If you’re planning a trip and wondering about travel costs in Cambodia, this guide breaks everything down clearly – from accommodation and food to transport, sightseeing and hidden extras – so you can budget with confidence.

I must confess that I didn’t know much about Cambodia before visiting. Compared to its more well‑known neighbours Thailand and Vietnam, Cambodia felt more mysterious. I’m happy to say I left with a much deeper understanding of the country’s history, culture and people – and a very clear idea of how much it costs to travel around Cambodia.

The short answer? It is budget‑friendly in many ways, but surprisingly expensive in others, especially when it comes to major attractions like Angkor Wat. Below, I’ll share real prices we paid, plus practical tips to help you save money.

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Currency in Cambodia: What You Need to Know

The country operates with two currencies:

• Cambodian Riel (KHR)
• US Dollars (USD)

ATMs dispense both currencies, prices are often displayed in dollars, and you’ll usually receive change in a creative mix of the two. We used USD as much as possible, because the Cambodian Riel is a closed currency and can’t be exchanged outside the country.

Tip: Bring small US dollar notes. Torn or damaged bills are often refused.

Sightseeing Costs in Cambodia

Angkor Wat (Siem Reap)

Visiting Angkor Wat is the single biggest sightseeing expense in Cambodia – but it’s absolutely unmissable.

Angkor Archaeological Park ticket prices:

• 1‑day pass: $37
• 3‑day pass: $62
• 7‑day pass: $72

We chose the 3‑day pass, which can be used on non‑consecutive days within one week. The 7‑day pass allows seven visits within a month. Cambodian nationals enter for free; all foreign visitors must buy a pass. Check out my dedicated Angkor Archaeological Park blog post to plan your time there.

Getting Around Angkor Wat

The complex is enormous – walking isn’t realistic unless you’re extremely determined (and heat‑resistant!). Options include:

• Bicycle rental (cheap but sweaty)
• Tuk‑tuk or car with driver

We hired a local driver who quoted us these prices:

• Grand Circuit: $22
• Sunrise & Small Circuit: $25

You can pay extra for a licensed guide, but we found blog posts, information boards and prior research sufficient. Two days was plenty for us – temple fatigue is very real at 30°C!

Food inside Angkor:

• Restaurant lunch: $11.50 for two
• Packed lunch from hotel: free

Phnom Penh Attractions

Other attractions in Cambodia are much more affordable.

• Royal Palace, Phnom Penh: $10 per person. I could have paid extra for a guide but was feeling stingy that day. Turns out I should have gone for the guide because the Palace didn’t have any information boards or posters to explain what you’re looking at. Architecturally, it’s very impressive but it would have been better with a guide to explain the context and history.
• Killing Fields (Choeung Ek): $12 for two tickets. The ticket price included a fascinating audio guide, which included first-hand accounts from people affected by the Khmer Rouge, survivor testimonies, and army guards who were later charged with war crimes. It was really heavy stuff but very important to learn about. We hired a tuk tuk driver to take us to the Killing Fields, wait for us then take us back to Phnom Penh ($20).

Food and Drink in Cambodia

Typical Food Prices

Food in Cambodia is very affordable, especially if you eat street food or at informal restaurants where the locals go. We had breakfast at our accommodation each morning but there are plenty of cafes and convenience stores to grab a budget-friendly breakfast.

Lunches ranged from $2.50-$6 for two (bargain!). Some of our dinners were as cheap as our lunches (a couple of dollars per person) but we also ate at some fancier places, spending between $6-$25 for two people. The weather was gorgeous when we visited so we drank a lot of cold beverages.

Cambodian Dishes to Try

Cambodian food is similar to Thai, but milder. Specialities include Amok curry (coconut & lemongrass curry with chicken or fish), Bai Sach Chrouk (pork and rice) and Lok Lak (sautéed beef with salad vegetables). Most of the dishes we saw featured meat or fish – vegetarian options exist but are more limited outside tourist areas.

Example Drinks Prices

The weather was gorgeous while we were in Cambodia, so we drank a lot of cold beverages. Iced tea and bubble tea range from $2-3. Shakes and juices cost $1. We needed our daily coffee fix and spent around $1-$2.50 per cup.

In terms of alcohol, a lot of places near the tourist attractions sell reeeeally cheap beer ($0.75 per glass!). It’s not award-winning but it is certainly refreshing. A couple of rounds of beer in a brewery might cost $10, and we enjoyed four cocktails for $12 at a swanky cocktail bar.

Accommodation Costs in Cambodia

We booked very nice hotels, which came equipped with swimming pools and complimentary breakfasts. You can certainly find cheaper places but we were happy with our choices.

• Airbnb in Phnom Penh – €137.84 for 4 nights (paid on card – equivalent to $153.95)
• Airbnb in Siem Reap – €142.44 for 5 nights (paid on card – equivalent to $159.08)

Transport Costs in Cambodia

Getting Around Cities

We mostly walked, but used Grab tuk‑tuks in Phnom Penh:

• Typical ride: $1.50–$2

Using Grab avoids haggling and shows prices upfront – highly recommended.

Intercity Travel

Long‑distance travel in Cambodia is cheap and easy. We used 12Go to book buses between cities:

• Clear schedules and prices
• Card payment
• Mobile e‑tickets

Other Travel Expenses

• Street massage: $3 for one hour
• Hotel massage: $14 (worth every cent)
• Laundry service: $2 per kg

Small costs add up, but Cambodia is very backpacker‑friendly.

Is Cambodia Expensive? My Final Verdict

Cambodia is an excellent budget destination, especially for food, accommodation and transport. The main splurge is sightseeing, particularly Angkor Wat – but it’s a once‑in‑a‑lifetime experience and absolutely worth prioritising.

If Cambodia is on your list, I hope this guide helps you plan and budget for your trip with confidence. With smart planning, you can balance higher attraction costs with cheap meals, affordable transport and great‑value hotels.

Planning your trip to Cambodia? Check out my other blog posts about Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kep and Kampot to help you create the ultimate travel itinerary.

Ciao for now,
Isobel