Sihanoukville, Cambodia·8 min read·

Renting in Sihanoukville: Cost of Living & Complete Guide (2026)

Sihanoukville is a fast-changing coastal city on Cambodia’s Gulf coast and the mainland jumping-off point for the islands — a US-dollar economy, cheap coastal living, and Koh Rong a short ferry away. Whether you're moving for a few months or settling in, this is the practical, all-in-one guide for 2026— written from time actually spent on the ground, not a rehash of someone else's. Here's what it costs to live here, where to base yourself, how to get set up, and how to land a good place before someone else does.

Currency
US dollar
Typical 1-bed
$350–$600/mo
Internet
Fibre in town, ~$15–25
Deposit
1 month + first month
Best for
Beach, islands, value
Getting around
Motorbike / tuk-tuk

Who Sihanoukville is for

Beach & island lovers

The mainland launch pad for Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem — white-sand islands are a short ferry away.

Thrill seekers & watersports

Diving, snorkelling, kayaking and island-hopping make it the most action-oriented base on this list.

Value seekers

Coastal living for Cambodian prices — pick the right area and you get the beach without the Thai price tag.

Not ideal if…

You want polish and calm — the casino-driven downtown is busy and uneven. Base yourself in Otres or out toward Ream.

Cost of living in Sihanoukville

Typical monthly costs beyond rent, for one person living comfortably:

Local meal / market food
$1.50–$3
Western restaurant meal
$6–$12
Monthly groceries (1 person)
$130–$260
Coworking hot desk
$60–$100/mo
Gym membership
$25–$45/mo
Coffee at a café
$2–$3.50

Utilities are modest: budget $40–$100/month for electricity (aircon is the swing factor), with cheap water and fast fibre in town.

Build your own monthly budget for Sihanoukville — pick a lifestyle and home size, and edit any line to match your plans (rent uses real current listings):

City
Who's going
Lifestyle
Housing
Getting around
Eating
Coworking
Rent (1-bed)typical asking price
$450
Food & eating out
$340
Transport
$80
Utilities & internet
$100
Phone / SIM
$10
Fun & misc
$220
Estimated monthly total
≈ $1,200/mo

Estimate for one person, in USD. Lifestyle sets your overall standard across every line; Eating and Getting around fine-tune the two most variable costs. Rent shows the live median of current listings where we have enough of them, otherwise a typical asking price; other lines are curated estimates. Tap ✎ to change any line to your own number (e.g. set a cost to $0 if it doesn't apply). Your spending will vary.

See live rentals in Sihanoukville

Rent prices in 2026

Typical monthly asking prices, furnished:

Studio / 1-bed, central
$200–$400
Modern 1-bed apartment
$350–$600
2-bed with pool
$500–$900
House with a garden (outer)
$400–$800
Prices are quoted in US dollars. Sihanoukville rents swing more than most Cambodian cities — pick a quieter area away from the casino strip for the best value.

Where to live

Otres

The laid-back beach end — guesthouses, long-stay travellers and the most relaxed pace.

Victory Hill / Weather Station

Older expat hub, walkable, cheaper rooms and apartments.

Downtown / Ekareach

Central and convenient for shops and transport, busier and noisier.

Toward Ream

Newer, quieter, more space for your money if you have a motorbike.

Getting set up

Internet, SIM & coworking

Fibre reaches most of town and SIMs are a few dollars; coworking is limited compared with Phnom Penh, but cafés with wifi are easy to find.

Getting around

A motorbike is the most practical option; tuk-tuks via PassApp cover town, and ferries to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem leave from the pier.

Visas & staying long-term

The E-class (ordinary) visa extends to 6 or 12 months through an agent, the same simple route as the rest of Cambodia.

Healthcare, shopping & essentials

Healthcare

Clinics handle the everyday; for anything serious, expats travel to Phnom Penh (3–4h) or fly to Bangkok.

Supermarkets

A growing set of supermarkets in town for Western groceries, with local markets cheapest for fresh produce.

Coworking & cafés

Fewer dedicated coworking spaces than Phnom Penh, but plenty of beach and town cafés to work from.

Fitness

A handful of gyms, plus swimming, watersports and island trips for the outdoors.

Things to do

  • Ferry trips to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem
  • Otres and Sokha beaches
  • Ream National Park
  • Diving and snorkelling around the islands
  • Sunset drinks along the coast
  • Day trips to Kampot and Kep

See every Sihanoukville rental on one live map

Browse current listings, filter by price and bedrooms, and get an email the moment a new match appears. Free to browse.

Open the Sihanoukville map →

Deposits & renting safely

Expect one month’s deposit plus the first month up front, with leases from month-to-month up to 12 months — view in person and get the deposit-return terms written into the lease before you pay.

Before you hand over a deposit:

  • View in person and test the aircon and water pressure
  • Pick a quieter area away from the casino strip for value and calm
  • Confirm what’s included: water, internet, pool upkeep
  • Get the deposit-return terms in writing
  • Pay the deposit only after seeing the actual unit
  • Ask about generator backup for power cuts

Finding a good place before it goes

The well-priced, well-located places don't sit empty for long — the renters who get them are the ones who see a listing the day it appears and message first. Rather than refresh scattered sources, Rental Alert puts every current Sihanoukville listing on a single map and can email you the moment something inside your budget and area shows up, so you reach the landlord before it's taken.

Sihanoukville rental FAQ

How much does it cost to rent in Sihanoukville?

Typical furnished monthly asking prices in Sihanoukville: Studio / 1-bed, central, $200–$400; Modern 1-bed apartment, $350–$600; 2-bed with pool, $500–$900; House with a garden (outer), $400–$800.

What is the cost of living in Sihanoukville?

Beyond rent, typical monthly costs for one person are: Local meal / market food, $1.50–$3; Western restaurant meal, $6–$12; Monthly groceries (1 person), $130–$260; Coworking hot desk, $60–$100/mo; Gym membership, $25–$45/mo; Coffee at a café, $2–$3.50. Utilities are modest: budget $40–$100/month for electricity (aircon is the swing factor), with cheap water and fast fibre in town.

How much deposit do I need to rent in Sihanoukville?

Expect one month’s deposit plus the first month up front, with leases from month-to-month up to 12 months — view in person and get the deposit-return terms written into the lease before you pay.

What are the best areas to live in Sihanoukville?

Otres — The laid-back beach end — guesthouses, long-stay travellers and the most relaxed pace. Victory Hill / Weather Station — Older expat hub, walkable, cheaper rooms and apartments. Downtown / Ekareach — Central and convenient for shops and transport, busier and noisier. Toward Ream — Newer, quieter, more space for your money if you have a motorbike.

Is Sihanoukville good for expats and digital nomads?

Sihanoukville is a fast-changing coastal city on Cambodia’s Gulf coast and the mainland jumping-off point for the islands — a US-dollar economy, cheap coastal living, and Koh Rong a short ferry away. Fibre reaches most of town and SIMs are a few dollars; coworking is limited compared with Phnom Penh, but cafés with wifi are easy to find.

Find your next place in Sihanoukville first

Every current Sihanoukville listing on one live map, with email alerts the moment a match inside your budget appears. Free to browse.

Open the Sihanoukville map →

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