How to Pay in Cambodia: Cash, Cards, KHQR and Two Currencies

Prepared by the NovAsia Editorial Team

The most reliable way to pay in Cambodia is not to depend on one method. Keep three options available: a modest amount of cash in Cambodian riel and US dollars, an international bank card, and—where accessible—a way to pay local KHQR codes.

Cashless payments are widespread in Phnom Penh and major tourist centres, but one foreign card still does not replace cash. A small merchant may accept KHQR but not cards, a terminal may fail, and an ATM may be temporarily unavailable.

Cambodia’s distinctive feature is the everyday use of two currencies. The riel is the official currency, while US dollars remain common for rent, hotels, larger purchases, medical bills and many quoted prices. Before paying, check the currency, the conversion rate and how any change will be returned.

This guide is general financial information. Bank fees, card support, app limits and exchange rates can change, so verify the current terms with your own bank and the payment provider before a significant transaction.

Why Cambodia uses both riel and US dollars

Cambodia’s official currency is the Cambodian riel, code KHR. The National Bank of Cambodia publishes an official KHR/USD reference rate on working days and continues to promote greater use of the national currency.

At the same time, the US dollar remains deeply embedded in the economy. Rent, hotel rooms, electronics, private healthcare and other higher-value transactions may be priced in dollars.

For a newcomer, the result can look inconsistent. A price may be quoted in dollars, the change may be returned in riel, and a QR app may offer accounts in either currency.

A common mental shortcut is 4,000 riel ≈ US$1. This is useful for estimating small purchases, but it is not a guaranteed official rate for every transaction. The National Bank’s rate changes, and merchants may use a rounded shop rate.

For a small purchase, the difference may be trivial. For a hospital bill, hotel stay, appliance, lease payment or property transaction, confirm in advance:

• the invoice currency;
• the exchange rate used if paying in another currency;
• any card or service fee;
• who bears bank charges;
• whether the final amount is fixed.

The most important errors to avoid are not a few hundred riel of rounding. They are confirming a dollar amount when you thought the figure was in riel, entering an extra zero in a QR payment, or accepting an unfavourable conversion without reviewing the total.

Which currency is usually more convenient

Riel is generally easier for small everyday purchases. It works well for markets, local cafés, fruit, water, short rides and street food. It also avoids disputes over the condition of a US dollar note.

US dollars remain convenient for larger expenses quoted in dollars. But there is rarely a need to carry large amounts of cash. A hotel, clinic or supermarket may accept a card, while a landlord or smaller business may prefer KHQR or a local transfer.

Pay in the currency in which the price is genuinely stated. If an item costs 80,000 riel, confirm the KHR total rather than accepting an improvised dollar conversion. If a hotel invoices in dollars, ask what happens if you pay in riel or by a foreign card.

Cash: denominations and note condition

Cash remains necessary. Mobile data can fail, a QR code may not load, and a card terminal may reject a foreign card.

For an ordinary day, carry a limited amount split between riel and a few small US dollar notes. A US$100 bill is a poor choice for a low-value purchase because the merchant may not have change or may need time to inspect it.

Cambodian businesses can be strict about the condition of US notes. A tear, missing corner, stain, writing or heavy wear can lead to refusal. Official travel advice from several governments warns visitors about this issue.

Check your dollars before travelling and before accepting change. Do not take a damaged note merely because someone says another shop will accept it.

Riel is Cambodia’s legal tender and generally avoids the same level of scrutiny. The National Bank also provides procedures for exchanging eligible damaged riel notes.

Do not keep all money, cards and identification in one wallet. Carry only what is needed for the day and keep a separate emergency reserve.

Quick mental conversions

For rough estimates:

• 4,000 KHR ≈ US$1;
• 20,000 KHR ≈ US$5;
• 40,000 KHR ≈ US$10;
• 100,000 KHR ≈ US$25.

These are mental shortcuts, not a formal exchange rate. For a larger payment, use the rate shown by the bank, app or National Bank of Cambodia.

International bank cards

Some hotels, restaurants, clinics, supermarkets and shopping centres accept international cards. Acceptance is not uniform. Two neighbouring businesses may offer completely different payment options.

