Cambodia ranks among the most affordable holiday destinations in Southeast Asia. If you're a solo backpacker touring stone ruins or traveling as a couple staying in boutique colonial villas with courtyard pools, daily spending stays remarkably low. Crafting a realistic Cambodia travel budget ensures your funds stretch across temple passes, scenic riverside stays, and tasty street meals.
Planning your funds requires understanding the country's dual-currency economy and mobile payment options. You'll find prices quoted in US Dollars alongside Cambodian Riel across hotels, cafes, and taxi apps. Knowing what things cost before you board your flight prevents surprises.
Costs stay manageable.
The dual-currency system and mobile payments
Cambodia operates on a dual-currency system where the US Dollar (USD) and Cambodian Riel (KHR) circulate side by side. Daily cash transactions use an exchange rate of about 4,000 to 4,100 KHR per $1 USD.
Prices in restaurants, guesthouses, supermarkets, and tuk-tuks appear in dollars. When change is owed in fractions of a dollar, vendors hand you Cambodian Riel notes instead of US coins. You can track your daily spending using our online budget calculator.
To simplify mobile payments, the National Bank of Cambodia created the Bakong Tourist app for international visitors. You download the app, register your passport, link your payment card, and scan KHQR codes at vendors nationwide.
Cash needs careful handling.
Planning your Cambodia travel budget across daily tiers
Your daily expenses depend largely on your travel style, room choices, and how often you hire private transport. Your overall Cambodia tour budget breaks down into three practical categories:
The backpacker tier suits budget travelers staying in air-conditioned hostel dorms, eating market noodle broths, and sharing tuk-tuk rides. Expect a baseline Cambodia travel cost per day of $25 to $35 USD (100,000 to 140,000 KHR).
Mid-range travel is the most popular choice for couples and friends. It covers comfortable boutique hotels with pools, sit-down dinners with craft beer, private daily tuk-tuks, and express minivans. Plan on spending $65 to $110 USD (265,000 to 450,000 KHR) per day.
The luxury tier features heritage resorts, chauffeured SUVs, private historian guides, and fine dining tasting menus. This tier starts at $220+ USD (900,000+ KHR) per day.
Accommodation costs from guesthouses to resorts
Lodging delivers outstanding value for money, with friendly service across all major tourist towns:
In Siem Reap, boutique hotels with saltwater pools and tropical gardens in the Wat Bo area average $35 to $60 USD per night as of October 2026. Clean budget guesthouses with private air-conditioned rooms cost just $15 to $25 USD.
In Phnom Penh, boutique rooms in the leafy BKK1 neighborhood range from $40 to $75 USD per night as of October 2026. Top five-star heritage hotels, like the Rosewood Phnom Penh, run from $180 to $350 USD per night.
Coastal bungalows in Kampot and beachfront huts on Koh Rong range from $30 to $70 USD per night. You'll wake up to river views or gentle ocean waves.
Rooms offer great value.
Dining and food expenses across local markets
Khmer cuisine balances fresh lemongrass, river fish, fragrant herbs, and light coconut curries. Eating well in Cambodia is easy on your wallet.
Breakfast at a morning market costs $1.50 to $2.50 USD for hot kuy teav pork noodle broth. You can also order bai sach chrouk (grilled pork with rice). A glass of rich iced coffee with sweet milk costs $1 to $1.50 USD.
Lunch dishes like beef lok lak or steamed fish amok in banana leaves cost $3.50 to $6 USD at casual eateries. Western meals like wood-fired pizzas in tourist districts run $7 to $12 USD. Draft beer during happy hours along Pub Street costs between $0.75 and $1.50 USD per glass.
Fresh fruit is cheap.
Transport costs for remorque tuk-tuks and buses
Getting around Cambodian towns and traveling between provinces is simple and inexpensive. You won't need to spend much on daily rides.
