Buying property in Cambodia can be a relatively cheap, but unfortunately an inconvenient process.
Real estate tax in Cambodia is a very low, just 0.1% of the market value of the property, and only applies to those above KHR 100,000,000 (just under US$25,000). This tax was introduced in 2011, and mainly as part of the push to foster a greater taxation culture in the country, rather than generate a significant amount of income in itself.
A flat in desirable areas of the capital, Phnom Penh, will cost roughly between US$2,000-3,000 per square metre. These desirable areas include the commercial hub Daun Penh, villa laden Tuol Kork and luxurious Makara. These prices are down somewhat from the pre-recession heights of around US$5,000 per square metre.
If you manage to get around the problems associated with buying grounded property such as a villa, this type of housing will also be more expensive. Villas tend to cost roughly between US$3,500 and US$4,500 per square metre.
When buying a property on the ground floor, it’s important to look at the fees and conditions associated with buying land in Cambodia. Legal fees and excessive bureaucracy can make it an expensive and gruelling process. Aside from this, transaction costs will be around 7.4-8.5%. A large chunk (around 3%) of this will go to the estate agent.
Should you decide to sell a property you’ve bought, there’s a capital gains tax of 20%. This is the same as income tax for non-residents and corporate tax rates.