A card-network logo on the door does not guarantee that your transaction will succeed. Your issuing bank may block it, the terminal may not support that card, or the merchant may have temporarily disabled card payments.

Before travelling, check:

• whether Cambodian transactions are enabled;
• foreign-purchase fees;
• the exchange-rate method;
• whether a travel notice is needed;
• cash-withdrawal fees;
• card and app recovery if your phone or SIM is lost.

Carry two cards from different banks and keep them separately. A virtual card is useful but does not replace a physical card for ATMs and terminals without mobile-wallet support.

Choosing the currency at a card terminal

A terminal or ATM may offer to convert the amount into your home currency. This is often dynamic currency conversion, where the local acquiring party sets the conversion rate.

A familiar amount in euros, pounds or another home currency is not automatically cheaper. Review:

• the original transaction currency;
• the proposed conversion rate;
• any disclosed markup;
• your bank’s own foreign-exchange and transaction fees.

There is no universal rule that everyone in Cambodia should always select dollars. The best choice depends on the invoice currency, card currency and bank tariff.

Card security

Keep the card in sight, shield the PIN and enable instant notifications. Avoid allowing staff to take the card to another room.

For travel, it can be safer to keep only spending funds on the primary card and transfer more from a separate account when needed.

Review unexpected transactions immediately. A small test charge you did not authorise can be an early sign of compromise. Save your bank’s emergency number somewhere accessible without relying on the lost phone.

Using ATMs

International cards work at many Cambodian ATMs, especially in larger cities, but limits and fees vary by bank, card and currency.

Use an ATM attached to a bank branch, major shopping centre or another controlled location, preferably during the day. Inspect the card slot and keypad. If anything appears loose, damaged or unusual, use another machine.

Before confirmation, the ATM should show the amount and any local operator fee. Your own bank may add separate withdrawal and foreign-exchange charges.

Several tiny withdrawals can therefore cost more than one moderate withdrawal. Conversely, taking an unnecessarily large sum to save one fee increases the risk of loss.

If the ATM offers conversion to your home currency, assess it like dynamic currency conversion at a card terminal. Do not choose it automatically.

Keep the receipt until the final transaction appears correctly in your banking app.

If the machine retains the card, contact the bank that operates the ATM. Do not accept instructions from an unknown bystander asking you to re-enter your PIN or call a number on an unverified sticker.

KHQR and why QR payments are everywhere

KHQR is Cambodia’s standardised QR payment format. The National Bank of Cambodia developed it as part of the Bakong payment infrastructure so that one compatible QR code can be accepted by participating banks and payment providers.

This helps explain why QR payments are often accepted more widely than card terminals. A small café, driver, shop, salon or landlord may display a KHQR even when international cards are not accepted.

A KHQR payment is generally an account-to-account transfer, not a conventional card-terminal transaction.

Typical KHQR payment flow

1. The merchant displays a static QR code or generates one with the amount included.
2. The customer scans it in a compatible banking or tourist app.
3. The app displays the recipient, currency and amount, or asks the customer to enter the amount.
4. The customer checks the details and confirms.
5. The merchant verifies receipt.

The recipient name matters. A code may belong to the company owner, business or authorised cashier, but the displayed details should make sense. If they do not, stop and ask.

With a static code, the customer enters the amount. Check the currency and number of zeros. US$50 and 50,000 riel are not remotely the same transaction.

With a dynamic code, the amount may be pre-filled, but it still needs to match the bill.

Do not send the same amount twice merely because a notification is delayed. First check transaction history and the actual account balance.

Can visitors use KHQR without a local bank account?

The National Bank of Cambodia created Bakong Tourists for foreign visitors. Official materials describe registration by email, funding through supported Visa or Mastercard cards and payment to participating KHQR merchants.

A sensible setup process is:

1. Download the official app from the recognised app store.
2. Register and complete the required verification.
3. Create a strong password.
4. Store the recovery code separately from the phone.
5. Link a supported card and review fees and limits.
6. Test a small payment before relying on it.

A card link is not guaranteed to work for every issuing bank. Your bank may reject the funding transaction, require extra verification or add fees.

Bakong Tourists is therefore a useful additional channel, not a replacement for all cash and cards.

Long-term residents may find a Cambodian bank account more practical for rent, local transfers and regular KHQR payments. Opening one is a separate process subject to the bank’s identification, visa, address and due-diligence requirements.

