Cambodia How Much Does Phnom Penh Cost? (2026)
From budget $35/day to luxury $200/day — full daily expense breakdown
Phnom Penh Travel Cost — Quick Answer
Updated Jun 2026Per person, per day, in USD — daily cost summary for Phnom Penh.
- Budget / day
- $35
- Mid-range / day
- $90
- Luxury / day
- $200
- Biggest expense
- Accommodation ($40/day)
- 7-day total (incl. flights, mid)
- $820
- Est. round-trip flight
- $300-500 from Seoul direct (Korean Air, Asiana); $150-400 from Bangkok / Singapore / KL / HCMC connecting; $1,200-2,200 from US/EU via Doha, Singapore, or Hong Kong; $900-1,500 from Sydney via Singapore
As of 2026, a day in Phnom Penh costs about $35 on a budget, $90 mid-range, and $200 for luxury travel. Accommodation is the single largest cost, and a 7-day mid-range trip including flights totals around $820.
Phnom Penh can be done on a wide range of budgets. Hostels, local restaurants, and public transport keep daily costs around $35. A 3-star hotel with sit-down meals averages $90. Luxury travelers in 4-5 star hotels with fine dining should expect $200+ per day. Below: detailed breakdown by category, total budgets for 3/5/7-day trips, and local saving tips.
How much should you budget per day in Phnom Penh?
Per person, per day for Phnom Penh in three travel styles · 2026 figures.
- Accommodation$12
- Food$10
- Transport$5
- Activities$8
- Accommodation$40
- Food$22
- Transport$11
- Activities$17
- Accommodation$100
- Food$45
- Transport$20
- Activities$35
Phnom Penh is among Southeast Asia's cheapest capitals — comparable to Vientiane but with more restaurant range. Stay in BKK1 for walking access to most restaurants and S-21; Daun Penh (Sothearos Boulevard) for walking access to the Royal Palace and the colonial sites. PassApp ride-hail is $1-3 per city ride and $7-10 to the airport; the Killing Fields round-trip is $10-15 with PassApp or $15-25 by tuk-tuk with wait. Cambodia visa $30-36; pre-book Cuisine Wat Damnak and Khema La Poste 3-5 days ahead.
How much does each category cost in Phnom Penh?
Per person, per day in USD · 2026 figures.
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $12 | $40 | $100 |
| Food | $10 | $22 | $45 |
| Transport | $5 | $11 | $20 |
| Activities & Attractions | $8 | $17 | $35 |
| Daily Total | $35 | $90 | $200 |
How much does a 3, 5, or 7-day Phnom Penh trip cost?
Including round-trip flight estimate · per person · estimated flights: $300-500 from Seoul direct (Korean Air, Asiana); $150-400 from Bangkok / Singapore / KL / HCMC connecting; $1,200-2,200 from US/EU via Doha, Singapore, or Hong Kong; $900-1,500 from Sydney via Singapore
* Flight prices vary widely by origin and booking timing. Numbers above are average return economy fares.
Is Phnom Penh expensive compared to other cities?
Mid-range daily cost compared to other popular destinations.
* Exchange rates as of April 2026. Mid-range daily cost per traveler.
Cash or card — how should you pay in Phnom Penh?
How to pay and what to know about money in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia uses the US dollar as its primary daily currency — prices are quoted in USD, ATMs dispense USD bills, you'll spend USD for almost everything. Cambodian Riel (KHR, 1 USD ≈ 4,100 KHR) is used only for change under $1. Bring USD cash in clean $5, $10, and $20 notes (some restaurants and tuk-tuks refuse torn or heavily marked bills).
4-5 star hotels (Raffles Le Royal, Rosewood, Sofitel, NagaWorld) + mid-range and upscale restaurants (Malis, Khema La Poste, Cuisine Wat Damnak, Romdeng, FCC, The Common Tiger) + Aeon Mall + large supermarkets. Cash USD for everything else — street food, markets, tuk-tuks, temples, guesthouses, day-trip operators. AmEx and Discover are rarely accepted.
Not strictly customary but increasingly appreciated. 5-10% at sit-down restaurants if no service charge is added, $1-2 for tuk-tuk drivers on long routes, $1 per night for hotel housekeeping, $1 for porters, $5-10 per day for tour guides, $2-3 for spa therapists. No tipping at street stalls or markets. Cambodian wages are low and small tips have real meaning.
ABA Bank, ACLEDA, and Canadia ATMs in the city center charge $4-5 per foreign withdrawal plus your home-bank fees, dispense USD in new notes, and have a $500-1,000 per-transaction limit. Avoid street money changers and small unmarked booths near the Central Market (counterfeit reports). Bring USD cash from home in clean small denominations for the best resilience.
Recommended Tours & Activities
Booking tours in advance is typically 15-30% cheaper than walk-up rates.
Phnom Penh Hotel Search
Find rooms in your style — budget $12 to luxury $100+ per night.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why you can trust cost guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.