Side-by-side city decision

# Koh Rong vs Arequipa.

A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit.

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Koh RongCambodia2/6
VS
ArequipaPeru4/6

$925Koh Rong monthly budget
$825Arequipa monthly budget
18 MbpsKoh Rong internet
95 MbpsArequipa internet

Decision summary
Arequipa

Arequipa leads on more of the six headline signals.

Cost
Best budget
Arequipa

Speed
Fastest internet
Arequipa

Vibe
Best nomad vibe
Arequipa

Safety
Highest safety
Koh Rong

Air
Cleanest air
Koh Rong

Walk
Most walkable
Arequipa

Quick read

## Two cities at a glance

The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison.

[Koh Rong](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/cambodia/koh-rong.md)
Cambodia

2/6

Budget$925
Internet18 Mbps
Vibe7/10

[Arequipa](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/peru/arequipa.md)
Peru

4/6

Budget$825
Internet95 Mbps
Vibe8/10

Full comparison

## Compare what matters

Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner.

Differences only

### Monthly budget and costs

7 signals
MetricKoh RongArequipa

Total estimated budget
$925
$825

1-bed center rent
$450
$410

Coworking desk
$0
$130

Local meal
$4
$3.8

Cappuccino
$2.5
$2.4

Gym membership
$0
$32

Transport budget
$35
$35

### Work and infrastructure

2 signals
MetricKoh RongArequipa

Internet speed
18 Mbps
95 Mbps

Nomad vibe
7/10
8/10

### Quality of life

5 signals
MetricKoh RongArequipa

Safety index
72/100
54/100

Air quality
88/100
68/100

Walkability
5/10
8/10

Female safety
6/10
6/10

LGBTQ+ friendly
6/10
5/10

### Culture and climate

4 signals
MetricKoh RongArequipa

Healthcare quality
Poor
Good

English proficiency
Average
Basic

Climate type
Tropical monsoon
High-altitude semi-arid

Best time to visit
Nov - Mar
Apr - Nov

Beyond the numbers

## What each city asks you to trade

Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture.

[Koh Rong](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/cambodia/koh-rong.md)
Cambodia

→

### Strengths

* Beautiful beaches, clear water, and jungle scenery

* Low day-to-day costs compared with major beach destinations

* Relaxed, low-traffic island lifestyle

* Friendly tourism workers and widely understood basic English

* Good setting for diving, snorkeling, and outdoor downtime

* Cleaner air and less urban noise than mainland cities

### Trade-offs

* Internet can be unreliable, especially in storms

* No full-service coworking space or dependable dedicated-desk market

* Limited healthcare and emergency services on the island

* Cash remains essential for daily purchases

* Accommodation supply is seasonal and inconsistent

* Ferries, power, and supplies can be disrupted by bad weather

### Common visa routes

* Cambodia Tourist Visa (T), typically 30 days and extendable once

* Cambodia Ordinary Visa (E), renewable through local visa agents

* Visa exemption is not generally available; check nationality-specific requirements

[Arequipa](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/peru/arequipa.md)
Peru

→

### Strengths

* Very affordable rents and everyday dining

* Sunny, dry climate for much of the year

* Beautiful colonial architecture and volcano views

* Walkable historic center with strong local character

* Good value private healthcare and services

* Excellent access to hiking and Colca Canyon trips

### Trade-offs

* Cold nights due to the high elevation

* Tap water is not safe to drink

* English is limited outside tourism businesses

* Traffic and driving standards can feel chaotic

* Air quality can worsen with dust and vehicle emissions

* Smaller remote-work community than Lima or Cusco

### Common visa routes

* Tourist entry, typically up to 90 days at immigration discretion

* Business visa for qualifying work-related travel

* Resident visas through employment, family, study, or investment routes

Reading the result

## Use this as a planning benchmark

The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices.

Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices.
Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity.
Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.