Cambodia Travel Costs in 2026: Food, Hotels, Transport and Activities

Prepared by the NovAsia Editorial Team

Cambodia still allows travellers to eat well in simple local restaurants, stay in an inexpensive private room and cross a city by tuk-tuk for a few dollars. The idea of an exceptionally cheap holiday becomes less accurate, however, once the itinerary includes Angkor, domestic transfers, an island, private guides and a hotel with a good pool during the high season.

For one person sharing a room with another traveller, a realistic budget begins at roughly $30–50 per day. A comfortable independent trip with a private room, mixed local and international dining and regular activities is more likely to cost $75–130 per day. Higher-end hotels, private vehicles and tailored excursions can take daily spending above $180–350.

These figures are planning ranges, not a single national average. Accommodation, boat and tour prices were checked against offers available in July 2026. A particular date, hotel or activity may be considerably cheaper or more expensive.

Understanding prices and currencies

Tourist hotels, long-distance transfers, entrance tickets and many excursions are commonly quoted in US dollars. Cambodian riel is widely used for smaller purchases, market spending, app-based rides and change. The National Bank of Cambodia's official rate in 2026 has remained close to 4,000 riel to the US dollar, although the precise daily rate moves.

It is useful to carry both currencies. Small riel notes reduce the need to calculate change, while clean low-denomination US dollar notes remain practical for larger cash payments. Damaged or heavily marked dollar notes may be refused.

A dollar price is not automatically better value. A shop, café, ride-hailing app and exchange counter may use slightly different conversion rates. Card payments may attract a fee, and smaller businesses may not accept international cards at all.

The greatest budgeting challenge is not the exchange rate but the difference between destinations and travel styles. A simple room in Siem Reap can be inexpensive, yet two days at Angkor add a pass, transport and perhaps a guide. Phnom Penh has a growing range of contemporary restaurants and cafés where prices can approach those in larger regional capitals. On Koh Rong, beach accommodation and the cost of bringing supplies to the island push prices above those of a basic mainland town.

It is therefore more useful to divide the budget into four lines: accommodation, food, transport and activities. The final category is the one most often underestimated.

Food: from a $2 meal to a $50 dinner

Local food remains one of the easiest areas in which to keep costs low. Crowd-sourced price data available in July 2026 placed an inexpensive meal at roughly $2.50 in Siem Reap and around $3.50 in Phnom Penh. A mid-range dinner for two, excluding drinks, was commonly estimated at approximately $23 in Siem Reap and $35–37 in the capital.

Those figures are useful only as broad indicators. A busy rice shop, noodle stall or market breakfast may cost around $1.50–3. A complete Khmer dish in a straightforward local restaurant is commonly $2.50–5. In a tourist-oriented café, Khmer food, burgers, pizza or pasta are more often $5–10, while a polished air-conditioned restaurant may charge $10–20 for a main course.

Coffee illustrates the same range. A simple iced coffee may cost $1–2. A cappuccino in a modern Phnom Penh coffee shop is often around $2.50–3.50. Local draft beer can begin at approximately $1–1.50 in a tourist bar, but cocktails, imported alcohol and hotel drinks increase the bill quickly.

For planning purposes:

The easiest way to reduce spending is to choose the format rather than simply eating less. Two substantial local dishes can cost less than a single cocktail at a hotel rooftop bar.

The cheapest visible stall is not automatically the best choice. A busy vendor with rapid turnover and food cooked to order is often a more sensible option than an empty counter where prepared ingredients have remained in the heat.

Accommodation: the date matters more than the star rating

Cambodia has an unusually broad choice of inexpensive and mid-range accommodation. In July 2026, major booking platforms showed hostel averages of roughly $11–12 per night in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Guesthouse listings varied more widely, while historical averages for three-star hotels could appear as low as the low twenties.

Those averages do not represent the price of a specific room on a particular weekend. For near-term dates, three-star rooms were often closer to $45–50. Well-reviewed four-star hotels frequently appeared around $85–120 on popular dates, while five-star properties could start near $150 in Phnom Penh and exceed $200 in Siem Reap. Beach hotels on Koh Rong commonly averaged around $75–85, with recognised resorts easily rising above $100–150.

Practical ranges are more useful than the category label:

Siem Reap sometimes offers remarkably cheap hotels with pools. The headline rate may apply to a non-refundable room, exclude breakfast or appear only during weak demand. Compare the final amount after taxes and confirm the actual room type.

