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Eco International School
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
BritishIGCSE
Ages 2–12
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The undisputed heart of expat life in Phnom Penh with tree-lined streets, converted villas, and international restaurants. First choice for families arriving in the city.
Monthly temperatures, rainfall, and sea conditions
Monthly family budget estimates (USD)
A family in a 2-bedroom apartment or renovated flat near Street 308, using tuk-tuks and PassApp, children at a mid-tier international school.
A family in a 3-bedroom apartment or townhouse in a serviced building, one car or SUV, children at ISPP or Northbridge.
A large villa with garden and pool in the heart of BKK1, driver, children at top international schools, club memberships.
BKK1 (Boeung Keng Kang 1) is Phnom Penh's most established expat neighborhood. While it commands the highest rents in the city, these are remarkably affordable by global standards — a family can live comfortably in a serviced apartment for what a studio costs in Singapore or Hong Kong. Cambodia's dollarized economy means most transactions are in USD, simplifying budgeting for expat families.
Average monthly AQI (US EPA scale)
Yearly average AQI is 66. Best air quality Jan–Dec (best: Sep at 40).
BKK1 is to Phnom Penh what Thong Lo is to Bangkok or Thao Dien is to Saigon — the go-to neighborhood for international families. The grid of tree-lined streets between Norodom and Monivong Boulevards concentrates an extraordinary density of Western restaurants, specialty coffee shops, yoga studios, co-working spaces, and boutique stores. Street 308 and Street 63 are the main social arteries, buzzing from morning coffee through late-evening cocktails. The neighborhood attracts NGO workers, embassy staff, international business families, and a growing contingent of remote workers drawn by Phnom Penh's affordability and surprisingly vibrant lifestyle.
BKK1's main green space is the restored Boeung Keng Kang Lake, a small but pleasant urban oasis with a walking path around its perimeter. Families gather here in the cooler evening hours for walks, and food carts set up along the edges. The nearby Aeon Mall 1 (on the Tonle Bassac border) has an indoor playground, cinema, and bowling alley. For larger green space, the Olympic Stadium area on the western edge hosts community sports and jogging. Phnom Penh's riverfront promenade along Sisowath Quay is a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride and offers a long, landscaped walking path along the Tonle Sap River.
BKK1 is one of the few neighborhoods in Phnom Penh where walking is a practical daily option. The grid layout means most destinations are within a 10-15 minute walk, and the streets, while not always having proper sidewalks, are relatively quiet compared to the main boulevards. That said, Phnom Penh sidewalks are often occupied by parked motorbikes and street vendors, so walking with a stroller requires patience. For longer trips, tuk-tuks are cheap ($2-4 within the city center) and PassApp — Cambodia's ride-hailing app — provides metered, air-conditioned car rides starting from $1-2.
BKK1's dining and cafe scene is extraordinary for a city of Phnom Penh's size. Brown Coffee, a Cambodian chain rivaling any specialty roaster, anchors multiple corners. Vibe, a popular Western brunch spot on Street 308, serves avocado toast and flat whites to a loyal expat crowd. Farm to Table focuses on Cambodian organic produce. For everyday Khmer food, street stalls and small restaurants throughout the neighborhood serve lok lak (stir-fried beef), fish amok (coconut curry), and num banh chok (rice noodle soup) for $1.50-3. Japanese, Korean, Italian, Indian, and Thai restaurants fill in the gaps. The density of quality dining within walking distance rivals neighborhoods in far larger cities.
Phnom Penh's hot season (March-May) is brutal. April regularly sees highs of 36-38C with suffocating humidity, and the urban heat island effect pushes daytime feels-like temperatures above 40C. Air conditioning runs 24/7 during these months, and outdoor activities are limited to early morning (before 8 AM) and evening (after 5 PM). The shoulder months of February and November are the most pleasant, with highs of 31-33C and manageable humidity. December and January are the "cool season" — a relative term meaning highs of 31-32C and occasional evening temperatures in the low 20s.
