Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh has plenty of air conditioned cafes and some co-working spaces, so it's quite possible to get work done. The river front area feels nice and spacious but other than that I didn't find it a particular pleasant city, and wouldn't stay for more a few days.

Kampot, however, 4 hours away by bus, has been one of the best places I've stayed. The atmosphere is great, it's a small town with nice architecture, hip cafes, yoga classes, and a riverfront to stroll along. It's much calmer than anywhere else I've been in Cambodia. I tended to work in open air cafes with a fan in the morning and then go to an air conditioned cafe during the afternoon heat. The only downside I found is that it could feel too relaxed if you need to get a lot of work done.

Best thing about Phnom Penh is its proximity to Kampot.
However, for some reason Kampot is not on Nomadlist.

i LOVE PP. it has a lot to offer and there are a lot of expats doing things other than drinking and imbibing weed. (yes, there are a lot of those people, too.) you do have to be willing to be a self-starter. and you do have to know where to look, and that just takes time. but the food scene is awesome. the culture and history are rich. and it's an easy access point to other locations in SE asia.

PP does have a BIG issue with pickpockets. more than anywhere else i've been in asia. just take extra precautions, and consider having a second (cheap) phone or keeping your phone somehow secured to your body when walking on the street.

I would urge anyone considering Phnom Penh to reconsider.

I've been jumping around South-East Asia for the past year and Phnom Penh has been by far the worst location for a remote worker I've encountered. The internet here is very unreliable. My house has a Fibre connection, but I'm dropping back to a 4G phone hotspot 5+ times per day.

This city is not geared for long-term remote workers. It's a paradise for sexpats and short term backpackers. With a few exception, the activities available here are: Drinking, smoking/eating weed, and talking shit to forigners at a bar.

YMMV.

I cannot wait to leave this place.