Cambodia

UN & international careers in Cambodia.

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Cambodia at a Glance Compare with

Considering a career with the UN or another international organization in Cambodia? This profile covers cost of living and purchasing power, the ICSC hardship classification and human development — so you know what living there really means. For pay by grade, see the Salary & Benefits tab.

Capital
Phnom Penh
Currency
Riels (KHR)
Region
Asia
Languages
Khmer, French, English
Area
181,040 km²
Calling code
+855
Bordering countries
Cost of Living & Purchasing Power
34 / 100 (US = 100)
local spending goes
3× as far as in the US
falling · price level vs US, 2016–2025 (35.3 → 33.6)

This is the World Bank price-level index: a whole-economy, national average of consumer prices benchmarked against the United States as a whole (US = 100), from the International Comparison Program. It is a country-level figure — it isn't tied to a specific city or measured against New York. At about 34, everyday prices in Cambodia are roughly 34% of US levels, so local-currency spending goes about as far. (World Bank, 2026.)

How this relates to your UN pay. For internationally-recruited (P / D) staff, the UN's post adjustment — set per duty station against New York, not the US average — is what actually governs your purchasing power. It already prices in local costs (here about 26%), so it isn't added on top of the saving above. For locally-recruited (GS / NO) staff — paid in local currency with no post adjustment — this national index is the more useful lifestyle guide.
How this is measured (World Bank ICP)
Real UN Purchasing Power UNjobnet estimate
214 / 100 (New York = 100)
114% further than New York

An internationally-recruited (P / D) staffer's net pay — base salary plus post adjustment — stretches roughly 114% further against local prices in Cambodia than the same pay does in New York.

How we work this out. Net-pay index (1 + post adjustment) ÷ local price level, indexed so that New York = 100. Inputs here: post adjustment 26%, World Bank price level 34 (US = 100), New York post adjustment 76%.

A local-economy estimate. Post adjustment is calculated to equalise the cost of an international-staff basket across duty stations, so this extra purchasing power is what you gain by spending on local goods and services rather than imported or international ones (international schooling, for instance). It uses Cambodia's national price level and its main duty station's post adjustment, so treat it as a guide, not a payslip. A UNjobnet estimate, calculated from UN ICSC post adjustment and World Bank price levels.

Human Development & Society
Medium Human Development
0.606 HDI rank #151 of 193
71
Life expectancy (yrs)
$4,931
GNI / capita
5.2
Mean yrs schooling
11.2
Expected yrs schooling

The UNDP Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Cambodia is in the medium band — a useful signal of living conditions, services and schooling for staff and accompanying family. UNDP data