Cambodia is a land of contrasts…the stunning ancient architecture of Angkor Wat, the frenetic capital of Phnom Penh and the glorious tropical islands in the south. Offering nature, history and culture in abundance, it’s no wonder Cambodia is such a favourite among backpackers!
But exactly how much does it cost to travel in Cambodia? This budget guide will tell you everything you need to know, from suggested backpacker budgets to the cost of essentials – like beer!
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- 💰 How Much Does a Trip to Southeast Asia Cost?
- 🇰🇭 Cambodia Backpacking Guide
- 💸 Cheapest Countries in Asia
Cambodia Budget Guide 💰
Cost of Backpacking in Cambodia – Quick Answers!
- Cost of Street Food: 4,000-16,000KHR ($1-4USD)
- Cost of Local Food in a Restaurant: 10,000-50,000KHR ($2.50-12USD)
- Cost of Western Food in a Restaurant: 12,000-50,000KHR ($3-12USD)
- Cost of Water: 2,000-10,000KHR ($0.50-2.50USD) per litre
- Cost of Beer: 4,000-12,000KHR ($1-3USD)
- Cost of a Hostel Bed: 16,000-100,000KHR ($4-25USD) per night
- Cost of a Private Room: 32,000-200,000+KHR ($8-50+USD)
- Cost of a Tuk Tuk Ride: 6,000-200,000KHR ($1.50-50USD)
- Cost of Scooter Hire: 20,000-80,000KHR ($5-20USD) per day
- Cost of Long Distance Buses: 10,000-30,000KHR ($2.50-7.50USD) per hour of travel
Suggested Budgets for Travelling in Cambodia 💸
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Peak or Off-Peak?
Bear in mind that prices across Cambodia will be significantly higher during peak season. Read more about the best time to visit Cambodia.
Basic: $25–35USD per Day
Shoestring backpackers will love life in Cambodia! The low end of this budget is enough to allow you to stay in decent dorms, eat great street food, go on tours and enjoy the odd beer. More expensive transport, like the Siem Reap to Battambang boat, might be out of your budget without a few days of skimping and saving!
Mid-range: $35–60USD per Day
For those with a slightly bigger budget, Cambodia is a dream destination. You won’t need to skip many experiences due to cost. You can afford to stay in cheap private rooms, drink to your heart’s content and eat whatever takes your fancy!
Premium: $70+USD per Day
If your budget extends this far, Cambodia is a paradise. You’ll find hotels, resorts and spas well within your price range and be able to head off on as many trips as you like! You’ll want for nothing in Cambodia with a budget of more than $70USD per day!
SafetyWing is the travel insurance of choice for scores of backpackers!
- Subscription style insurance
- Cheap and flexible
- Available after your trip has started
👉 Also read: How to Save Money for Travel | Budget Travel Tips
Cambodian Currency 💵
There are two currencies used in Cambodia – the Cambodian Riel (KHR) and the US dollar (USD). The two are used interchangeably, with USD most common for larger purchases – essentially anything over a few dollars. Change is usually given in riel.
Prices are often written in both riel and dollars but not always. They could just be in one or the other. On the street, the exchange rate between the two currencies is 4,000 riel to the dollar. But in supermarkets, big restaurants or popular attractions it might be closer to 4,300-4,500 riel to the dollar. In these instances, the exchange rate will be written somewhere.
Cambodia Currency Conversions ⚖️
Currency conversions often fluctuate and the below are approximations. Always check exchange rates online before changing a large amount of money.
- $1USD = 4000KHR
- £1GBP = 5,100KHR
- €1EUR = 4,400KHR
How Much Does a Trip to Cambodia Cost? 🇰🇭
Bear in mind that prices vary depending on which places in Cambodia you visit. Tourist hotspots like Siem Reap will be more expensive than lesser-known destinations such as Sen Monorom or Banlung.
Cost of Street Food in Cambodia 🥡
4,000-16,000KHR ($1-4USD) per meal
Cambodia is often overlooked when it comes to street food – but don’t be fooled, there are plenty of delicious cheap eats on offer if you look for them! A simple rice dish will set you back $1-2USD and a small baguette, similar to a Vietnamese Banh Mi, is just under $1USD. If you are on a strict budget, you can get by only eating street food!
Cost of Restaurant Food in Cambodia 🍜
10,000-50,000KHR ($2.50-12USD) per meal
Eating out in Cambodia doesn’t have to be all about street food, there are plenty of restaurants catering to all budgets. If you’re looking for high-end dining, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh have plenty of options but elsewhere in the country, you may struggle.
