Cambodia is one of the cheapest countries in Asia, but an Angkor ticket costs as much as a visa. Working out the budget: food, accommodation, tuk-tuks, temples. Prices in dollars and roubles at the Central Bank rate.
In Cambodia the dollar works as a universal measure: a dollar is a beer, a dollar is a tuk-tuk ride, a dollar is an ear of corn. The country is cheap in almost everything except one item — the Angkor ticket, which costs more than the visa. Here is the budget, and a calculation for a week.
Two currencies and one logic
Prices are given in dollars, you pay in dollars, and change of less than a dollar you receive in riel at a rate of roughly 4,000 riel to the dollar. There is no need to exchange currency on purpose — riel will accumulate by themselves.
Notes are accepted only if new and untorn. A crumpled twenty may be refused at both a café and an exchanger. Sort it out in advance: money in Cambodia.
Angkor: the main expense
| Ticket | Price | In roubles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | $37 | ≈ 2,815 ₽ |
| 3 days (valid for a week) | $62 | ≈ 4,720 ₽ |
The three-day ticket is better value than two one-day tickets and is valid for a week — you can alternate temples and rest. The comfortable minimum for Angkor is 2–3 days: in one day you can really see Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm, but in a rush and in the heat.
Tickets are sold only at the official ticket offices. There are no “special entrances” or intermediaries.
Food
| Where | Price | In roubles |
|---|---|---|
| Street bazaar (skewers, papaya salad) | ≈ $1 | ≈ 76 ₽ |
| Café | $4–7 | ≈ 305–535 ₽ |
| Amok (fish curry), the signature dish | $6–7 | ≈ 455–535 ₽ |
| Lunch in a restaurant | ≈ $10 | ≈ 760 ₽ |
| Local Angkor beer | ≈ $1 | ≈ 76 ₽ |
Accommodation
Cambodia has some of the cheapest hostels in all of Southeast Asia. A decent guesthouse in Siem Reap costs a symbolic sum, and mid-range hotels are many times cheaper than Thai ones. Selection — hotels in Cambodia.
The most expensive are new hotels near Angkor and the Sihanoukville coast in high season.
Transport
- Tuk-tuk — about $1 for a ride around town. Agree the price before getting in or use an app.
- A tuk-tuk for a day around Angkor — a separate agreement, budget for it.
- Journeys between cities (Phnom Penh — Siem Reap — Sihanoukville) — buses are cheap but long.
There are ATMs in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap; they dispense dollars and charge a fee per transaction. In the provinces and on the islands there may be none at all — when leaving, take cash with a reserve.
Example: a week per person
Without the flight, mid-range, Siem Reap plus Phnom Penh:
- Visa (e-Visa): ≈ 2,815 ₽
- Angkor ticket for 3 days: ≈ 4,720 ₽
- Accommodation, 7 nights in a guesthouse: ≈ 8,000–12,000 ₽
- Food, 7 × ≈ 900 ₽: ≈ 6,300 ₽
- Tuk-tuks, transfer, museums: ≈ 8,000 ₽
A total of roughly 30,000–35,000 ₽ without the flight. Cambodia is one of those countries where the main expense is the tickets home, not the trip itself.
Where they will try to short-change you
- Unofficial $5–10 “for processing” when getting a visa at a land border. Keep exactly $30 as a separate note.
- Change in riel at their “own” rate. Count it: 4,000 riel = $1.
- A tuk-tuk without an agreed price.
- Worn dollars. They won’t be accepted — and you have already handed over the new ones.
Frequently asked questions
How much cash should I take?
Russian cards don’t work. The whole budget in new dollars, and be sure to bring a stack of one-dollar notes: a street seller will have no change for a hundred.
How many days should I allow?
At least 4–5: three days for Angkor and a day or two for Phnom Penh. With the coast — a week or more.
Are tips needed?
Not mandatory, but accepted and noticeably appreciated: a dollar or two for a guide, driver, waiter.
Do I need a visa?
Yes: $30 on arrival or an e-Visa for $37. Plus the mandatory electronic arrival card, completed 7 days before entry. Details — visa to Cambodia.
What next
Plan: ready-made routes around Cambodia, when to go so as not to burn and practical safety.
Prices are approximate and depend on season and region. Rouble equivalents are recalculated at the Bank of Russia rate on 8 July 2026. Some data is taken from travellers’ publications rather than from official price lists.
