๐ฐ Trip Cost | Very Affordable |
---|---|
๐ต Typical Budget | $40-$90/day |
๐ My Budget | $123/day |
โ๏ธ Trip Total | $367 |
๐๏ธ Trip Length | 3 days |
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Is Cambodia Affordable To Travel To?
Cambodia is aย very affordable destinationย worldwide and ranks asย one of the cheapestย destinations in Asia.
- Cambodia has a low cost of living, so things like accommodations and food are relatively affordable.
- Bargaining is also a common practice, lending to cheaper prices for attractions and souvenirs.
For comparison, here’s my daily budget for destinations in Asia:
Destination | My Budget |
---|---|
๐ฏ๐ต Japan | $145 |
๐ฐ๐ญ Cambodia | $123* |
๐ธ๐ฌ Singapore | $122 |
๐น๐ผ Taiwan | $102 |
๐ป๐ณ Vietnam | $89 |
๐น๐ญ Thailand | $77 |
*My Cambodia daily budget is high because I splurged on accommodation.
See all my daily budgets.
About My Trip
To give context to the expenses below, hereโs what you need to know about my trip:
- I spent 3 days in Siem Reap, which gave me enough time to see Angkor Wat and bike through the countryside.
- My trip was in November, during the low season, when things are less expensive.
- I traveled with another person, which allowed us to split costs like housing.
- Iโm a mid-range budget traveler. I donโt aim to travel on a budget, but Iโm intentional about my spending.
- I finance my trips and donโt receive sponsorship.
- All expenses are per person and in US dollars, converted from the Cambodian riel.
Theย exchange rateย wasย $1 USD = 4,105 KHRย at the time of writing.
Total Cost
- $602
- $367
- $123
Aย mid-range budget travelerย can expect to spend aboutย $90 per dayย in Cambodia. This budget generally means:
- Staying at accommodations that cost about $35 per night
- Eating at $ and $$ restaurants that average about $30 per day
- Getting around by private tuk-tuks and domestic flights
- Paying for group tours to Angkor Wat
Budget Breakdown
Hereโs a breakdown of my expenses by travel category:
Category | Cost | % of Total | Daily Budget |
---|---|---|---|
โ๏ธ Flights | $235 | 39% | – |
๐ Visa | $30 | 5% | $10 |
๐ Accommodation | $163 | 27% | $54 |
๐ Food | $49 | 8% | $16 |
๐ Transportation | $8 | 1% | $3 |
โญ Entertainment | $119 | 20% | $40 |
Total | $602 | 100% | $123 |
Flight Cost
- $136 (I usually take round-trip flights from the United States, but I flew into Cambodia from Thailand)
- $99 (from Cambodia to Malaysia)
A round-trip flight between the US and Cambodia costing under $800 is considered cheap, as international flights typically cost over $950.
A 30-day tourist visa for Cambodia costs $30 for US citizens. You can get it upon arrival at the airport,ย and itโsย cash-only.
Accommodation Cost
- $163
- $54
I usually book basic accommodations, but I stayed at aย villa while in Siem Reapย to celebrate my anniversary.ย My villa included a private swimming pool, a full kitchen, a modern bathroom with a rain shower head, and a private washing machine and dryer.
My accommodation budgeting tips:
- The cheapest options start at $7 a nightย โย For the cheapest option, stay at aย dorm-style hostel for as low as $7 a nightย in cities like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Booking private rooms in a hostel increases the price to roughly $12 a night. A budget hotel room is not much more expensive than a hostel at around $15 a night.
- Luxury accommodations can still be affordable โย I paid less than $60 a night for an entire “villa” for myself. If you want to splurge on nice accommodations while maintaining a relatively low budget, Cambodia is a great country to do it.
