Los Angeles vs Phnom Penh: A Complete Data-Driven Comparison
Los Angeles
United States ยท $3,800/mo
Phnom Penh
Cambodia ยท $700/mo
Choosing between Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles 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.
Los Angeles earns an overall score of 75.75/100, while Phnom Penh scores 63.01/100. A 12.74-point significant gap that Los Angeles leads. But headline scores never tell the full story. Let's break down exactly where each city excels and where it falls short.
Los Angeles is described as: "Entertainment capital with year-round sunshine. High costs but unmatched lifestyle appeal." 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
Los Angeles
64Phnom Penh
69In economic factors, Phnom Penh takes the lead with a score of 69/100 compared to 64/100. This category covers employment & income, cost factors, economic environment.
Los Angeles has a commanding lead in employment & income (83 vs 53). Phnom Penh has a commanding lead in cost factors (78 vs 39).
Phnom Penh stands out for daily living costs, housing costs, currency stability, though salary levels and education costs could be improved. Los Angeles performs well in currency stability and banking system despite the overall gap.
Employment & Income
Los Angeles
83Phnom Penh
53Job Market Strength
Salary Levels
Freelance/Remote Work Market
Entrepreneurship Environment
Cost Factors
Los Angeles
39Phnom Penh
78Housing Costs
Daily Living Costs
Transportation Costs
Entertainment Costs
Healthcare Costs
Education Costs
Economic Environment
Los Angeles
77Phnom Penh
73Tax Rates
Business Regulations
Economic Stability
Currency Stability
Banking System
Quality of Life
Los Angeles
73Phnom Penh
54In quality of life, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 73/100 compared to 54/100. This category covers healthcare, education, safety & environment, climate & nature.
Los Angeles has a commanding lead in education (81 vs 60). Los Angeles has a commanding lead in climate & nature (91 vs 45).
Los Angeles stands out for english-speaking medical staff, universities, climate suitability, though healthcare affordability and natural disaster risk could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in english-speaking medical staff and healthcare affordability despite the overall gap.
Healthcare
Los Angeles
73Phnom Penh
66Healthcare Quality
Healthcare Accessibility
Healthcare Affordability
English-Speaking Medical Staff
Mental Health Services
Dental Care
Education
Los Angeles
81Phnom Penh
60School Quality
International Schools
Universities
Language Schools
Vocational Training
Safety & Environment
Los Angeles
49Phnom Penh
49Crime Rates
Personal Safety
Political Stability
Natural Disaster Risk
Air Quality
Water Quality
Noise Pollution
Climate & Nature
Los Angeles
91Phnom Penh
45Climate Suitability
Sunshine Hours
Rainfall Patterns
Natural Beauty
Green Spaces
Beach/Water Access
Mountains/Hiking
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Los Angeles
66Phnom Penh
61In infrastructure & connectivity, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 66/100 compared to 61/100. This category covers transportation, connectivity, digital infrastructure.
Los Angeles stands out for airport connectivity, internet speed, taxi/rideshare, though ferry connections and traffic congestion could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in public transport affordability and internet cost despite the overall gap.
Transportation
Los Angeles
57Phnom Penh
52Public Transport Quality
Public Transport Coverage
Public Transport Affordability
Bike Infrastructure
Walkability
Traffic Congestion
Driving Conditions
Taxi/Rideshare
Car Ownership Necessity
Connectivity
Los Angeles
59Phnom Penh
55Airport Connectivity
Airport Distance
Train Connections
Bus Connections
Ferry Connections
Digital Infrastructure
Los Angeles
83Phnom Penh
78Internet Speed
Internet Reliability
Internet Cost
Mobile Network Quality
Coworking Spaces
Public WiFi
Housing & Living Spaces
Los Angeles
61Phnom Penh
70In housing & living spaces, Phnom Penh takes the lead with a score of 70/100 compared to 61/100. This category covers housing market, neighborhoods.
Phnom Penh has a commanding lead in housing market (70 vs 50).
Phnom Penh stands out for rental costs, purchase prices, expat/international areas, though landlord regulations and housing quality could be improved. Los Angeles performs well in neighborhood diversity and expat/international areas despite the overall gap.
