work
Time Zone
Business Visa Options
Market Opportunities
Austin
78Phnom Penh
65Client Base
Freelance Market
Competition Level
Lifestyle & Pace
Austin
78Phnom Penh
64In lifestyle & pace, Austin takes the lead with a score of 78/100 compared to 64/100. This category covers daily rhythm, lifestyle options, tourism impact.
Austin has a commanding lead in lifestyle options (84 vs 56).
Austin stands out for outdoor lifestyle, pet friendliness, weekend culture, though crowding and tourist volume could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in pace of life and authenticity despite the overall gap.
Daily Rhythm
Austin
78Phnom Penh
73Pace of Life
Working Hours Culture
Dining Hours
Shop Opening Hours
Weekend Culture
Lifestyle Options
Austin
84Phnom Penh
56Outdoor Lifestyle
Fitness Culture
Health Consciousness
Pet Friendliness
Family Orientation
Tourism Impact
Austin
73Phnom Penh
64Tourist Volume
Tourism Seasonality
Tourist Infrastructure
Authenticity
Crowding
Legal & Administrative
Austin
82Phnom Penh
57In legal & administrative, Austin takes the lead with a score of 82/100 compared to 57/100. This category covers visa & residency, administration, rights & freedoms.
Austin has a commanding lead in administration (83 vs 51). Austin has a commanding lead in rights & freedoms (91 vs 51).
Austin stands out for language requirements, freedom of speech, religious freedom, though residency process and visa requirements could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in visa requirements and residency options despite the overall gap.
Visa & Residency
Austin
71Phnom Penh
70Visa Requirements
Residency Options
Residency Process
Citizenship Pathway
Deportation Risk
Administration
Austin
83Phnom Penh
51Bureaucracy Level
Digital Government
Document Requirements
Language Requirements
Legal System
Rights & Freedoms
Austin
91Phnom Penh
51Freedom of Speech
Religious Freedom
Women's Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Worker Rights
Family & Children
Austin
77Phnom Penh
63In family & children, Austin takes the lead with a score of 77/100 compared to 63/100. This category covers child-friendly infrastructure, family services.
Austin has a commanding lead in child-friendly infrastructure (81 vs 59).
Austin stands out for kid activities, playgrounds, extracurricular activities, though childcare costs and childcare availability could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in family housing and childcare costs despite the overall gap.
Child-Friendly Infrastructure
Austin
81Phnom Penh
59Playgrounds
Kid Activities
Child Safety
Pediatric Care
Baby/Toddler Facilities
Family Services
Austin
74Phnom Penh
66Childcare Availability
Childcare Costs
School Holidays
Extracurricular Activities
Family Housing
Practical Considerations
Austin
83Phnom Penh
62In practical considerations, Austin takes the lead with a score of 83/100 compared to 62/100. This category covers transportation costs, special services, communication, emergency services.
Austin has a solid advantage in transportation costs (74 vs 62). Austin has a commanding lead in special services (88 vs 60). Austin has a commanding lead in communication (90 vs 61).
Austin stands out for language learning, emergency numbers, gas station density, though vehicle costs and fuel prices could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in emergency numbers and gas station density despite the overall gap.
Transportation Costs
Austin
74Phnom Penh
62Fuel Prices
Gas Station Density
EV Infrastructure
Vehicle Costs
Vehicle Maintenance
Special Services
Austin
88Phnom Penh
60Moving Services
Storage Facilities
Translation Services
Legal Services
Accounting Services
Communication
Austin
90Phnom Penh
61Postal Reliability
Package Import
Language Learning
International Calling
Emergency Services
Austin
82Phnom Penh
65Emergency Response
Emergency Healthcare
Emergency Numbers
Natural Disaster Preparedness
Specific to Your Profile
Austin
86Phnom Penh
62In specific to your profile, Austin takes the lead with a score of 86/100 compared to 62/100. This category covers remote work specific, personal circumstances.
Austin has a solid advantage in remote work specific (90 vs 72). Austin has a commanding lead in personal circumstances (84 vs 56).
Austin stands out for language skills, video call quality, tech ecosystem, though partner citizenship advantages and citizenship advantages could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in video call quality and cafรฉ laptop culture despite the overall gap.
Remote Work Specific
Austin
90Phnom Penh
72Time Zone Alignment
Coworking Day Passes
Cafรฉ Laptop Culture
Video Call Quality
Tech Ecosystem
Personal Circumstances
Austin
84Phnom Penh
56Citizenship Advantages
Partner Citizenship Advantages
Industry Presence
Language Skills
Religious/Cultural Fit
Dietary Requirements
Hobby Availability
Pet Import Rules
The Verdict: Austin or Phnom Penh?
With an overall score of 79.86/100 versus 63.01/100, Austin leads on paper. But the "better" city ultimately depends on what matters most to you.
Austin excels in economic factors, quality of life, infrastructure & connectivity. Phnom Penh leads in several areas.
Use our interactive comparison tool to drill deeper into specific metrics. No single ranking captures the complexity of choosing a new home. But data-driven analysis gives you the best starting point.
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