Which method is safest?

No method is best in every context.

The strongest approach is redundancy. Use KHQR or riel for routine purchases, a card or bank transfer for larger formal payments, and a small amount of cash for outages or places without digital acceptance.

Seven common payment mistakes

1. Travelling with one card and no cash

A perfectly valid card can be blocked after an unusual foreign transaction. The backup should be independent: a second bank and a modest cash reserve.

2. Carrying only large dollar notes

Large notes are awkward for taxis, cafés and markets. Small riel notes are usually more useful.

3. Accepting damaged dollars as change

The next merchant may refuse them, leaving you with a note that is difficult to use.

4. Ignoring the QR currency

Always confirm whether the payment is in KHR or USD and check the number of zeros.

5. Choosing home-currency conversion automatically

The displayed familiar currency may use a poor exchange rate. Compare before accepting.

6. Repeating a delayed QR payment immediately

Check history and account balance first. Duplicate transfers can be difficult to recover.

7. Protecting the money app but not the email and SIM

If a stolen phone also gives access to the SIM, email, notifications and recovery code, the financial risk increases sharply. Use separate locks and keep recovery details offline.

A practical payment setup for the first days

A newcomer can start with:

• one international card enabled for overseas use;
• a second card from another bank stored separately;
• riel for small expenses;
• several clean, small-denomination US dollar notes;
• mobile data;
• Bakong Tourists where suitable;
• instant transaction alerts;
• verified bank contacts for emergency card blocking.

Do not fund an app or withdraw a large sum immediately. First test a small transaction and see how the bank records the currency and fees.

For travel in the provinces, carry more cash than you would in central Phnom Penh. QR acceptance is expanding, but mobile coverage, power and ATM availability are not equally reliable everywhere.

What changes for long-term residents

After several weeks, it becomes clear that everyday Cambodian payments revolve more around local bank apps and KHQR than foreign cards.

A local account may make rent, utility bills, domestic transfers, wages and routine purchases easier. It may also support both riel and dollar accounts, depending on the institution.

Use the currency of the actual obligation where practical. A lease denominated in dollars should be documented and paid accordingly. Small daily purchases are often simpler in riel. Avoid unnecessary back-and-forth conversion.

Treat any sudden message announcing “new bank details” with caution. Confirm the recipient through an independent channel before the first large transfer to new details, particularly where the instructions arrive through a messaging app.

Conclusion

For most visitors and residents, the practical everyday combination is KHQR plus riel, with an international card and clean US dollar notes as additional channels and backup.

A well-prepared person does not depend on one bank, one currency or one phone. They know their card fees, refuse damaged dollars, check the KHQR recipient and currency, and keep enough riel for a technical failure.

That resilient setup matters more than trying to identify one perfect payment method for every situation in Cambodia.

Sources

1. National Bank of Cambodia — *Payment System Annual Report 2025*, published 24 May 2026. Reviewed 25 June 2026.
2. National Bank of Cambodia — Daily Exchange Rate. Reviewed 25 June 2026.
3. National Bank of Cambodia — Bakong and KHQR official documentation.
4. National Bank of Cambodia — Bakong Tourists official registration and card-linking guidance; Visa launch announcement dated 22 January 2025 and Mastercard launch materials.
5. U.S. Department of State — Cambodia travel information on currency, cards, ATMs and QR payments. Reviewed 25 June 2026.
6. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — Cambodia currency and payment guidance. Reviewed 25 June 2026.
7. Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — Cambodia travel advice, updated 30 April 2026; guidance on cash, banknotes, cards and ATMs.

Frequently asked

Which is more convenient in Cambodia: US dollars or riel?

Riel is usually convenient for smaller expenses, while larger prices are often quoted in US dollars. Pay in the invoiced currency where practical and confirm the conversion rate before agreeing to a cross-currency amount.

Can a tourist use KHQR?

Yes. Bakong Tourists was created for foreign visitors, but support for the specific card, limits and fees should be checked before the trip.

Which currency should be selected at a card terminal or ATM?

Compare the original amount, exchange rate and fee. A conversion into the cardholder’s home currency may be dynamic currency conversion and is not necessarily the better option.