Dublin vs Phnom Penh: A Complete Data-Driven Comparison
Dublin
Ireland ยท $2,800/mo
Phnom Penh
Cambodia ยท $700/mo
Choosing between Dublin, Ireland 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 Dublin 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.
Dublin earns an overall score of 79.32/100, while Phnom Penh scores 63.01/100. A 16.31-point significant gap that Dublin leads. But headline scores never tell the full story. Let's break down exactly where each city excels and where it falls short.
Dublin is described as: "Europe's tech hub with a friendly pub culture. High salaries offset by high rents." 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
Dublin
72Phnom Penh
69In economic factors, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 72/100 compared to 69/100. This category covers employment & income, cost factors, economic environment.
Dublin has a commanding lead in employment & income (80 vs 53). Phnom Penh has a commanding lead in cost factors (78 vs 58). Dublin has a solid advantage in economic environment (83 vs 73).
Dublin stands out for currency stability, economic stability, banking system, though housing costs and tax rates could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in daily living costs and housing costs despite the overall gap.
Employment & Income
Dublin
80Phnom Penh
53Job Market Strength
Salary Levels
Freelance/Remote Work Market
Entrepreneurship Environment
Cost Factors
Dublin
58Phnom Penh
78Housing Costs
Daily Living Costs
Transportation Costs
Entertainment Costs
Healthcare Costs
Education Costs
Economic Environment
Dublin
83Phnom Penh
73Tax Rates
Business Regulations
Economic Stability
Currency Stability
Banking System
Quality of Life
Dublin
78Phnom Penh
54In quality of life, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 78/100 compared to 54/100. This category covers healthcare, education, safety & environment, climate & nature.
Dublin has a commanding lead in education (80 vs 60). Dublin has a commanding lead in safety & environment (82 vs 49). Dublin has a commanding lead in climate & nature (77 vs 45).
Dublin stands out for english-speaking medical staff, political stability, natural disaster risk, though sunshine hours and rainfall patterns could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in english-speaking medical staff and healthcare affordability despite the overall gap.
Healthcare
Dublin
74Phnom Penh
66Healthcare Quality
Healthcare Accessibility
Healthcare Affordability
English-Speaking Medical Staff
Mental Health Services
Dental Care
Education
Dublin
80Phnom Penh
60School Quality
International Schools
Universities
Language Schools
Vocational Training
Safety & Environment
Dublin
82Phnom Penh
49Crime Rates
Personal Safety
Political Stability
Natural Disaster Risk
Air Quality
Water Quality
Noise Pollution
Climate & Nature
Dublin
77Phnom Penh
45Climate Suitability
Sunshine Hours
Rainfall Patterns
Natural Beauty
Green Spaces
Beach/Water Access
Mountains/Hiking
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Dublin
79Phnom Penh
61In infrastructure & connectivity, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 79/100 compared to 61/100. This category covers transportation, connectivity, digital infrastructure.
Dublin has a solid advantage in transportation (71 vs 52). Dublin has a commanding lead in connectivity (83 vs 55).
Dublin stands out for airport connectivity, mobile network quality, airport distance, though traffic congestion and driving conditions could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in public transport affordability and internet cost despite the overall gap.
Transportation
Dublin
71Phnom Penh
52Public Transport Quality
Public Transport Coverage
Public Transport Affordability
Bike Infrastructure
Walkability
Traffic Congestion
Driving Conditions
Taxi/Rideshare
Car Ownership Necessity
Connectivity
Dublin
83Phnom Penh
55Airport Connectivity
Airport Distance
Train Connections
Bus Connections
Ferry Connections
Digital Infrastructure
Dublin
86Phnom Penh
78Internet Speed
Internet Reliability
Internet Cost
Mobile Network Quality
Coworking Spaces
Public WiFi
Housing & Living Spaces
Dublin
60Phnom Penh
70In housing & living spaces, Phnom Penh takes the lead with a score of 70/100 compared to 60/100. This category covers housing market, neighborhoods.
Phnom Penh has a commanding lead in housing market (70 vs 47).
