How much it costs to maintain an apartment in Phnom Penh after buying

NovAsia · updated June 22, 2026 · 8 min read

Owning a typical 40–55 square metre apartment in a modern Phnom Penh condominium usually costs around $900–1,800 per year when the unit is vacant and utilities are used only minimally.

For personal occupancy, the annual budget may rise to roughly $1,700–3,200 because of electricity, water and internet. For a rental property, the largest costs are often not utilities but management, vacancy, tenant placement, repairs and tax.

There is no single citywide tariff. Service charges may be calculated on net or gross area. Electricity may be billed directly by the utility or through the building at an internal rate. A property manager may charge both a percentage of rent and separate fees for tenant placement, inspections, reporting or repairs.

Before buying, investors should request not only the apartment price but also a complete annual owner budget: every cost that remains payable even when the unit has no tenant.

Main ownership costs

Cost	Calculation basis	Usual payer
Service charge	Monthly rate per square metre	Owner
Sinking fund	One-off or periodic contribution	Owner
Tax on Immovable Property	Official assessed value	Owner
Electricity and water	Consumption	Tenant under most leases
Internet	Provider tariff	Tenant or owner
Property management	Percentage of collected rent	Owner
Tenant placement	Agency fee	Contract-dependent
Repairs	Actual cost	Owner
Vacancy	Lost rent	Owner

Utilities can often be passed to the tenant. Service charges, capital works and the economic cost of vacancy normally remain with the owner.

Service charge

Service charge, management fee or maintenance fee is the regular payment for operating the building’s common areas.

It commonly covers:

security;
common-area cleaning;
lifts;
corridor and exterior lighting;
swimming pool;
gym;
routine management;
basic maintenance of shared infrastructure.

IPS Cambodia reported a common Phnom Penh range of approximately $1–2 per square metre per month in 2025. This is a market reference, not a regulated tariff.

Unit size	At $1 per m²	At $2 per m²
35 m²	$35 per month	$70 per month
45 m²	$45 per month	$90 per month
55 m²	$55 per month	$110 per month
75 m²	$75 per month	$150 per month

For a 45 m² apartment, the annual charge may therefore range from $540 to $1,080.

Net area or gross area?

The calculation basis matters.

Net area is the usable internal floor space.

Gross area may include walls, balconies and an allocated share of common space.

Billing basis	Monthly cost at $1.50	Annual cost
45 m² net	$67.50	$810
60 m² gross	$90	$1,080

The methodology alone creates a $270 annual difference.

Before purchase, the buyer should obtain the exact rate and the contractual area to which it applies.

What may be excluded from the service charge?

Even an expensive service charge may not include:

electricity and water inside the apartment;
internet;
parking;
unit cleaning;
air-conditioning servicing;
appliance repair;
pest control;
premium amenities or booking fees.

Buyers should request the building’s internal regulations or management agreement.

The phrase “full maintenance” has little value without an itemised list.

It is also worth asking how the charge can increase. New projects may begin with a low rate that rises after the first years of operation.

Sinking fund

A sinking fund is a reserve for major building works such as:

façade repairs;
pumps;
roofing;
lift systems;
mechanical and electrical infrastructure.

In new projects, the initial contribution is often collected at handover. IPS Cambodia has cited approximately $1 per square metre as a broad market reference, but actual rates vary.

For a 50 m² unit, a one-off contribution might therefore be around $50. The more important questions are:

Is the fund genuinely established?
Who holds the money?
What expenditure is permitted?
Do owners receive accounts?
Can special assessments be imposed later?

If the fund is insufficient, owners may face an additional one-off levy.

Electricity

Electricity is the most variable utility cost. In Phnom Penh’s climate, consumption depends heavily on:

air-conditioning use;
apartment size;
window quality;
insulation;
number of occupants;
time spent at home.

Condominiums may use:

a direct utility tariff;
an internal building tariff;
a fixed rate charged by management.

IPS Cambodia has cited approximately $0.25 per kWh as a condominium reference, but the actual rate should be checked against real invoices from the building.

Monthly use	At $0.20/kWh	At $0.25/kWh
200 kWh	$40	$50
350 kWh	$70	$87.50
500 kWh	$100	$125
700 kWh	$140	$175

In a long-term lease, the tenant normally pays electricity. The owner may still face unpaid balances after move-out or costs between tenancies.

Water and internet

Water is usually much cheaper than electricity.

The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority continues to operate a tiered tariff structure. In condominiums, the final amount may differ because of internal billing or common-area allocation.

IPS Cambodia has cited roughly $0.35–0.75 per cubic metre as a broad guide. For one or two occupants, water rarely drives the investment economics, but individual metering and leak responsibility still matter.

