Cambodia Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Cambodia uses a dual-currency system where US Dollars are common for larger payments and Cambodian Riel (KHR) is used for small change; exchange rates hover around 4,000–4,100 KHR per 1 USD, making Cambodia very affordable for regional travellers according to the National Bank of Cambodia.

Think of Cambodia’s money system as “USD for big stuff, riel for pocket change.” In cities and tourist areas, hotels, tours, and restaurants often quote prices in US Dollars, while tuk-tuks, street food, and corner shops may prefer KHR at a practical rate of around 4,000 KHR = 1 USD.

If you’re coming from Singapore, recent 2026 estimates put 1 SGD at roughly 3,000–3,050 KHR, which means everyday costs like local meals (US$2–4 / 8,000–16,000 KHR) and short tuk-tuk rides (US$1–3) are relatively budget-friendly compared to neighbours like Thailand.

For smoother money management, track your expenses in both USD and KHR in the Hello app, which automatically converts between currencies and lets you split costs with friends. Pair that with a Hello eSIM for Cambodia so you arrive connected and can check live exchange rates and digital payment options without hunting for Wi‑Fi.

Cambodia’s official currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR), but US Dollars are widely used for everyday travel, with a practical exchange rate around 4,000–4,100 KHR per 1 USD and roughly 3,000–3,050 KHR per 1 SGD as of early 2026, per National Bank of Cambodia and regional travel currency guides.

You’ll see prices written in both USD and KHR, especially in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. Most hotels, tour operators, and mid-range restaurants quote in USD, while markets and small shops often quote in KHR but happily accept dollars. In practice, vendors commonly use 4,000 KHR = 1 USD for quick mental math, even though the official rate hovers slightly above that.

Recent estimates for 2025–2026 put:

• 1 USD ≈ 4,000–4,100 KHR (National Bank of Cambodia data referenced by multiple travel guides)
• 1 SGD ≈ 2,980–3,050 KHR (regional currency advisories for 2025–2026)
• 1 EUR ≈ 4,400–4,500 KHR (typical tourist exchange boards)

Here’s a handy overview:

Currency Pair	Estimated Rate (2026)	Typical Use for Travellers
1 USD → KHR	4,000–4,100 KHR	Hotel bills, tours, ATMs
1 SGD → KHR	2,980–3,050 KHR	Regional travellers’ cash
1 EUR → KHR	4,400–4,500 KHR	Exchanging at city changers

You don’t need to convert all your money into KHR. Bring some USD or withdraw it locally, and you’ll naturally receive riel as change, which is perfect for street food, short rides, and tips.

For the best Cambodia exchange rate, skip airport counters and hotel desks and use local money changers near central markets, where you’ll usually get 4,000–4,100 KHR per 1 USD or around 3,000+ KHR per 1 SGD based on 2025–2026 traveller reports and currency guide data.

In Phnom Penh, good rates are often found around Central Market (Phsar Thmey) and near busy commercial streets, where small shops and jewelry stores display glass cases of currency and gold. In Siem Reap, look for the informal money changers around the Old Market (Phsar Chas) and near Pub Street—these spots typically offer better rates than hotel receptions.

General tips when exchanging money in Cambodia:

• Avoid airport kiosks: they’re convenient but often 2–3% worse than city rates.
• Bring crisp notes: Cambodian money changers prefer clean USD bills, especially for $50 and $100; torn or marked notes may be rejected or discounted.
• Use higher denominations: larger bills sometimes get a slightly better rate than small ones.
• Count carefully: always count cash before leaving the counter and double-check the quoted rate.

If you’re arriving with SGD or EUR, exchange a portion into USD first (either at home or in Cambodia), as USD is still the most versatile currency for paying hotels and tours. Then let everyday transactions naturally give you KHR change so you always have local currency for smaller expenses.

The Hello app can help here: log your exchanges and let the app’s multi-currency tracking automatically calculate effective rates, so you can see where you got the best deal over your trip.

ATMs are widely available in Cambodian cities and tourist hubs, typically dispensing US Dollars with fees around US$4–6 per withdrawal in 2025–2026, while card and contactless payments are increasingly accepted at hotels and larger restaurants but still limited at markets and small vendors.

You’ll find international-bank ATMs (ABA, ACLEDA, Canadia, Wing, etc.) in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, and Sihanoukville. Many machines dispense USD, which is convenient for tourists, but local and foreign banks often charge a flat fee plus any fees from your home bank. Plan to withdraw larger amounts (US$200–300) less frequently to minimise total charges.

Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are commonly accepted at:

• Mid-to-upscale hotels and guesthouses
• Larger restaurants and cafés
• Supermarkets and some mall shops

In contrast, tuk-tuks, street food stalls, local markets, and small family-run businesses are usually cash-only.

