NovThe full cost of buying property in Cambodia: what you pay above the price
The listed price of a unit isn't the whole sum you'll spend on the deal. On top of it there's a mandatory transfer tax, one-off costs for paperwork and moving money, sometimes furnishing, and after the purchase — annual maintenance and tax. Nothing exotic, but worth budgeting for in advance so nothing catches you out. Below is a calculator: pick a project, enter the deal amount and see the full breakdown with transparent assumptions. Confirmed rates are marked separately from market benchmarks.
Project or property type
This estimate is for information only and is not an offer or tax or legal advice. Confirmed rates (4% transfer tax, 0.1%/year tax) are taken from deal and project data; estimated items are shown as a range as a market benchmark. All project-preset values are editable illustrative examples for calculation, not confirmed current prices, availability or commercial terms for a specific unit. Confirm current figures on request and in the relevant contract. Tax rates and exemptions can change — consult an independent lawyer before the deal.
What the costs above the price consist of
All costs fall into two groups: one-off (at purchase) and annual (ownership). Here's each item — what it is, where the figure comes from and how confirmed it is.
One-off costs at purchase
- Transfer tax ~4% — a mandatory tax when ownership is re-registered in your name. Calculated on the property value. Confirmed rate. Some off-plan projects have temporary exemptions — confirmed per unit.
- Legal support ~$1,000–2,000 — title and SPA review, support with re-registration. A market benchmark; depends on the scope of work and the lawyer. Optional but strongly recommended, especially for a remote deal.
- International transfer (SWIFT) ~$50–300 — bank fees to send the amount in dollars to Cambodia. A market benchmark; depends on the sending bank, amount and number of payments (with installments there are several transfers).
- Furnishing — only if the unit is delivered unfurnished. Some projects (Kingston, Le Condé) already include furniture and appliances. The market benchmark depends on area and finish level — we estimate it when the option is enabled.
Annual ownership costs
- Property tax 0.1%/year — an annual tax on assessed value (with a tax-free threshold). Confirmed rate.
- Building maintenance (management fee) — upkeep of common areas, security, lifts, cleaning. Calculated per m² per month; the rate differs by project (per confirmed data, where available).
- Sinking fund — reserves for major repairs of common property. A market benchmark; sometimes included in the management fee, sometimes a separate one-off or annual contribution.
If a specific contract includes a guaranteed-rental programme or another allocation of expenses, verify the scope and period of those obligations separately in that contract. The calculator does not confirm that such a programme exists and shows a general illustrative owner-cost scenario.
Cost map by transaction stage
Costs arise at different stages. Below is which tax or fee may apply at each step, who usually pays, and what to confirm. Rates and reliefs are verified against the current contract and with a tax specialist.
| Stage | Possible tax/fee | Who usually pays | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before reservation | No cost — estimate the full price | — | The full cost make-up for the unit |
| Reservation | Reservation deposit (a private fee, not a tax) | Buyer | Whether the deposit is refundable |
| SPA / down payment | Usually no state tax at this step | Buyer | What is included in the contract price |
| Construction / instalments | Scheduled payments (not a tax) | Buyer | Penalties and late-payment terms |
| Handover and title registration | Transfer tax (stamp duty) ~4% | Usually the buyer | The tax base and any temporary project relief |
| Ownership | 0.1%/year tax + management + sinking fund | Owner | The management rate for the project |
| Rental | Rental-income tax / WHT | Landlord | The current rate and regime |
| Resale / exit | Possible capital-gains tax + transfer fees | Seller | Current CGT status (introduction deferred) |
| Inheritance / transfer | Possible fees on transfer of the right | Heir / recipient | Current registration practice |
Government tax or private fee
These are often mixed up. Government taxes and registration go to the state; private fees go to the developer, the management company or service providers.
Government taxes and registration
- Transfer tax (stamp duty) ~4% on title re-registration
- Annual property tax 0.1% (with a tax-free minimum)
- Registration and government fees
- Possible rental-income / capital-gains tax
Private fees and services
- Reservation deposit and scheduled developer payments
- Building management fee
- Sinking fund
- Furnishing, if not included in the unit
- Bank / SWIFT transfer costs
- Legal and tax advisory
- Insurance and a maintenance reserve
Traps that cost buyers money
- Assuming 4% is always charged on the SPA price — the base and temporary reliefs are confirmed per unit.
- Assuming a developer's "transfer included" covers absolutely everything.
- Assuming a tax relief applies automatically, without checking the conditions and expiry.
- Forgetting the annual 0.1% tax and budgeting only one-off costs.
- Forgetting rental-income tax / WHT if the plan is to let the unit.
- Forgetting the management fee and sinking fund — they recur every year.
- Using promotional tax claims after the offer has expired.
Why some figures are ranges, not exact amounts
We deliberately don't present estimated sums as exact. The transfer tax and property tax are fixed rates, so we calculate them precisely. But the cost of legal support, bank fees and furnishing depends on the specific lawyer, bank and finish level — so they're shown as a range as a market benchmark. Exact amounts for your unit are gathered at the deal stage and fixed by the contract. This approach is more honest than a "neat" single figure that wouldn't match your actual costs in practice.
Need an exact breakdown for a specific unit? Message the bot with the project and budget — we'll put together a full calculation with current maintenance rates, GRR terms and exact costs for your chosen unit.
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Full cost is where the calculators meet the contract. For your property, move on like this:
- Effective price — the real price per m² after discounts and required packages.
- Payment plan planner — how the costs fall onto the instalment schedule.
- Installments — schedule types and the risk of a large handover balance.
- Property taxes — a detailed breakdown of rates and practice.
- Rental break-even — when income covers the annual costs.
- Resale and exit — costs and taxes at the selling stage.
- By budget — what a budget really covers beyond the price.
Frequently asked questions
What costs are there beyond the unit price in Cambodia?
The main mandatory cost is the transfer tax of around 4% of value when the title is re-registered. Beyond it: legal support, an international transfer (SWIFT) fee, furnishing (if not included), plus annual costs: maintenance, a sinking fund and 0.1% per year tax. Exact amounts depend on the project and are fixed by the contract.
How much is the transfer tax when buying?
Around 4% of the property value when ownership is re-registered. Some off-plan projects have temporary exemptions — confirmed per specific unit.
Do you pay property tax every year?
Yes, an annual tax of 0.1% of assessed value (with a tax-free threshold). Plus annual building maintenance and sinking-fund contributions, which depend on area and project.
Is this calculator an offer?
No. It's an indicative estimate based on market benchmarks and confirmed rates. Some items (legal support, transfer, furnishing) are shown as a range. Exact amounts are fixed by the contract and confirmed on request.
Sources
Rates are per the NovAsia tax source corpus and the breakdown “Property taxes in Cambodia”: transfer tax (stamp duty) about 4% on title re-registration and an annual property tax of 0.1% of the assessed value (with a tax-free threshold). Checked July 2026. Rates and reliefs can change; legal support, international transfer and furnishing are shown as ranges for orientation. Exact amounts for a specific unit are fixed in the contract and confirmed before signing.