Food Cost
- $49
- $16
My most affordable meals:
Meal | Location | Cost |
---|---|---|
Noodle and drinks | Phare Circus | $3.50 |
Fish amok (Khmer dish) | Madam Moch | $4.50 |
My most expensive meals:
Meal | Location | Cost |
---|---|---|
Seafood and premium beef | Ox Club | $65 |
Num banh chok (Khmer dish) | POU Restaurant | $13 |
Curry dish | Sambo | $10 |
My food budgeting tips:
- Eat Khmer food โ You can expect to spend anywhere fromย $3 to $10 per meal, and you likely won’t spend more than $15 per meal unless you’re eating at high-end restaurants. A local beer is usuallyย less than $1. If you’re not familiar with local food, you can sample different dishes at anย affordable street food tour.
Transportation Cost
- $8
- $3
I only took private tuk-tuks around Siem Reap, which were very affordable.
My transportation budgeting tips:
- Download Grab โ Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are small cities, so a very convenient andย affordable way to get around is by tuk-tuk,ย which you can call through the Grab app (iOS,ย Android). You can also negotiate tuk-tuk rides, but they are usually already very cheap.
- Walk and bike as much as possible โ Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are small cities with pedestrian-friendly areas, especially around the city center.
- Take the bus between cities โ Cambodia doesn’t have extensive public transportation, but one of the cheapest ways to travel between major destinations is by bus. You can take a bus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap for less than $15.
Entertainment Cost
- $119
- $40
The activities/attractions I did:
Experience | Location | Cost |
---|---|---|
๐ Angkor Wat | Siem Reap | $63 |
๐ช Phare | Siem Reap | $18 |
๐ฒ Siem Reap Countryside Cycling | Siem Reap | $38 |
My entertainment budgeting tips:
- Visit attractions without a guide โ The famous Angkor Wat has a $37 entrance fee, but the cost jumps to $50 with a guide. The massive site is very historical, so I think a guide is worth it, but you can skip it if you’re on a tight budget.
- Go to meaningful places with small entrance fees โ One notable site I didn’t visit was The Killing Fields in Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, but I recommend it due to its educational impact. It has an affordable $6 entrance fee.
See myย ratings for Cambodia’s experiences.
Do You Need Cash?
- Cambodia’s economy heavily relies on cash transactions, so make sure to bring cash.
My tips on using cash:
- USD and the Cambodian riel are widely used in Cambodia, so you can withdraw cash in either currency. However, if you use USD, expect to receive change in riel and remember that you mayย not get a favorable exchange rate.
- Carry about $30 worth of cash per day to tip guides, pay for tuk-tuks, and eat at local restaurants.ย Most of my transactions were done in cash.
- Tipping is not customary in Cambodia, but it is one of the poorest countries in the region, so service workers always appreciate them.
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Thanks for the information. I am heading to Siem Reap next month. I’ve booked the majority of trips and accommodation on line but didn’t have a clue about spending money. Great article
Thanks, Stuart! Enjoy Siem Reap.
You can save money with a multiday pass to Angkor Wat. For example a day pass is $37, but a three day pass is $62 (as of January 2024).
Great article/page, by the way.
Thanks, Ruben! Great callout.
Hi, Lukiih,
Thanks for the fantastic summary review of Siem Reap. Can you recommend any tour guides for the Angkor Wat temples, that will take you round to the various sites within the complex? I am aware there is a small (short circuit route) and a large circuit route around the complex. Do you have to follow one of the circuits with the driver, or can you suggest with them what temples you want to see? Going to Cambodia for the first time in March 2024 (Phnom Penh & Siem Reap)
Hi Paul, glad you found my post helpful.
I did the Angkor Wat small circuit route with this operator. My guide, Mr. Bun, was fantastic. The short circuit typically covers the must-do temples, so you don’t get to pick the temples.
If you want more input on temple selection, you typically need to pay more for a true private tour like this one.
I don’t have recommendations on the larger circuit since I didn’t do one!
Enjoy your trip in March!
Hi
Your information are very helpful for my planning in March 2024
Thank you ๐
Hi Wendy, glad you found it helpful. Enjoy your trip in March!