Phnom PenhvsPenang (George Town)
📶
Penang (George Town) has 2x faster internet
100 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Tropical Monsoon vs Tropical Wet climate
Different weather patterns year-round
🛂
Malaysia offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Phnom Penh
Penang (George Town)
Total Budget
$900/mo
$850/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$450/mo
$350/mo ✓
Coworking
$80/mo
$75/mo ✓
Meal Out
$2 ✓
$3
Coffee
$2 ✓
$3
Penang (George Town) is $50/mo cheaper (6% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇰🇭 Phnom Penh
📶 Internet50 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇲🇾 Penang (George Town)
📶 Internet100 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Phnom Penh
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp28°C
Rainy Days201/year
Best months: January, February, March, December
Penang (George Town)
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days284/year
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
26°27°
Apr
30°28°
Jul
28°28°
Oct
27°27°
Phnom PenhPenang (George Town)
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇰🇭Phnom Penh
🇲🇾Penang (George Town)
💰
Monthly Budget
$900
$850
📶
Internet Speed
50 Mbps
100 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
3/5
4/5
Winner⭐
Nomad Score
3.5/10
4/10
Winner🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
10/10
Winner🎉
Nightlife
7/10
Winner5/10
🚶
Walkability
5/10
7/10
Winner👥
Community
medium
medium
1
Phnom Penh wins
vs
5
Penang (George Town) wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Either works
Similar costs - choose based on other factors
💻Developer
Penang (George Town)
100 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Penang (George Town)
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Penang (George Town)
Better food scene with incredible variety
🎉Party Person
Phnom Penh
World-famous nightlife scene
🇰🇭Phnom Penh
Pros
- +Extremely low cost of living - one of the cheapest capitals in Asia
- +Easy long-term visa options with indefinite extensions possible
- +Rich historical and cultural attractions including temples and museums
- +Thriving expat community with regular meetups and events
Cons
- −Internet can be unreliable especially outside premium areas
- −Petty crime like bag snatching is common in tourist areas
- −Hot and humid climate year-round with monsoon flooding
- −Limited public transportation - reliant on tuk-tuks
🇲🇾Penang (George Town)
Pros
- +Legendary street food scene - Asia's food capital with Char Kway Teow laksa and more
- +Extremely affordable - comfortable living under $850/month
- +UNESCO World Heritage Site - stunning colonial architecture and temples
- +High English proficiency - easy communication everywhere
Cons
- −Hot and humid year-round - 24-32°C with high humidity
- −WiFi historically slower than other destinations - improving with fiber rollout
- −Limited coworking scene compared to KL or Bali
- −Monsoon season September-November brings heavy rain