Accommodation is usually priced by room rather than by person. A solo traveller therefore spends more than one member of a couple sharing the same room. The daily budgets later in this guide assume two adults share. Solo travellers should normally add another $10–50 per day, depending on hotel level.

The sharpest increases occur during the dry high season, around New Year, Khmer New Year and major public holidays. On the islands, dry weather and a convenient weekend can increase demand for the best-connected beaches.

Transport within cities

A short Grab or PassApp tuk-tuk journey in central Phnom Penh or Siem Reap often costs around $1–2. A longer ride across the city may be $3–6, with increases during heavy rain, peak traffic or from a remote pickup point. App pricing is useful because the fare is agreed before travel.

Airport transfers are a different category. Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport is far outside the city. The official airport bus has been advertised at $8 per person, while a booked private car is commonly around $30–35. A normal central Siem Reap tuk-tuk fare cannot be used as a realistic airport estimate.

Techo International Airport, which now serves Phnom Penh, also lies beyond the central districts. Private transfers to a central hotel have commonly been offered from roughly $30–35, depending on the district, vehicle and meeting conditions. Public transport options and prices should be checked on the airport's official channels before arrival.

Travellers using an airport transfer should confirm whether the quoted price covers the whole vehicle, waiting time and late-night pickup.

Intercity buses, cars and boats

Buses and minivans remain the main budget option for travel within Cambodia. On the Phnom Penh–Siem Reap route, prices found in July 2026 generally began around $9 and reached $17 for established services, with an average around the mid-teens. More comfortable vehicles, sleeper berths and desirable departure times may cost more.

Useful planning ranges include:

• Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: approximately $9–17 by bus or minivan;
• Phnom Penh to Kampot: around $7–12;
• Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: roughly $11–18;
• Siem Reap to Battambang: around $7–12;
• private car between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap: often $90–130 per vehicle;
• return speedboat from Sihanoukville to Koh Rong or Koh Rong Samloem: commonly around $25–30.

A ferry ticket does not necessarily include the final transfer to the correct beach. The same island may have several piers, and a resort may require another boat or vehicle. A low room rate on an isolated beach can become expensive after all transfers are added.

Scooter hire in Siem Reap may begin at roughly $8–10 per day. The cost is not the main issue. Riders need the correct licence, a proper helmet and insurance that does not exclude motorcycle use. Saving a few dollars is not worthwhile when the legal or insurance position is unclear.

Tickets and activities

For most first-time visitors, the Angkor Pass is the largest unavoidable activity cost. As of July 2026, official prices are:

• one day: $37;
• three days: $62, valid for seven days;
• seven days: $72, valid for 30 days.

There is no two-day product. A traveller who plans two temple days normally buys the three-day pass.

The pass does not cover every other cost. A shared sunrise tour may be advertised for around $10–20 per person. A private tuk-tuk for the day may cost approximately $20–35 per vehicle. A licensed guide is additional. Banteay Srei, remote temples and longer circuits increase transport costs. Many tours do not include the park pass despite using “Angkor Wat” in the title.

Other current activity ranges include:

• shared Tonle Sap excursion: approximately $14–22;
• private or extended Tonle Sap programme: roughly $50–110;
• Phare performance in Siem Reap: commonly $18–25;
• cooking class: approximately $24–32;
• Phnom Penh historical tour: around $18–45;
• food tour or guided tuk-tuk evening: approximately $35–70;
• activities such as ziplining: from about $50–60.

Independent entrance fees are lower than organised tour prices. The foreign adult ticket for Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is $5, while the National Museum of Cambodia charges $10. Transport, audio guides and a private guide may still need to be added.

Before booking any activity, locate four details: entrance tickets, food, hotel pickup and group size. A low advertised amount may cover only the vehicle, with a community fee, boat or admission charged on arrival.

Realistic daily budgets

The scenarios below are planning models for one adult sharing a room with another person. International flights, visa costs, travel insurance and substantial shopping are excluded.

A budget day might include $12 as one person's share of a room, $12 for food, $4 for local rides and $6 as an average contribution towards modest admissions. That totals about $34. On an Angkor day, the $37 pass and temple transport immediately take the same traveller closer to $75–100.

A comfortable day might allocate $25–45 for one person's share of accommodation, $25–35 for food, $8–15 for transport and an average of $15–35 for activities. A total of $75–130 allows choices to be based on convenience rather than always selecting the cheapest listing.