Housing Market
Los Angeles
50Phnom Penh
70Rental Availability
Rental Costs
Purchase Prices
Housing Quality
Housing Variety
Landlord Regulations
Neighborhoods
Los Angeles
78Phnom Penh
70Neighborhood Diversity
Expat/International Areas
Gentrification Trends
Proximity to Amenities
Daily Life & Services
Los Angeles
85Phnom Penh
71In daily life & services, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 85/100 compared to 71/100. This category covers shopping & retail, food & dining, essential services, utilities & connectivity.
Los Angeles has a solid advantage in shopping & retail (87 vs 70). Los Angeles has a solid advantage in essential services (85 vs 67). Los Angeles has a solid advantage in utilities & connectivity (83 vs 65).
Los Angeles stands out for e-commerce, restaurant variety, restaurant quality, 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
Los Angeles
87Phnom Penh
70Supermarket Availability
Shopping Mall Quantity
Shopping Mall Quality
International Brands
Local Markets
Opening Hours
E-commerce
Food & Dining
Los Angeles
83Phnom Penh
83Restaurant Variety
Restaurant Quality
Restaurant Affordability
Cafรฉ Culture
Street Food
Alcohol Availability
Food Delivery
Essential Services
Los Angeles
85Phnom Penh
67Pharmacy Density
24-Hour Pharmacies
Medicine Availability
Postal Services
Banking Services
Laundry Services
Repair Services
Hair Salons/Barbers
Pet Services
Utilities & Connectivity
Los Angeles
83Phnom Penh
65Electricity Reliability
Water Reliability
Utility Costs
Heating/Cooling
Waste Management
Cultural & Social Life
Los Angeles
84Phnom Penh
60In cultural & social life, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 84/100 compared to 60/100. This category covers culture & entertainment, social life, community.
Los Angeles has a commanding lead in culture & entertainment (85 vs 58). Los Angeles has a commanding lead in social life (82 vs 57). Los Angeles has a solid advantage in community (85 vs 67).
Los Angeles stands out for language barriers, museums & galleries, theaters & performing arts, 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
Los Angeles
85Phnom Penh
58Museums & Galleries
Historical Sites
Theaters & Performing Arts
Music Scene
Cinema Options
Libraries
Art Scene
Social Life
Los Angeles
82Phnom Penh
57Nightlife Quality
Nightlife Safety
Festival Calendar
Sports Culture
Social Clubs
Dating Scene
LGBTQ+ Scene
Community
Los Angeles
85Phnom Penh
67Local Friendliness
Expat Community Size
Expat Integration
Language Barriers
Cultural Events
Professional & Career
Los Angeles
81Phnom Penh
65In professional & career, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 81/100 compared to 65/100. This category covers business environment, work environment, market opportunities.
Los Angeles has a commanding lead in business environment (85 vs 53). Los Angeles has a solid advantage in market opportunities (77 vs 65).
Los Angeles stands out for internet for work, industry clusters, client base, though competition level and work-life balance could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in business visa options and internet for work despite the overall gap.
Business Environment
Los Angeles
85Phnom Penh
53Industry Clusters
Major Companies
Startup Ecosystem
Coworking Culture
Professional Networking
Business Associations
Work Environment
Los Angeles
79Phnom Penh
81Work-Life Balance
Remote Work Acceptance
Internet for Work
Time Zone
Business Visa Options
Market Opportunities
Los Angeles
77Phnom Penh
65Client Base
Freelance Market
Competition Level
Lifestyle & Pace
Los Angeles
75Phnom Penh
64In lifestyle & pace, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 75/100 compared to 64/100. This category covers daily rhythm, lifestyle options, tourism impact.
Los Angeles has a commanding lead in lifestyle options (84 vs 56).
Los Angeles stands out for outdoor lifestyle, fitness culture, health consciousness, though crowding and pace of life could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in pace of life and authenticity despite the overall gap.
Daily Rhythm
Los Angeles
73Phnom Penh
73Pace of Life
Working Hours Culture
Dining Hours
Shop Opening Hours
Weekend Culture
Lifestyle Options
Los Angeles
84Phnom Penh
56Outdoor Lifestyle
Fitness Culture
Health Consciousness
Pet Friendliness
Family Orientation
Tourism Impact
Los Angeles
67Phnom Penh
64Tourist Volume
Tourism Seasonality
Tourist Infrastructure
Authenticity
Crowding
Legal & Administrative
Los Angeles
75Phnom Penh
57In legal & administrative, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 75/100 compared to 57/100. This category covers visa & residency, administration, rights & freedoms.
