Currency in Cambodia

Money can be a tricky aspect while travelling to a foreign country, but understanding currency in Cambodia is rather simple. Cambodia is a beautiful and peaceful country situated in South East Asia. Experiencing all of what this beautiful country has to offer will require you to plan a week-long trip. Even longer if you want to visit the islands of Koh Rong or some off-the-beaten path destinations. Cambodia is still in the initial stages of development as opposed to other fast developing nations across Asia. As a result, your access to modern payment and cash withdrawal methods vary depending on the area. 

Most ATMs are present in the larger, urban cities of Cambodia. Smaller towns have ATMs too but there are very few to go around. More importantly, ATMs charge exorbitant withdrawal fee that ranges from $3-6 USD. Additionally, you may only use your card to make payments in the touristy establishments which include expensive restaurants and luxury hotels. 

All of this points to the fact that when in Cambodia, managing your cash is key. Exchanging your currency for Cambodian currency is not really necessary as the country readily accepts U.S. Dollars. Importantly, you need to know how much money to carry around in case you plan on visiting remote locations within the country.  Here’s a detailed guide to all things related while travelling in Cambodia.

Cambodia has a lot more to offer than just temples. By spending little, you get to experience plenty.

Understanding currency in cambodia

The Cambodian Riel (KHR) is the official currency of Cambodia. When last checked, 1 USD was approximately 4000 KHR. You should keep an eye on this before and throughout your travels in Cambodia as the KHR value tends to fluctuate quite a lot.

Although the nation has its  national currency, Cambodia is very much driven by the US Dollar. The influence of the USD is such that the Visa on arrival charges can only be paid in cash in USD. Make sure to keep note of this while travelling to Cambodia. Bear in mind that all transactions on your trip to Cambodia will be completed in USD.

The Cambodian Riel is the official currency in Cambodia but rarely used.

ATMs and withdrawing money

Yu can easily find ATMs in the larger cities of Cambodia like Phnom Pehn and Siem Reap. They are a lot more difficult to access in the smaller towns. As mentioned earlier, the withdrawal fees in Cambodia are quite steep. Therefore, its crucial to plan your expenses and withdraw what you need for your entire stay in one go. Consequently, you can also carry some USD with you to Cambodia. This mitigates the need for constant ATM withdrawls. 

Keep in mind that if you are using a foreign ATM card, you can only withdraw money in the form of USD. This means it is of utmost important to convert some of that money to KHR. For more details on the same, continue reading and we’ll help answer all the frequent asked questions.

ATMs in Cambodia only offer USD and charge high withdrawal fees on International credit cards.

currency Exchange in Cambodia

Currency exchange in Cambodia is a relatively easy process. You can exchange foreign currency for KHR in several ways. Visit the official exchange offices that can be found throughout the country, or visit the local markets. The markets are dotted with shops that are willing to exchange the USD for KHR. Spotting these shops is extremely easy, since they have currency notes in a glass cabinet at their entrance.

These shops offer much better exchange rates as opposed to the official exchange offices. However, be extremely cautious about being scammed. Pick a store that is reliable and recommended by educated locals.

It is crucial to be mindful of how much money you exchange, lest you want to hike along the countryside with a sack of cash on your back. And despite the humour, keeping this travel tip in mind is extremely crucial. The largest note that the KHR comes in is the 10000 KHR note (2.5 USD). This means if you exchange a large sum like $3000 USD, you must prepare to lug the money around.

This is certainly good information to be aware of. However, it will be unlikely that you will ever have the need to exchange a large amount of currency into Riel.

In Cambodia, you can exchange the most commonly used currencies for USD or the Cambodian Riel.

Money in Cambodia – How much to carry

How much money you need to carry while travelling in Cambodia? Well this would depend on your budget, style of travel and various other factors. For a detailed guide to calculate an approximate of your entire trip, head to our article that concentrates solely on the cost of travel in Cambodia. 

A frequently asked questions is what type of currency to carry around. You will always need to carry with you a mix of both USD and KHR, though you can complete most transactions using USD. You will only need to dip in your KHR reserves for anything less than 1 USD or spare change. There is also the option of acquiring  KHR on your trip in the form of spare change.

Another important tip is to ensure you carry notes of smaller denominations. Even in the larger cities, you will find it difficult to procure change for anything over of $20 USD. Also keep in mind that torn currency notes will not be accepted anywhere in the country. Not even the banks will help you in this case.

Exchanging and understanding the currency in Cambodia is evidently convenient and this guide is to help you gain more insight on the same. For more information regarding traveling around Cambodia and other essentials for planning the ideal itinerary, head to our travel tips or blog section. Consequently, hit the plan your trip button and leave the rest to us as we plan your tip to Cambodia or across southeast Asia.