Download local ride-hailing apps like Grab or PassApp when you arrive in the country to book motorized remorques and auto-rickshaws with fixed meter fares that remove the hassle of bargaining. Short hops across town cost between 4,000 and 8,000 KHR ($1 to $2 USD) as of October 2026. Apps work reliably.
Modern air-conditioned passenger vans run by Giant Ibis connect Phnom Penh with Siem Reap and Kampot for $12 to $18 USD per seat as of October 2026. For fast transit, domestic flights take forty-five minutes and cost $70 to $110 USD one way.
Renting motorbikes costs about $7 to $10 USD daily in Kampot, though traffic in the capital is best left to licensed drivers.
Everyday incidental costs and market shopping
Incidental expenses in Cambodia are remarkably small, keeping your day-to-day living costs low. You'll find essentials easy to buy everywhere.
Local mobile operators like Smart and Cellcard sell tourist eSIM packages at airport arrival gates. A 30-day plan offering 30GB to 40GB of fast data costs between $6 and $9 USD as of October 2026.
Drop-off laundry shops near tourist hotels charge $1.00 to $1.50 USD per kilogram, returning fresh clothes within twenty-four hours. When shopping for souvenirs at Central Market in Phnom Penh or Phsar Chas in Siem Reap, friendly bargaining is normal. Hand-woven silk scarves cost $3 to $5 USD, while packaged Kampot peppercorns run $4 to $8 USD.
Negotiate with a smile.
Seven-day trip expense summary by travel style
Temple tickets form a major part of your overall Cambodia travel expenses. Every foreign visitor must buy an official Angkor Pass from Angkor Enterprise. As of October 2026, the 1-day pass costs $37 USD, the 3-day pass costs $62 USD, and the 7-day pass costs $72 USD.
To budget your temple exploration, consult our detailed Angkor Wat travel guide. If you plan to tour other regions, discover coastal towns and provincial arts with our guide to Cambodia destinations beyond Angkor.
Review this 7-day cost breakdown for a trip split between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh:
| Expense Category | Budget Traveler (USD) | Mid-Range Traveler (USD) | Luxury Traveler (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nights Lodging | $120 ($17 / night) | $350 ($50 / night) | $1,260 ($180 / night) |
| Food & Drinks (7 Days) | $75 ($11 / day) | $190 ($27 / day) | $490 ($70 / day) |
| 3-Day Angkor Pass | $62 | $62 | $62 |
| Tuk-Tuk Hire & City Rides | $50 | $90 | $220 |
| Intercity Express Bus / Flight | $16 | $32 | $160 |
| Museums & Historical Sites | $15 | $25 | $50 |
| SIM Card & Incidentals | $45 | $55 | $85 |
| Total 7-Day Trip Cost | $383 USD | $804 USD | $2,327 USD |
Tracking your total Cambodia travel cost keeps your trip stress-free and leaves plenty of room for extra excursions.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to exchange money into Cambodian Riel before traveling?
No, exchanging cash into Riel before arriving is unnecessary. ATMs across the country dispense US Dollars, and currency counters accept US Dollars, Euros, and British Pounds. You'll receive Riel naturally as change for small purchases under $1 USD.
How much should I tip in Cambodia?
Tipping is not customary in traditional Khmer culture, but it's warmly appreciated by hospitality workers earning modest wages. Leaving a 10% tip at sit-down restaurants and giving tuk-tuk drivers $1 to $2 USD per day is a generous gesture.
Are credit cards widely accepted in shops and restaurants?
Major credit cards are accepted at hotels, modern supermarkets, upscale restaurants, and the official Angkor Pass ticket office. However, street food vendors, local fruit markets, and remorque drivers take cash or local KHQR mobile payments only.
What ATM fees should I expect in Cambodia?
Most Cambodian ATMs charge a flat withdrawal fee of $5 to $6 USD per transaction for foreign cards. To minimize fees, withdraw larger amounts like $300 to $400 USD at a time rather than making frequent small withdrawals.