Contactless payments and QR codes are growing, especially via local banking apps and Asian wallets. In Phnom Penh malls and some chain cafés, you may see QR payment options, but many require local accounts, so foreign visitors rely on cards and cash.

To use card and digital payments smoothly, stay connected with a Hello eSIM for Cambodia (/esim/cambodia), so banking apps and SMS verification codes work reliably without hunting for Wi‑Fi.

Finally, use the Hello app’s expense tracking to tag ATM fees separately, making it easy to see how much you’re paying just to access cash and adjust your withdrawal strategy mid-trip.

Tipping in Cambodia is appreciated but not strictly expected, with small cash tips in riel or dollars (US$1–2) common at restaurants, for tuk-tuk drivers, and for guides, while rounding up bills is a simple way to show appreciation without overthinking the math.

In local eateries, you’ll often just pay the bill as-is; leaving 1,000–2,000 KHR (about US$0.25–0.50) or rounding up to the nearest dollar is a nice gesture for good service. In mid-range or tourist-focused restaurants, a tip of 10% is common if service charge isn’t already included.

Typical tipping and cash etiquette:

• Housekeeping staff: US$1 per night in a clean envelope.
• Tuk-tuk drivers: Round up fares (e.g., pay US$3 for a US$2.50 ride).
• Local guides: US$5–10 per person for a full-day tour, depending on group size and service.

For everyday Cambodia money tips, remember:

• Always carry small notes (US$1–5 and 1,000–5,000 KHR) for street food, short rides, and tips.
• Check prices before hopping into a tuk-tuk; agree on US Dollars or KHR to avoid confusion.
• Keep a small stash of emergency cash in USD; it’s easier to change or use directly if ATMs or cards fail.

The Hello app’s budget tracking and expense splitting features make it easy to log shared tips, restaurant bills, and tour costs in either USD or KHR, then split them fairly among friends using automatic exchange rate conversion—no more arguing over who paid what in which currency.

Digital wallets and QR payments exist in Cambodia but are mainly used by locals, while tourists rely more on cash and cards; focus on avoiding common money scams and using simple cost-saving habits like bargaining gently and tracking your multi-currency budget to keep your Cambodia trip affordable.

Local payment apps (often linked to Cambodian banks or telecom providers) are popular for domestic transfers and QR payments in cities, and Chinese visitors sometimes use WeChat Pay at select merchants. However, most of these require local accounts or numbers, so international visitors generally stick with cash + cards, using QR only when it’s clearly compatible with foreign cards.

Common money-related pitfalls to watch for:

• Bad exchange rates at airports and hotels; always compare rates in town.
• Damaged USD notes: torn or heavily marked bills may be refused or discounted.
• Taxi or tuk-tuk “no change” claims—carry small denominations to avoid this.
• Occasional short-changing in busy markets; count change in KHR carefully.

To save money in Cambodia:

• Eat like a local: simple meals cost US$2–4 (8,000–16,000 KHR) in 2026.
• Use city buses or shared tuk-tuks where available instead of private cars.
• Buy SIM-free data via a Hello eSIM, avoiding tourist SIM mark-ups and letting you check real-time rates and maps.

Combine these with the Hello app’s AI receipt scanning and multi-currency budget tracking, so you can see exactly how much you’re spending in USD, KHR, and your home currency—and adjust your daily budget before costs creep up.

Cambodia runs on a dual currency system where US Dollars dominate larger purchases and Cambodian Riel (KHR) is used for small change, with a stable practical rate around 4,000–4,100 KHR per 1 USD and affordable everyday prices compared to many neighbouring destinations.

Q: What currency should I bring to Cambodia?
A: US Dollars are the most useful. Bring crisp USD notes, ideally $20–100 bills for better rates and some $1–5 for convenience. If you’re coming from Singapore or Europe, you can exchange SGD/EUR to USD or KHR in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap at local money changers.

Q: Are ATMs easy to find and what do they charge?
A: In major cities and tourist areas, ATMs are common and often dispense USD. Many charge around US$4–6 per withdrawal in 2025–2026, plus any fees from your home bank. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimise fee impact.

Q: Do shops accept card and contactless payments?
A: Larger hotels, supermarkets, and tourist restaurants usually accept Visa/Mastercard, sometimes with contactless options. Street vendors, markets, and tuk-tuks are mostly cash-only, so always carry some KHR and small USD notes.

Q: How does tipping work in Cambodia?
A: Tipping isn’t mandatory but is appreciated. For good service, leave 1,000–2,000 KHR in local spots, around 10% in tourist restaurants, and US$5–10 per person for full-day tours.

Q: How can I track spending in both USD and KHR?
A: Use the Hello app to log expenses in whatever currency you pay. It automatically converts between USD, KHR, SGD, and others, and lets you split costs with friends, making multi-currency trips much easier to manage.