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

Cambodia uses the Cambodian riel (KHR), while US dollars remain widely accepted for hotels, tours, restaurants, and other tourist purchases. For everyday budgeting, think in both currencies: the working rate is about US$1 = 4,000 KHR, while recent market data places S$1 at approximately 3,186 KHR; actual bank and exchange-counter rates vary. Carry clean, small US-dollar notes and riel for local spending, keep a backup card, and avoid relying entirely on contactless payments. The official currency is the riel, but Cambodia’s practical dual-currency system means you may pay in dollars and receive change in riel. Cambodia money tips that save the most are withdrawing larger amounts less often, checking ATM fees before confirming, paying in local currency when offered a choice, and tracking mixed-currency spending in Hello’s app.

The simplest answer is that Cambodia’s official currency is the Cambodian riel, but US dollars function as a second everyday currency, so travellers should carry both rather than exchange every Singapore dollar into riel. Most tourist-facing prices are quoted in USD, and change under US$1 commonly comes back in riel. A practical mental conversion remains US$1 = 4,000 KHR, according to Tourism Cambodia. As a recent October 2026 reference, S$1 was approximately 3,186 KHR, although your card network, bank, or money changer may apply a different rate and fee. That puts 10,000 KHR at roughly S$3.14 before charges.

Bring crisp US$1, US$5, US$10, and US$20 notes because damaged or heavily marked dollars may be refused. Avoid foreign coins: they are difficult for Cambodian businesses to reuse. The Hello app can record expenses in KHR, USD, and SGD while automatically converting totals, making a mixed-currency Cambodia budget much easier to understand.

The best Cambodia exchange rate usually comes from comparing a reputable city money changer with your bank or card’s final rate, rather than exchanging a large amount at the airport or hotel. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have established exchange counters around central markets, Riverside, Pub Street, and major shopping areas, but inspect the displayed buy and sell rates before handing over cash. Count your money at the counter and keep the receipt until you leave.

Singapore dollars can be exchanged, although USD is often more convenient because Cambodia’s tourist prices are already dollar-based. A sensible arrival plan is to carry a modest amount of SGD or USD, withdraw or exchange enough for the first day, then compare rates in town. Do not exchange your entire travel budget at once: you may receive too much riel, and unused notes can be inconvenient to reconvert.

Avoid unofficial street exchanges, strangers offering unusually favourable rates, and any transaction where the calculator amount changes after you hand over your cash. Count notes slowly and separately. When a shop quotes both currencies, ask which rate it is using; a business may round US$1 to 4,000 KHR even when the market rate differs. For a multi-city trip covering Cambodia, keep small notes accessible for tuk-tuks, markets, cafés, and local transport.

Cards work best in Cambodia’s hotels, established restaurants, supermarkets, tour agencies, and shopping centres, while cash remains essential for markets, small eateries, tuk-tuks, rural areas, and many independent guesthouses. Visa and Mastercard are generally the most useful networks, but smaller businesses may add a surcharge or impose a minimum spend. Contactless acceptance is growing in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, yet it is not universal; always carry a physical card and backup cash.

ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist centres, with fewer reliable options around remote temples, islands, and countryside destinations. Cambodian ATM operators may charge around US$5–US$10 per withdrawal, in addition to your own bank’s international or foreign-exchange fee. To reduce costs, use a bank-affiliated ATM in a secure, well-lit location and make fewer, larger withdrawals within your bank’s daily limit. If an ATM offers to convert the transaction into SGD, compare the screen carefully: choosing the ATM’s conversion can produce a less favourable rate than allowing your card network or bank to convert.

Notify your bank before travel, protect your PIN, and keep one card separate from your wallet. Hello’s expense tracker can import bank statements and categorise card, cash, and ATM spending, helping identify fees that disappear inside a mixed Cambodia money budget.

Tipping is not legally compulsory in Cambodia, but it is increasingly appreciated in tourist-facing services, particularly because wages in hospitality can be modest. At restaurants, round up a small bill or leave about 5–10% when no service charge is included; check the receipt first so you do not tip twice. In cafés and casual eateries, leaving a few thousand riel or rounding up is usually enough.

For private tours, a useful Cambodia tipping guideline is approximately US$5–US$10 per person per day for a good guide and US$3–US$5 per day for a full-day driver, adjusted for group size, service, and itinerary complexity. For a short tuk-tuk ride, rounding up the fare is a friendly gesture, while a longer or especially helpful ride may merit a small additional tip. Hotel porters and housekeeping staff can receive US$1–US$2 or the riel equivalent when service is good.

Use riel for small tips and clean US-dollar notes for larger ones. Never offer foreign coins, and do not feel pressured to tip for poor service. If several friends are travelling together, Hello’s expense splitting supports multiple currencies and automatic exchange-rate conversion, so one person can pay a guide while the group settles the correct SGD share later.

Digital payments are increasingly visible in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, supermarkets, hotels, and modern restaurants, but travellers should treat them as a convenience rather than a complete replacement for cash. Local QR payments and bank apps are common among residents; some tourist businesses may accept international wallets such as WeChat Pay, while PayPay acceptance should not be assumed. Ask before ordering and confirm the currency, final amount, and any surcharge.

Common money problems include receiving an incorrect change amount, confusing a US-dollar price with a riel price, accepting a poor exchange rate without checking, and being shown a card terminal in a different currency. Count change immediately, agree on tuk-tuk fares before departure, and keep larger notes out of sight. At ATMs, shield your PIN and cancel if the machine appears tampered with. Cambodia’s official currency is the riel, and notes under 1,000 KHR are not always useful, so avoid accumulating excessive small denominations.

For dependable arrival connectivity, install Hello eSIM for Cambodia before departure so maps, translation, banking alerts, and ride coordination work as soon as you land. Hello’s eSIM plans cover 200+ countries, and live pricing and available plans can be checked before your trip.

The short answer is to budget in US dollars for major tourist expenses, carry riel for small purchases, and expect cash to remain important outside established hotels and restaurants. These answers cover the Cambodia currency questions travellers ask most before departure.

Should I use riel or US dollars in Cambodia? Use USD for quoted tourist prices and larger bills, then use riel for small purchases and change. Confirm the exchange rate when a business offers a choice.

How much cash should I bring? Carry enough for one day of transport, meals, tips, and entrance fees, then withdraw in larger batches from a reputable ATM. A cash reserve of US$50–US$100 is practical for a day in a tourist area, but your itinerary and hotel arrangements determine the exact amount.

Are cards accepted in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh? Yes, especially at hotels, modern restaurants, supermarkets, and tour operators. Markets, small food stalls, tuk-tuks, and rural stops often require cash.

What does a typical meal cost? A local meal may cost roughly US$2–US$5, a casual tourist restaurant around US$5–US$12, and an upscale meal substantially more. Prices vary by city, location, and season.

Is tipping expected? It is discretionary but appreciated. Round up or leave 5–10% at restaurants without a service charge, and consider US$5–US$10 per person daily for a good private guide.

Can Hello track mixed spending? Yes. Hello supports multi-currency expense tracking, AI receipt scanning, voice entries, bank statement imports, automatic conversion, categorisation, and group expense splitting.