Travel safety comparison · Asia

Cambodia vs Malaysia: safety comparison

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Cambodia vs Malaysia: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
Malaysia carries a materially lower safety risk than Cambodia on the composite Warnely score: 27/100 against 42/100, a gap of 15 points. The biggest single category gap is in infrastructure, where Malaysia scores 2/5 against Cambodia's 4/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 2 advisory on Cambodia and a Level 1 on Malaysia. Drug law diverges sharply: Cambodia carries a tier-severe regime against Malaysia's more permissive framework.
🇰🇭Cambodia 🇲🇾Malaysia
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 42 / 100 27 / 100
Risk tier Exercise Increased Caution Exercise Normal Caution
UK FCDO advisory avoid all but essential travel to parts of country avoid all but essential travel to parts of country
US State Department advisory Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions)
Global Peace Index rank #87 #13
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Death penalty possible
Women's safety rating Generally Safe Generally Safe
LGBTQ+ legal status legal illegal
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency USD MYR
Full guide

Is Cambodia safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is Malaysia safe to visit in 2026?

Cambodia vs Malaysia: common questions

Is Cambodia or Malaysia safer to visit?

Malaysia has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 27/100 vs 42/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Cambodia or Malaysia safer for solo female travellers?

Cambodia is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Malaysia is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Cambodia and Malaysia?

Cambodia: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) (US State). Malaysia: avoid all but essential travel to parts of country (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).

More comparisons

Cambodia vs Thailand · Cambodia vs Vietnam · Indonesia vs Malaysia · Malaysia vs Philippines · Brunei vs Malaysia · Malaysia vs Singapore · Cambodia vs Laos · Cambodia vs Singapore

Planning the trip? Check Cambodia visa requirements and Malaysia visa requirements.

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