Most affordable restaurants will be between $2.50-6USD a meal. Western meals will set you back slightly more – around $5-10USD per dish. Very popular tourist spots, such as Siem Reap’s Pub Street, have higher-than-average prices.
Cost of Water in Cambodia 💧
2,000-10,000KHR ($0.50-2.50USD) per litre
Tap water in Cambodia is not considered safe to drink. Bottled water costs around $1USD for two litres but this will be higher in places like Angkor Wat!
Filtered Water Bottles
If you are keen to reduce your impact on the environment, consider investing in a filtered water bottle. These make tap water safe to drink and will save you a ton of money over an extended trip. Our favourites are the Grayl GeoPress and the Grayl UltraPress!
👉 Read More: Grayl GeoPress Review | UltraPress vs Geopress
Cost of Beer in Cambodia 🍻
4,000-12,000KHR ($1-3USD)
Thankfully, Cambodia is a country that knows how to do cheap booze. A large bottle of locally brewed beer from a shop is unlikely to cost you more than $1USD. From a bar, it may be as little as $3USD.
Imported beer is more expensive and the bottles are smaller. If you’re on a budget stick to the local stuff!
Cost of Accommodation in Cambodia 🛏️
Hostel Dorm Bed (per night) = 16,000-100,000KHR ($4-25USD)
While super cheap hostels aren’t as common in Cambodia as they used to be, you can still find a bed for less than $5USD per night. You can also find more upmarket, ‘boutique’ hostels for upwards of $20USD per night – so you have a lot of variety to choose from!
Hostel Double Room (per night) = 32,000-200,000KHR ($8-50USD)
Private rooms in Cambodian hostels range from super cheap with basic shared facilities to hotel-quality en-suite rooms. Price isn’t always an indication of quality – make sure you read reviews!
Double Hotel Room (per night) = 32,000-200,000+KHR ($8-50+USD)
Hotels in Cambodia aren’t much more expensive than staying in private rooms in hostels – at least at the low end – but the quality of cheaper hotels leaves a lot to be desired. If you want to splurge, there are plenty of beautiful high-end hotel rooms on offer in the most touristy areas.
👉 Also Read: Where To Stay In Siem Reap | Where To Stay In Phnom Penh
Cost of Transport in Cambodia 🚐
Short Distance Transport
🚕 Taxis: 3,000-4,000KHR ($0.75-1USD) plus 1,200-2,000KHR ($0.30-0.50USD) per kilometre of your journey
In Phnom Penh, most taxis are metered but the costs vary slightly depending on time of day and year. You may find some drivers will refuse to use the meter and would rather haggle for your ride. If you’re confident with how much the journey should cost and have been brushing up on your bartering skills, then give it a go. If not, politely refuse and find another taxi, there are plenty about!
Outside of Phnom Penh, things are a little different, especially in more rural areas. Many older taxis don’t have meters, so you will have to agree on a price before starting the ride. Make sure you ask your accommodation to find out how much your journey should be before you search for a taxi.
Ride-Hailing Apps In Cambodia 📱
Rather than hailing taxis and tuk-tuks on the street in Cambodia, use PassApp or Grab, two of the most popular ride-hailing apps in Cambodia!
🚌 Buses: 1,500-4,000KHR ($0.40-1USD) per ride
Outside of Phnom Penh, city buses are rare. Even Siem Reap only has a handful of lines operating. Realistically, unless you are spending a lot of time in Phnom Penh, you probably won’t have any need to jump on a small inner-city bus. In case you do, prices start at around $0.40 per ride and can rise as high as $1USD.
🛺 Tuk Tuk: 6,000-200,000KHR ($1.50-50USD)
A ride in a Cambodian tuk-tuk will usually set you back around $2-3USD for a short hop through town or a little more if you are travelling through a city. Some rides will always cost substantially more, like going to Phnom Penh Airport for example. This journey will cost at least $10USD from anywhere in the city.
It is possible to book tuk-tuk drivers for the day, especially when visiting Angkor Wat. This costs around $30-50USD.
🛵 Scooter Hire: 20,000-80,000KHR ($5-20USD) per day
Hiring a scooter or motorcycle in Cambodia is a great way to explore the country at your own pace. Many hostels and hotels rent scooters to their guests. You can also find rental shops all over towns and cities in Cambodia!
Long Distance Transport
🚎 Buses = 10,000-30,000KHR ($2.50-7USD) per hour of travel
Cambodian buses generally rate very highly. Proper buses only serve the major routes and if you are getting a little off the beaten track, you will have to transfer to a minibus at some point.
If you can, pay a little extra and get the tourist or luxury minibuses. These generally operate a one-passenger per-seat rule, which stops the vehicle from becoming overloaded and gives you room to breathe!