Phnom Penh has a solid advantage in visa & residency (70 vs 57). Los Angeles has a commanding lead in administration (79 vs 51). Los Angeles has a commanding lead in rights & freedoms (90 vs 51).
Los Angeles stands out for freedom of speech, religious freedom, language requirements, though visa requirements and residency process could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in visa requirements and residency options despite the overall gap.
Visa & Residency
Los Angeles
57Phnom Penh
70Visa Requirements
Residency Options
Residency Process
Citizenship Pathway
Deportation Risk
Administration
Los Angeles
79Phnom Penh
51Bureaucracy Level
Digital Government
Document Requirements
Language Requirements
Legal System
Rights & Freedoms
Los Angeles
90Phnom Penh
51Freedom of Speech
Religious Freedom
Women's Rights
LGBTQ+ Rights
Worker Rights
Family & Children
Los Angeles
70Phnom Penh
63In family & children, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 70/100 compared to 63/100. This category covers child-friendly infrastructure, family services.
Los Angeles has a solid advantage in child-friendly infrastructure (78 vs 59).
Los Angeles stands out for kid activities, playgrounds, extracurricular activities, though childcare costs and family housing could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in family housing and childcare costs despite the overall gap.
Child-Friendly Infrastructure
Los Angeles
78Phnom Penh
59Playgrounds
Kid Activities
Child Safety
Pediatric Care
Baby/Toddler Facilities
Family Services
Los Angeles
62Phnom Penh
66Childcare Availability
Childcare Costs
School Holidays
Extracurricular Activities
Family Housing
Practical Considerations
Los Angeles
80Phnom Penh
62In practical considerations, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 80/100 compared to 62/100. This category covers transportation costs, special services, communication, emergency services.
Los Angeles has a commanding lead in special services (84 vs 60). Los Angeles has a commanding lead in communication (86 vs 61). Los Angeles has a solid advantage in emergency services (83 vs 65).
Los Angeles stands out for emergency numbers, gas station density, legal services, 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
Los Angeles
68Phnom Penh
62Fuel Prices
Gas Station Density
EV Infrastructure
Vehicle Costs
Vehicle Maintenance
Special Services
Los Angeles
84Phnom Penh
60Moving Services
Storage Facilities
Translation Services
Legal Services
Accounting Services
Communication
Los Angeles
86Phnom Penh
61Postal Reliability
Package Import
Language Learning
International Calling
Emergency Services
Los Angeles
83Phnom Penh
65Emergency Response
Emergency Healthcare
Emergency Numbers
Natural Disaster Preparedness
Specific to Your Profile
Los Angeles
87Phnom Penh
62In specific to your profile, Los Angeles takes the lead with a score of 87/100 compared to 62/100. This category covers remote work specific, personal circumstances.
Los Angeles has a solid advantage in remote work specific (86 vs 72). Los Angeles has a commanding lead in personal circumstances (87 vs 56).
Los Angeles stands out for language skills, dietary requirements, cafรฉ laptop culture, though partner citizenship advantages and time zone alignment could be improved. Phnom Penh performs well in video call quality and cafรฉ laptop culture despite the overall gap.
Remote Work Specific
Los Angeles
86Phnom Penh
72Time Zone Alignment
Coworking Day Passes
Cafรฉ Laptop Culture
Video Call Quality
Tech Ecosystem
Personal Circumstances
Los Angeles
87Phnom Penh
56Citizenship Advantages
Partner Citizenship Advantages
Industry Presence
Language Skills
Religious/Cultural Fit
Dietary Requirements
Hobby Availability
Pet Import Rules
The Verdict: Los Angeles or Phnom Penh?
With an overall score of 75.75/100 versus 63.01/100, Los Angeles leads on paper. But the "better" city ultimately depends on what matters most to you.
Los Angeles excels in quality of life, infrastructure & connectivity, daily life & services. Phnom Penh leads in economic factors, 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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