In 2026, advertised home-internet plans in Cambodia commonly started around:

$12 per month for basic fixed packages;
$15 for some home 5G products;
$18 and above for fibre packages.

A practical budget for a normal apartment is around $12–30 per month, depending on speed and provider.

Before buying, confirm:

which providers serve the building;
whether owners may choose freely;
installation fees;
router charges;
contract length.

Annual Tax on Immovable Property

Cambodia’s Tax on Immovable Property is charged at 0.1% of the officially assessed value after deducting the statutory threshold of KHR 100 million.

If the official value is below that threshold, no tax is due.

The official assessment—not necessarily the SPA price—determines the tax base. PwC notes that the annual declaration and payment deadline is 30 September.

Using a simplified threshold equivalent of approximately $25,000:

Official value	Approximate taxable amount	Annual tax at 0.1%
$50,000	$25,000	About $25
$75,000	$50,000	About $50
$100,000	$75,000	About $75

These examples illustrate the order of magnitude. The actual amount depends on the official assessment and current exchange treatment.

Furniture, repairs and appliances

Owners often budget only for service charges, even though most wear occurs inside the unit.

Typical replacement and repair items include:

air conditioners;
plumbing and leaks;
refrigerator and washing machine;
mattress, sofa and curtains;
repainting;
locks and access cards;
end-of-tenancy cleaning;
damage exceeding the tenant deposit.

A furnished apartment should maintain an annual reserve.

Property type	Suggested annual reserve
New studio	$250–400
One-bedroom	$350–600
Two-bedroom	$500–900
Older property	Case-specific

This is not a bill that arrives every year. It is a cash reserve for irregular but predictable future expenditure.

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Who pays utilities in a rental?

In a standard long-term lease, the tenant commonly pays electricity, water and internet, while the owner pays service charges, property tax and capital repairs.

Rental model	Included in rent	Owner’s main risk
Utilities separate	None	Unpaid balance at move-out
Fixed allowance	Limited amount	Excess consumption
All-inclusive	All utilities	High usage

For an investment property, separating electricity from rent or setting a clear allowance usually reduces risk.

Before returning the deposit, the manager should check final bills, appliance condition and any amounts owed to the building.

Tenant-placement cost

Even a self-managing owner must find a tenant.

If an agency charges one month’s rent for a 12-month lease, the placement cost equals approximately 8.3% of potential annual rent.

Additional turnover costs may include:

professional photography;
listing fees;
cleaning;
repainting;
minor repairs;
rent concession;
vacant weeks.

One month of vacancy plus one month of agency commission removes about 16.7% of potential annual revenue before any other costs.

Property management

An owner living outside Cambodia usually needs a local property manager.

Long-term rental-management fees often fall in the approximate range of 5–15% of collected rent, depending on service scope.

A basic management package may include:

tenant communication;
rent collection;
repair coordination;
monthly reporting;
bill monitoring;
check-in and check-out inspections.

Separate fees may still apply for:

finding the tenant;
lease renewal;
emergency visits;
cleaning;
contractor supervision;
major repair coordination.

Management model	Main benefit	Main risk
Self-management	No percentage fee	Requires reliable local presence
Partial management	Lower cost	Limited scope
Full management	Convenient remotely	Additional charges
Guaranteed rent	Contractual predictability	Counterparty risk

A competent manager should provide leases, invoices, repair photographs and proof of rent receipt.

Vacancy

Vacancy does not appear as an invoice, but it may have a greater effect on yield than annual property tax.

An apartment renting for $500 per month has a theoretical annual gross income of $6,000.

One empty month reduces collected rent to $5,500.
Two empty months reduce it to $5,000.

Common causes include:

rent set above the market;
weak furniture package;
impractical layout;
poor management;
many competing units;
renovation between tenants;
location-specific seasonality.

A realistic model should use 10–11 paid months rather than automatically multiplying rent by 12.

Annual budget for a vacant one-bedroom apartment

Assume a 45 m² unit.

Cost	Annual estimate
Service charge	$540–1,080
Minimal utilities	$60–180
Property tax	$0–75
Repair reserve	$250–400
Total	$850–1,735

A vacant apartment is not cost-free. The building continues to operate even when nobody lives in the unit.

Annual budget for owner occupation

Cost	Annual estimate
Service charge	$540–1,080
Electricity	$600–1,500
Water	$40–120
Internet	$144–360
Tax and repair reserve	$275–475
Total	$1,599–3,535

The upper range assumes frequent air-conditioning use and a relatively high internal electricity tariff.

