Student Accommodation in Cambodia: Options, Costs and How to Choose

Housing options for students in Cambodia

Universities in Cambodia rarely house every student. Public universities such as the Royal University of Phnom Penh have a limited number of dormitory beds, and these usually go to students on government scholarships, students from rural provinces, or those in specific support programs. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport also runs a Female Student Dormitory Centre in Phnom Penh that gives free lodging to a set number of underprivileged first-year female students each year, according to Khmer Times .

Because dorm spots are limited, most students find private housing. The main types are a shared room in a boarding house (a private house divided into rooms, often with a shared bathroom and kitchen), a private single room with its own bathroom, or a small studio or one-bedroom apartment. Homestays with a local family are less common and mostly used by exchange students.

Typical monthly costs

Prices depend heavily on the city and how close the room sits to campus. Phnom Penh is the most expensive city for student housing, while provincial cities such as Siem Reap and Battambang run noticeably cheaper.

These figures come from current listings on classifieds sites such as Khmer24 , plus student housing platforms like Hostelz , which lists long-stay hostel beds as a budget option near several Phnom Penh campuses. Asking prices shift often, so treat these as a starting range and confirm the current rate directly with the landlord.

What a rental contract usually includes

Most landlords ask for a deposit of one to two months rent when you move in, refundable at the end of the lease if the room is left in good condition. Contracts commonly run six months to a year, with a notice period of one month if you want to leave early. Furniture (bed, wardrobe, desk) is often included, but check whether items like a fan, air conditioner, or water heater come with the room or cost extra.

How to search for a place

• Check your university housing or student affairs office first. Some keep a list of landlords who rent regularly to students near campus.

• Browse classifieds sites like Khmer24 and student housing platforms, filtering by neighborhood and price.

• Join Facebook groups for your university or city. Rooms near campus get shared there before they reach public listing sites.

• Walk the streets around campus. Many boarding houses advertise directly with a sign on the gate and are not listed online at all.

Checklist before you sign

• Ask to see ID or an ownership document confirming the person renting to you owns or manages the property.

• Confirm whether water and electricity are billed at the public utility rate or a landlord markup. Markups are common in shared boarding houses.

• Check the wifi works in the room itself, not just near the router, and ask about backup power during outages.

• Time the walk or moto ride to campus at a normal hour, not late at night when traffic is light.

• Look at the gate, door lock, and street lighting outside. Ask other tenants if they feel safe walking in after dark.

Dorm, boarding house, or private rental: which fits you

A dormitory spot, if you can get one, is the cheapest and safest option and puts you close to other students, but availability is limited and rules are stricter. A shared boarding house room costs more but gives you a private bed and more freedom, and works well if you want to split costs with a roommate. A private room or studio costs the most but gives full privacy, which matters more for older or working students, or those who need quiet to study.

Splitting costs with a roommate

Sharing a studio or one-bedroom apartment with one or two other students is a common way to get private-apartment comfort at boarding-house prices. Splitting a $200 studio two ways brings your share close to what a basic shared room costs alone, while also giving you your own bed and a shared kitchen instead of communal facilities. Set clear rules with a roommate before moving in on how you split rent, utility bills, and cleaning, ideally in writing, since informal arrangements are where most roommate disputes start.

Common problems to watch for

• Verbal-only agreements. Get the rent amount, deposit terms, and notice period in writing, even if it is a simple signed note rather than a formal contract.

• Utility markups. Some landlords charge above the public rate for water and electricity, especially in shared boarding houses. Ask what the per-unit rate is before you move in.

• Deposit disputes. Take photos of the room's condition on move-in day so you have evidence if the landlord tries to withhold part of your deposit over pre-existing damage.

• Rooms advertised near campus that turn out to be a long moto ride away. Confirm the actual walking or riding distance yourself rather than trusting a listing's description.

Neighborhoods students choose near major campuses

In Phnom Penh, students at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and the Institute of Technology of Cambodia often look at the areas around Toul Kork and Boeung Kak for a mix of affordable rooms and short commutes. Students near the American University of Phnom Penh and other private universities along Norodom Boulevard tend to find more apartment-style options at higher prices, reflecting the busier, more central location. Whichever campus you are near, visiting a few rooms in person before committing gives you a much clearer sense of real prices and quality than listings alone.