Spending above $180 is driven less by basic Cambodian prices than by a different travel model. One night in a recognised hotel, a private car, an individual guide and dinner with alcohol can exceed the weekly budget of a backpacker.

How much to budget for a week

For seven days covering Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, one intercity journey and Angkor, the following ranges are useful per person when two adults share a room.

A budget trip is approximately $300–450. This can cover hostels or simple rooms, local meals, a bus between the two cities, urban rides, a one-day Angkor Pass and several low-cost museums. A reserve is still necessary for airport transfers, baggage and days when the cheapest option is unavailable.

A comfortable week is more likely to cost $700–1,100. This supports a good private room, varied food, several activities, a three-day Angkor Pass when required, convenient buses and frequent use of ride-hailing apps. Two nights on an island can raise the total through ferry costs and higher beach accommodation.

A high-end week begins around $1,700 and can easily exceed $3,000. The principal expenses are resort hotels, private vehicles, guides, remote excursions and restaurants rather than everyday meals or museum tickets.

Solo travellers should add the room difference. At the budget end, this might be $70–150 for the week; in the middle category it may be $200–400 or more. Family costs do not rise in a simple straight line: a vehicle is shared, but larger rooms, extra beds and child-friendly arrangements may cost more.

Where budgets usually fail

The first mistake is using the lowest search result as the expected price. It may refer to a dormitory bed, a non-refundable tariff, a weak-demand date or a room without tax and breakfast.

The second is assuming that a tour card shows the complete cost. An Angkor excursion may exclude the pass. A lake trip may exclude the boat. A private tour price may be displayed per person even when the vehicle is shared.

The third is ignoring the final stage of a journey. A cheap flight to Siem Reap is followed by a long airport transfer. An island hotel requires a boat and possibly another connection. A night bus saves a room but may create a difficult arrival morning and a luggage-storage fee.

Finally, every budget needs a reserve. Adding 15–20 per cent to the planned total is sensible. It can cover a changed fare, replacement boat, extra transfer, pharmacy visit, unexpected hotel night or simply a meal chosen for convenience after a long day.

Conclusion

Cambodia in 2026 can still be less expensive than many popular destinations in South-East Asia when travellers use local restaurants, simple accommodation and overland transport. Low everyday prices do not remove the major individual costs: Angkor, a remote airport transfer, an island boat, a private guide and a beach resort can alter the budget more than several restaurant meals.

A practical guide for most independent travellers is $75–130 per person per day when sharing a room, excluding international flights and visas. A budget trip is possible at $30–50, although major sightseeing days will cost more. For a comfortable week in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap with Angkor, approximately $700–1,100 per person provides a realistic margin.

Prices and tariffs in this guide were checked on 25 July 2026. Confirm the final cost for the actual dates, what is included and the cancellation terms before payment.

Sources

1. National Bank of Cambodia — official daily and monthly exchange-rate data for the Cambodian riel and US dollar. Checked 25 July 2026.
2. Booking.com — current accommodation listings and destination price pages for Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Koh Rong. Checked 25 July 2026.
3. Numbeo — current user-contributed restaurant and café price data for Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Checked 25 July 2026.
4. BookMeBus, Vireak Buntham Express and Giant Ibis Transport — current intercity bus offers and route prices. Checked 25 July 2026.
5. Angkor Enterprise, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, National Museum of Cambodia and official airport services — entrance and transport tariffs. Checked 25 July 2026.
6. Established Cambodian activity platforms and Koh Rong boat operators — current excursion, performance and ferry prices. Checked 25 July 2026.

Frequently asked

How much should a traveller budget per day in Cambodia?

Excluding international flights, a realistic guide is $30–50 for a budget trip, $75–130 for a comfortable trip and from about $180 for higher-end hotels and private touring.

Should I carry US dollars or Cambodian riel?

Both are useful. Major tourist expenses are still often quoted in US dollars, while small purchases and change are increasingly handled in Cambodian riel.

Is the Angkor ticket included in a temple tour?

Usually not. The Angkor Pass, transport and guide services are commonly priced separately unless the tour description clearly states otherwise.

Are the Cambodian islands more expensive than Phnom Penh and Siem Reap?

They generally are. Boat fares, the cost of transporting supplies and higher demand for well-located beach accommodation all increase the budget.