Phnom Penh stands out for rental costs, purchase prices, expat/international areas, though landlord regulations and housing quality could be improved. Dublin performs well in proximity to amenities and expat/international areas despite the overall gap.
Housing Market
Dublin
47Phnom Penh
70Rental Availability
Rental Costs
Purchase Prices
Housing Quality
Housing Variety
Landlord Regulations
Neighborhoods
Dublin
79Phnom Penh
70Neighborhood Diversity
Expat/International Areas
Gentrification Trends
Proximity to Amenities
Daily Life & Services
Dublin
82Phnom Penh
71In daily life & services, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 82/100 compared to 71/100. This category covers shopping & retail, food & dining, essential services, utilities & connectivity.
Dublin has a solid advantage in essential services (83 vs 67). Dublin has a solid advantage in utilities & connectivity (82 vs 65).
Dublin stands out for alcohol availability, cafรฉ culture, electricity reliability, though utility costs and restaurant affordability could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in street food and restaurant affordability despite the overall gap.
Shopping & Retail
Dublin
79Phnom Penh
70Supermarket Availability
Shopping Mall Quantity
Shopping Mall Quality
International Brands
Local Markets
Opening Hours
E-commerce
Food & Dining
Dublin
85Phnom Penh
83Restaurant Variety
Restaurant Quality
Restaurant Affordability
Cafรฉ Culture
Street Food
Alcohol Availability
Food Delivery
Essential Services
Dublin
83Phnom Penh
67Pharmacy Density
24-Hour Pharmacies
Medicine Availability
Postal Services
Banking Services
Laundry Services
Repair Services
Hair Salons/Barbers
Pet Services
Utilities & Connectivity
Dublin
82Phnom Penh
65Electricity Reliability
Water Reliability
Utility Costs
Heating/Cooling
Waste Management
Cultural & Social Life
Dublin
88Phnom Penh
60In cultural & social life, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 88/100 compared to 60/100. This category covers culture & entertainment, social life, community.
Dublin has a commanding lead in culture & entertainment (87 vs 58). Dublin has a commanding lead in social life (86 vs 57). Dublin has a commanding lead in community (92 vs 67).
Dublin stands out for language barriers, music scene, local friendliness, though dating scene and cinema options could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in local friendliness and historical sites despite the overall gap.
Culture & Entertainment
Dublin
87Phnom Penh
58Museums & Galleries
Historical Sites
Theaters & Performing Arts
Music Scene
Cinema Options
Libraries
Art Scene
Social Life
Dublin
86Phnom Penh
57Nightlife Quality
Nightlife Safety
Festival Calendar
Sports Culture
Social Clubs
Dating Scene
LGBTQ+ Scene
Community
Dublin
92Phnom Penh
67Local Friendliness
Expat Community Size
Expat Integration
Language Barriers
Cultural Events
Professional & Career
Dublin
81Phnom Penh
65In professional & career, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 81/100 compared to 65/100. This category covers business environment, work environment, market opportunities.
Dublin has a commanding lead in business environment (85 vs 53).
Dublin stands out for internet for work, industry clusters, major companies, though competition level and freelance market could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in business visa options and internet for work despite the overall gap.
Business Environment
Dublin
85Phnom Penh
53Industry Clusters
Major Companies
Startup Ecosystem
Coworking Culture
Professional Networking
Business Associations
Work Environment
Dublin
84Phnom Penh
81Work-Life Balance
Remote Work Acceptance
Internet for Work
Time Zone
Business Visa Options
Market Opportunities
Dublin
70Phnom Penh
65Client Base
Freelance Market
Competition Level
Lifestyle & Pace
Dublin
77Phnom Penh
64In lifestyle & pace, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 77/100 compared to 64/100. This category covers daily rhythm, lifestyle options, tourism impact.
Dublin has a commanding lead in lifestyle options (79 vs 56). Dublin has a solid advantage in tourism impact (75 vs 64).
Dublin stands out for authenticity, weekend culture, pet friendliness, though crowding and tourist volume could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in pace of life and authenticity despite the overall gap.