Rental-property example

Assume:

property price: $70,000;
monthly rent: $500;
11 paid months;
tenant pays utilities;
annual service charge: $810.

Item	Amount
Collected rent	$5,500
Service charge	−$810
Repair reserve	−$400
Tenant placement	−$500
Illustrative 10% rental tax	−$550
Net before manager	$3,240

This equals approximately 4.6% of the purchase price before possible tax in the owner’s country of residence and unexpected repairs.

If a manager charges 10% of collected rent, another $550 is deducted. The result becomes approximately $2,690, or 3.8% of the purchase price.

Management does not necessarily destroy value. A good manager may reduce vacancy and preserve the unit. The correct comparison is the full cash flow, not the fee alone.

Tenant deposit

A security deposit is not income. It is held against documented arrears or damage and should be returned according to the lease.

It does not replace the owner’s maintenance reserve because it may not cover:

normal wear;
appliance ageing;
repainting;
vacancy;
costs outside the lease terms.

A detailed inventory with photographs and meter readings should be completed at move-in.

Additional costs for a remote owner

An owner outside Cambodia should plan for:

local representation;
secure storage of original documents;
annual tax payments;
bank-transfer charges;
invoice review;
emergency repairs;
periodic inspections.

The management agreement should include spending limits. For example, the manager may approve minor repairs independently, while larger works require written owner consent and multiple quotations.

What to request before buying

Before paying a non-refundable reservation fee, ask for:

Current service-charge rate.
Net or gross calculation basis.
Sinking-fund contribution.
Recent electricity and water invoices.
Internal utility tariff.
Available internet providers.
Example annual property tax for a similar unit.
Management fee.
Tenant-placement fee.
History of fee increases.
Planned major building works.
Typical vacancy for comparable units.

The amounts should be supported by the SPA, internal regulations, management agreement or actual invoices.

Red flags

Warning signs include:

service charge to be decided only after handover;
no clear net or gross billing basis;
no individual utility meters;
hidden electricity tariff;
no sinking fund;
no building financial reporting;
manager refuses to provide invoices;
unlimited utilities included in rent;
yield based on 12 months of occupancy;
no allowance for appliance replacement;
unrealistically low service charges for a heavily serviced building.

How much reserve should the owner keep?

For a new studio or one-bedroom unit, a practical minimum is enough to cover:

one year of service charges;
one significant repair;
several vacant months.

For a $60,000–70,000 apartment, a reserve of approximately $2,000–4,000 is usually more prudent than spending the entire budget on price and furniture.

Older or premium properties may require more.

Conclusion

The cost of owning a Phnom Penh apartment can be moderate, but only when all recurring and irregular expenses are counted.

The largest fixed expense is usually the service charge, commonly around $1–2 per square metre per month in modern condominiums. Electricity becomes the largest item during personal occupancy. For a rental property, vacancy, tenant placement, management and repairs often matter more.

A 40–55 m² apartment may require roughly $900–1,800 per year even when not occupied. Personal use may raise the budget to around $1,700–3,200 or more. Rental performance should be calculated from actual collected rent, not a theoretical 12-month figure.

The most useful number before buying is not gross yield. It is the cash remaining after service charges, vacancy, management, tax and maintenance.

This material is for general information only and does not replace individual tax, legal or financial advice. Tariffs, taxes and building rules should be confirmed for the specific unit.

To obtain a current annual-cost and net-yield calculation for a Phnom Penh apartment, buyers may request current building fees and rental scenarios from NovAsia Estate.

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Sources

Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority — Annual Report 2025 and current tariff structure.
PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Cambodia: Other Taxes and Withholding Taxes, updated 2 April 2026.
IPS Cambodia — The True Cost of Ownership: What You Actually Pay for a Condo in Cambodia, 2025.
Smart Axiata — home internet plans and pricing, checked 23 June 2026.
Electricity Authority of Cambodia — electricity supply and tariff-regulation materials.

Frequently asked

What are the maintenance costs of an apartment in Cambodia after buying?

The main recurring costs are the building service charge (management fee), the annual property tax, utility bills and, if you rent it out, the management company fee and rental income tax. The exact amounts depend on the project, the area and the level of service, so they are confirmed for the specific property.

What is the service charge in a condominium?

It is a regular payment for maintaining the building's common areas and infrastructure: security, cleaning, lifts, the pool, management. It is usually calculated per square metre and paid monthly or annually. The amount depends on the class of the project and the set of amenities.

What is the annual property tax in Cambodia?

Cambodia has an annual property tax at a low rate, and for many properties the amounts are small. However, rates, exemptions and thresholds can change, so current figures should be confirmed before buying and during ownership.