CAMBODIA PRACTICAL GUIDE
Best Areas to Buy Property in Phnom Penh
City buzz, riverside character or room for family life? Find the Phnom Penh neighbourhood that fits your plans.
Find your Phnom Penh
Your first decision is not which condo to buy. It is where you would want to live—or where your future tenant would. Use this quick guide to narrow the city to two or three areas.
| Your priority | Start here | Look closer at |
|---|---|---|
| Central city convenience | BKK1 | Street noise and building fees |
| City living near AEON 1 | Tonle Bassac | The exact address and access |
| Household routines | Toul Kork | School and work journeys |
| Historic-centre character | Daun Penh | Title and building condition |
| More addresses to compare | BKK3 | Like-for-like unit prices |
| A wider search | Sen Sok / Chroy Changvar | Journey times and existing amenities |
BKK1 · The central-city shortlist
Want everyday convenience close to central amenities? Start with BKK1. Then walk the street: the right building should work for your routine, not just look good on a map.
- Price snapshot: Time Square 9 Unit 20S: US$91,076 · 1 bedroom · 60 m² gross / 40 m² net.
- Look closer: Noise, management fees and competing units in the same building.
Tonle Bassac · A different city rhythm
Put Tonle Bassac on your list if the AEON 1 area fits your lifestyle. Compare the actual walk or drive from each building—two addresses in the same neighbourhood can feel very different.
- Price snapshot: Penthouse Residence: US$165,000 · 2 bedrooms · 89 m² stated area.
- Look closer: Building upkeep, access and nearby construction.
Toul Kork · Let daily life lead
School runs, work journeys and space for your household: start there when comparing Toul Kork. Test your regular routes at the time you would actually travel.
- Price snapshot: Time Square 7: US$92,565 · 1 bedroom · 60 m² stated area · under construction.
- Look closer: The layout, delivery terms and demand for that particular unit size.
Daun Penh · Character comes with questions
Drawn to the historic centre and riverside? Explore Daun Penh, but inspect beyond the renovation. Access, shared repairs and the property’s legal form deserve a careful look.
- Price snapshot: Request current options; no verified price example is included here.
- Look closer: An apartment label does not prove foreign-ownership eligibility. Check the title, stairs or lift, roof and maintenance.
Keep a few alternatives in play
- BKK3: Compare it with BKK1 at unit level. Time Square 11 Unit 33B2 is listed at US$75,600 for 1 bedroom and 50 m² stated area.
- Sen Sok and Chroy Changvar: Worth adding if you are open to a wider search. Test journeys and completed amenities before shortlisting. No verified price range is provided here.
Three checks before you fall in love
- Can you own it?: Foreigners may own eligible private units above the ground floor in co-owned buildings, subject to legal conditions and the 70% foreign surface-area ceiling. Land ownership is reserved to Cambodian nationals. Have independent counsel verify the specific title and eligibility.
- What will it really cost?: Compare the same area basis, then add fees, furnishing, taxes and upkeep. The prices above are individual asking-price examples reviewed on 16 October 2026, not neighbourhood averages. Confirm availability, area definitions and terms.
- Would the rental numbers still work?: Ask for achieved rents and vacancy evidence. Allow for repairs and empty months. No area guarantees a return; the World Bank’s June 2026 update described a property-sector downturn.
Your next move: pick two areas
Choose your two favourites. Tell us your budget, bedroom needs and whether you are buying to live in or rent out. We will help you request current options and arrange viewings.
PRACTICAL ANSWERS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Which area is best for a first-time international buyer?
Start with your intended use. Compare BKK1 and Tonle Bassac for central-city needs, Toul Kork for household routines, and Daun Penh for historic-centre character. Choose the building and unit on evidence, not the neighbourhood name alone.
Are these typical Phnom Penh property prices?
No. They are four individual asking-price examples, with different sizes and offer conditions. They illustrate available listing information, not market averages or valuations.
INFORMATION REVIEW
AUTHORITATIVE SOURCES
Sources support the guidance and examples above. Asking prices, availability, area definitions and purchase terms require current confirmation for the specific property.
- BNG Legal — Foreign Ownership of Immovable Property, July 2024
- World Bank — Cambodia economic update, 9 June 2026
- IPS Cambodia — BKK1 rental-area overview; agency context, not verified demand data
- Realestate.com.kh — Tonle Bassac location guide
- Cambodia Deals — individual listing examples linked in each area section; reviewed 16 October 2026
