This guide doesn't sell you the dream. It gives you what we wish we'd had before arriving: how much each sector actually pays, who's hiring in Siem Reap, which visa is realistic, where newcomers stumble, and how much you need to earn to live well. Everything is calibrated on 2024-2026 data and on-the-ground operator interviews.
Overview: median salaries by sector
Net median salary (P50) by sector, by experience level. Junior = 0-3 years, Mid = 3-7 years, Senior = 7+ years. Sectors without a salary band (founder/owner) aren't shown in the chart.
Junior (0-3 yrs)Mid (3-7 yrs)Senior (7+ yrs)
$/mo
Tech remote
$3,200
$6,500
$14,000
Digital Nomad
$2,200
$4,500
$9,000
Health & Medical
$2,200
$4,500
$9,500
Construction & Architecture
$1,200
$3,000
$7,500
Content creation
$1,200
$2,800
$7,500
NGO & Humanitarian
$1,000
$2,200
$4,500
Real estate
$900
$2,200
$5,500
Food & Beverage
$750
$1,800
$4,000
Wellness & Yoga
$750
$1,800
$4,500
Teaching
$950
$1,600
$2,500
Tourism
$600
$1,200
$2,200
The 12 sectors in detail
Sort the 12 sectors :
Which visa for which sector?
Which visa for which sector?
EB
EG
ER
ES
Business+Permit
Investment
Digital Nomad
Teaching
Tourism
NGO & Humanitarian
Starting a business
Real estate
Food & Beverage
Tech remote
Wellness & Yoga
Content creation
Construction & Architecture
Health & Medical
The EB (Business) visa covers most cases: 12 months renewable, $280-400. For regulated sectors (health, formal teaching) an additional permit may be required. The Investment (ES) visa is only for company creation > $100k.
Typical career timeline per sector
How many years to go from junior to mid to senior, with median salary milestones. Pick your sector below.
Junior freelance
Year 0 (start)
$2,200
median salary / mo
▸EB visa
▸1-2 EU/US clients
Mid freelance
~3 years
$4,500
median salary / mo
▸3-5 recurring clients
▸$50-80/hr rate
Senior / agency
~7 years
$9,000
median salary / mo
▸Mini-agency (1-3 staff)
▸$100-150/hr rate
Top 3 current openings per sector
Illustrative view of typical open roles per sector (April 2026, monthly refresh). For real-time listings, check Cambodian Jobs or employer career pages.
Pick your lifestyle, we compute the target net monthly salary. All ranges in USD (90% dollarized economy).
Target salary calculator
How much do I need to earn to live in Siem Reap?
Target net salary
$2,634$/mo
Estimated breakdown
Housing
$750
Food
$600
Transport
$65
Leisure
$250
Health/insurance
$250
Buffer (10%)
$192
Savings
$527
Europe → Siem Reap savings calculator
Compare your current European salary and cost of living with what you'd earn and spend in Siem Reap, by sector.
Current situation (Europe)
Net salary$4,500
Living cost-$4,200
Potential savings$300/mo
If you move to Siem Reap
Mid sector median salary$4,500
SR living cost-$2,400
Potential savings$2,100/mo
Difference: +$1,800/mo in favor of Siem Reap.
Indicative calculation. SR living cost ($2,400/mo) assumes balanced lifestyle, couple no kids. Adjust per profile.
Which sector matches my profile? (8 questions)
Anonymous answers, recommendations based on your profile
1.Years of professional experience
2.Minimum target net salary
3.You prefer:
4.English level
5.Acceptable risk level
6.Hours you want to work per week
7.Profile type
8.Available startup capital
Cambodia terms glossary
EB, hard title, BOT, CRBC… the acronyms and Cambodia-specific terms used in this guide and in any expat conversation.
EB
Extended Business visa. 1-year renewable, required for most professional activities. $280-400.
EG
General visa. Tourism + 6-month extension. More restrictive than EB for work.
ER
Retirement visa. For retirees with proven income. $280-400/year.
ES
Investment visa (Student/Special). For company creation > $100k.
Hard title
Official secured land title issued by Ministry of Land. The only truly protective title.
Soft title
Commune-level transfer record. Fragile in case of dispute. Avoid for any serious investment.
They made the move
8 already-settled expats share what works, what doesn't, and what they wish they'd known before.
"I make $5,200/mo and save $3,000. In Paris that was impossible. The discipline here: don't go out too much in the evening — burgers and beers add up fast."
Marc, 34
Freelance React dev
"Salary ($2,600) at French standards. The luxury: my commute — 8 minutes scooter, sun everywhere. LFR demands a lot but the team is genuinely close-knit."
Léa, 28
LFR teacher
"I make less than at the Toulouse hospital but the meaning of the job is back. I recommend a 3-4 month test before quitting everything: Siem Reap isn't for everyone."
Sophie, 41
NGO nurse
"Price/quality-of-life ratio destroys Europe. But you don't become a chef here by chance: 10-15 years of solid XP needed. For a junior, I'd recommend Bangkok or Bali first."
Pierre, 47
Park Hyatt chef
"We started with no clientele, just teaching free at 3 cafés. 6 months later, our agenda is full. Key: the wellness community is small but ultra-connected."
Camille, 32
Krama Yoga
"Initial $38k investment. I pivoted the menu month 7 — that's when everything took off. If I had to redo it, I'd spend 6 months tasting the market before signing the lease."
Antoine, 39
Pub Street bistrot
"The market is small but structured. Golden rule: never sell soft-title property, even if the commission is sweet. A dispute = 18 months in court."
Karine, 38
IPS Cambodia agent
"Australian and Chinese dental tourism fills the schedule 6 months out. I work less than in Lyon, I earn 2× more. But recognition took 7 months — come well prepared."
Dr Nicolas, 45
Implant dentist
Frequently asked questions (12)
For nearly all cases, the EB (Business) visa at $280-400 for 12 months renewable is enough. The 'work permit' is required additionally for hospitality, F&B, construction, and certain regulated jobs (health, formal teaching). A local agent handles the file in 2-3 weeks.
Siem Reap isn't an Eldorado, but it's a city where an expat with a clear project, a proper visa, and a $1,500-3,000/month income can live very comfortably. Sectors rising in 2026: F&B, Tech remote, Wellness, Content creation. Sectors stagnating: NGOs (international funding freeze), classic tourism (saturated). Our advice: test with a 30-day tourist visa before signing a lease, talk to 3-5 people already settled in your sector, and never trust headline numbers without verifying them yourself.
🧭 Published by Siem Reap Hub
The community guide for expats and travelers in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Built by a French engineer based in Siem Reap since 2025, combining AI analysis (Claude, RAG pipelines) and Google Maps data to assemble the most complete local directory — 5,300+ verified businesses. No sponsored placements, no paid content.