Daily Rhythm
Dublin
78Phnom Penh
73Pace of Life
Working Hours Culture
Dining Hours
Shop Opening Hours
Weekend Culture
Lifestyle Options
Dublin
79Phnom Penh
56Outdoor Lifestyle
Fitness Culture
Health Consciousness
Pet Friendliness
Family Orientation
Tourism Impact
Dublin
75Phnom Penh
64Tourist Volume
Tourism Seasonality
Tourist Infrastructure
Authenticity
Crowding
Legal & Administrative
Dublin
84Phnom Penh
57In legal & administrative, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 84/100 compared to 57/100. This category covers visa & residency, administration, rights & freedoms.
Dublin has a commanding lead in administration (80 vs 51). Dublin has a commanding lead in rights & freedoms (92 vs 51).
Dublin stands out for language requirements, lgbtq+ rights, deportation risk, though residency process and bureaucracy level could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in visa requirements and residency options despite the overall gap.
Visa & Residency
Dublin
79Phnom Penh
70Visa Requirements
Residency Options
Residency Process
Citizenship Pathway
Deportation Risk
Administration
Dublin
80Phnom Penh
51Bureaucracy Level
Digital Government
Document Requirements
Language Requirements
Legal System
Rights & Freedoms
Dublin
92Phnom Penh
51Freedom of Speech
Religious Freedom
Women's Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Worker Rights
Family & Children
Dublin
72Phnom Penh
63In family & children, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 72/100 compared to 63/100. This category covers child-friendly infrastructure, family services.
Dublin has a commanding lead in child-friendly infrastructure (82 vs 59).
Dublin stands out for child safety, playgrounds, kid 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
Dublin
82Phnom Penh
59Playgrounds
Kid Activities
Child Safety
Pediatric Care
Baby/Toddler Facilities
Family Services
Dublin
61Phnom Penh
66Childcare Availability
Childcare Costs
School Holidays
Extracurricular Activities
Family Housing
Practical Considerations
Dublin
81Phnom Penh
62In practical considerations, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 81/100 compared to 62/100. This category covers transportation costs, special services, communication, emergency services.
Dublin has a commanding lead in special services (84 vs 60). Dublin has a commanding lead in communication (88 vs 61). Dublin has a commanding lead in emergency services (88 vs 65).
Dublin stands out for translation services, language learning, emergency numbers, though fuel prices and vehicle costs could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in emergency numbers and gas station density despite the overall gap.
Transportation Costs
Dublin
68Phnom Penh
62Fuel Prices
Gas Station Density
EV Infrastructure
Vehicle Costs
Vehicle Maintenance
Special Services
Dublin
84Phnom Penh
60Moving Services
Storage Facilities
Translation Services
Legal Services
Accounting Services
Communication
Dublin
88Phnom Penh
61Postal Reliability
Package Import
Language Learning
International Calling
Emergency Services
Dublin
88Phnom Penh
65Emergency Response
Emergency Healthcare
Emergency Numbers
Natural Disaster Preparedness
Specific to Your Profile
Dublin
86Phnom Penh
62In specific to your profile, Dublin takes the lead with a score of 86/100 compared to 62/100. This category covers remote work specific, personal circumstances.
Dublin has a solid advantage in remote work specific (88 vs 72). Dublin has a commanding lead in personal circumstances (84 vs 56).
Dublin stands out for language skills, cafรฉ laptop culture, video call quality, though citizenship advantages and partner citizenship advantages could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in video call quality and cafรฉ laptop culture despite the overall gap.
Remote Work Specific
Dublin
88Phnom Penh
72Time Zone Alignment
Coworking Day Passes
Cafรฉ Laptop Culture
Video Call Quality
Tech Ecosystem
Personal Circumstances
Dublin
84Phnom Penh
56Citizenship Advantages
Partner Citizenship Advantages
Industry Presence
Language Skills
Religious/Cultural Fit
Dietary Requirements
Hobby Availability
Pet Import Rules
The Verdict: Dublin or Phnom Penh?
With an overall score of 79.32/100 versus 63.01/100, Dublin leads on paper. But the "better" city ultimately depends on what matters most to you.
Dublin excels in economic factors, quality of life, infrastructure & connectivity. Phnom Penh leads in housing & living spaces.
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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