✈️ Planes = 325,000-1,200,000KHR ($80-300USD)
To be honest, flying in a country as small as Cambodia is a pointless waste of money and greenhouse gases. Rather than flying, stick to overland transport. A bus journey between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh is around seven hours, so you don’t save all that much time by flying, especially when you include transport to and from the airport!
👉 Also read: Siem Reap Angkor Airport (SAI) Guide
Cost of Activities in Cambodia 🛕
The following prices will give you an idea of how much trips, tours and activities cost in Cambodia. Check out more ideas in our suggested Cambodia itinerary and see all our bookable trips in Cambodia.
Our Recommended Must-Do Activity in Cambodia! 🐘
Elephant Valley Project, located in Sen Monorom, is way off the beaten track in Eastern Cambodia. Your visit supports the amazing work that this truly ethical sanctuary is doing to preserve the land, culture and amazing wildlife in this rugged part of the country. A day trip trekking to see elephants and have lunch is around $100USD. Book your experience here.
🛕 Angkor Wat and the Angkor Archeological Park – 160,000-1,000,000KHR ($40-250USD) – Siem Reap
Entry to the park starts at $37USD for one day, $62USD for three days or $72USD for 7 days. Following your entry fee, you’ll need a way to get around the massive complex. Tuk-tuks can be hired for $30-50USD per day. Drivers will know the best times to visit which temples, avoiding the bulk of the crowds.
If prices are a little steep, it is possible to hire bicycles for $2-5USD per day. Be prepared for a hot dusty ride though! A tour guide will set you back roughly $50USD for a small group of up to 1-3 people per day.
The most cost-efficient way of visiting the complex is to buy a seven-day pass for $72USD, then hire a bicycle each day you’re there. Providing you have the time, visiting the Angkor Archeological Park this way should set you back no more than $100USD!
It is also worth noting that food is more expensive around this area than in other parts of the country. If you are really strapped for cash, consider prepping some food to take with you!
😔 Killing Fields – 25,000-205,000KHR ($6-50USD) – Phnom Penh
During the reign of the Khmer Rouge, around 25% of the Cambodian population was slaughtered in killing fields across the country. The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, located a mere 15 kilometres outside Phnom Penh, was one of the most brutal and efficient of all, accounting for close to 200,000 murders in just four years.
Entry to the Killing Fields is approx. $6USD per person and includes an amazing audio guide, which explains the harrowing history of the site as well as personal stories from eyewitnesses. Guided tours are available for $10-$15USD for a small group.
A tuk-tuk from Phnom Penh will cost around $15USD for a return journey and the driver will wait for you while you visit. You can include a ride to S21 (see below) for just $5USD extra. Essentially, half a day’s transport will cost you $20USD if you do this.
If you want a full guided tour of the Killing Fields, including pick up and drop off at your accommodation, expect to pay $40-50USD per person.
😞 Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) – 20,000-60,000KHR ($5-15USD) – Phnom Penh
An old high school transformed into a prison, torture and interrogation centre, a visit to S21 shows the true horror of Cambodian life under the Khmer Rouge. Over 12,000 people were held in the prison before being tortured and killed – only 15 people are known to have survived their time there.
Getting to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is super easy, every taxi or tuk-tuk driver in Phnom Penh knows where it is. Alternatively, you can walk as it is right in the middle of the city.
Entry is around $5USD with an optional audio guide for a further $3USD. Inside you should get the opportunity to meet survivors of the prison, who spend their days telling their stories and selling their books to visitors. The books will set you back $10USD, with all the money going to the authors.
💆♀️ Daughters of Cambodia Visitor Centre – 20,000-80,000USD ($5-20USD)
Based in Phnom Penh, the Daughters Of Cambodia Visitor Centre is the public face of the Daughters Of Cambodia. This organisation seeks to free Cambodian women from sex trafficking.
A trip to the centre is free but the point of visiting is to eat in their café, buy goods from their shop or visit their spa. All proceeds go straight back to help free women from the sex trade.
The spa offers manicures and pedicures, as well as head, neck, hand and foot massages. All the facilities are run by ex-sex workers and thus, only women are permitted to use the spa services. Men are allowed to visit the shop and café though.
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Tim Ashdown | Gear Specialist
After a life-changing motorcycle accident, Tim decided life was too short to stay cooped up in his home county of Norfolk, UK. Since then, he has travelled Southeast Asia, walked the Camino de Santiago and backpacked South America. His first book, From Paralysis to Santiago, chronicles his struggle to recover from the motorcycle accident and will be released later this year.