Daily Budget at a Glance
Estimated daily spend per person (USD). Range driver: alcohol, AC rooms, and whether you use PassApp or hired drivers.
| Tier | Phnom Penh | Siem Reap | Coast (Kampot / Otres / Koh Rong) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | $25-35 | $22-33 | $30-45 |
| Comfortable | $55-85 | $50-80 | $70-110 |
| Premium | $150-250+ | $140-230+ | $180-300+ |
Tip: Sihanoukville's casino-zone economy distorts coastal pricing. The figures above reflect Otres Beach, Koh Rong, and Kampot — where most independent travellers stay.
Cash on Hand
Carry $40-60/day in mixed denominations: small USD bills ($1, $5, $10) plus KHR for sub-dollar change and rural areas. ATMs are widely available in cities, but islands and remote provinces are cash-only.
See Money & Currency for ATM fees, KHQR, and the Bakong Tourists app.
Accommodation
| Type | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | $6-12 | Fan $6-8 · AC pod $10-14 |
| Budget guesthouse (private) | $15-25 | AC + en-suite standard |
| Mid-range boutique | $30-80 | Pool, breakfast, central |
| 4-star international | $60-150 | Sokha / Raffles tier $200+ |
Seasonal spikes: November-February peak adds 30-50% in Siem Reap. Christmas/NYE and Khmer New Year (mid-April) push +50-100% with advance lockouts. Book a month ahead for these windows.
Food & Drink
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street food (bai sach chrouk, lort cha, nom banh chok) | $1-2 |
| Local restaurant meal | $2.50-5 |
| Tourist restaurant meal | $6-12 |
| Iced street Cambodian coffee | $0.75-1.25 |
| Brown Coffee latte | $3-4 |
| Starbucks latte | $4-5 |
| Bottled water 1.5L (minimart) | $0.50-0.80 |
| Bottled water 1.5L (tourist restaurant) | $1-2 |
| Draft Angkor / Cambodia beer (happy hour) | $0.50-1 |
| Beer at minimart (can) | $0.50-0.75 |
| Tourist-bar bottled beer | $2-3.50 |
| Fresh fruit shake / sugarcane juice | $0.75-2 |
Getting Around
Quick reference — full detail in Getting Around.
- PassApp tuk-tuk in-city: $1.50-4 (minimum fare $0.75)
- Grab tuk-tuk: typically $0.50-1 higher than PassApp for the same route
- PP ↔ Siem Reap bus: $15-17 standard (Mekong Express / Giant Ibis) · $25-35 VIP sleeper
- Domestic flight PP ↔ Siem Reap: $60-110 one-way
- Tuk-tuk day rate at Angkor: $20-25 Small Circuit · $25-35 Grand Circuit · sunrise add $5
Connectivity
Quick reference — full detail in SIM Cards & Internet.
- Smart Traveller SIM: $5 for ~30GB / 15 days — the most popular tourist SIM
- Cellcard tourist plan: up to 100GB on the $10 tier
- Airalo eSIM: $4.50 (1GB / 7 days) → $13 (5GB / 30 days)
- Holafly eSIM: $6.90-$139.90 day-tiered unlimited plans
5G is live nationwide. Cambodia launched commercial 5G on 1 January 2026 via Smart, Cellcard, and Metfone. Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and 21+ provinces are already covered; build-out to all 25 provinces is targeted for end-2026.
Pharmacy & Personal Care
Available locally at U-Care, Pharmacie de la Gare, and most minimarts:
- DEET repellent (OFF, Soffell, 14-50% DEET): $3-6
- Paracetamol / ibuprofen: $0.50-2 per blister
- Oral rehydration salts (ORS sachets): $0.25-0.50 each
- Anti-diarrheal (loperamide): $1-3
- Basic first-aid kit: $5-10
- Sanitary pads: $1.50-3, widely stocked
Bring from home:
- Sunscreen — local stock is limited and often whitening-formula; $8-18 if you must buy here
- Tampons — hard to find, especially applicator-style; $1.50-4 per pack at Lucky's, U-Care, or major supermarkets only
- Prescription medications in original packaging
- Reef-safe sunscreen for the islands
- Contact lens solution in your preferred brand
Power & Adapters
- 230V, 50Hz
- Plug types A, C, and G are all in active use — there's no dominant type, so a universal adapter is essential
- Universal adapters at AEON, Lucky's, and electronics shops on Sihanouk Blvd: $3-8
- Mains reliability: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are stable, with occasional dry-season brownouts (Mar-May). Remote islands (Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem) can lose power for up to 8 hours — most mid-range hotels and dive shops run generators
Money Quick Reference
| ATM | Withdrawal fee | Max withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| BRED Bank | $6 Visa / $10 Mastercard | $2,000 |
| Canadia Bank | $5 | $1,000 |
| ABA Bank | $4-8 | $1,000 |
| ACLEDA Bank | $5 | $1,000 |
- KHQR via Bakong Tourists app: link a Visa or Mastercard, pay in USD or KHR at 3.3 million+ merchants. Foreign-card top-ups carry ~3.5% + $2 fees
- Exchange, best to worst: banks > licensed market changers > airport counters
- Card acceptance reality: reliable at 3-star+ hotels, supermarkets, malls, and chain F&B. Local restaurants, street food, and tuk-tuks remain cash or KHQR only
See Money & Currency for the full picture.
What to Refuse Without Apology
A handful of inflated prices to push back on:
- Phnom Penh airport tuk-tuk: fair via PassApp $6-8; touts ask $15-20. Techo International Airport (the new PP airport, ~20 km out): fair $15-18, touts $30+
- Angkor sunrise add-on: drivers agree $15 then add $5-10 the next morning. Lock the total upfront in writing or via text
- Border "visa upgrade" / "stamp" fees: $2-5 unofficial asks at land crossings. Refuse politely — land visa-on-arrival is $30 only
- Change-in-riel trick: change handed back at a 3,800-3,900 KHR/USD rate (vs. market ~4,100). Know roughly what your change should be
See Safety & Scams for the full list.
See Also
- Fair Price Guide — filterable database of 53 reference prices by category and city
- First 24 Hours — what to do on the day you land