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Phnom Penh on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, Phnom Penh is very affordable: street food, tuk-tuks and guesthouses are cheap, and the main sights cost US$5–10. A realistic minimum is about US$36 a day per person sharing a room — around US$12 for a bed, US$12 for food, US$8 for sights and US$4 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$12 | US$35 | US$100 |
| Food & drink | US$12 | US$25 | US$60 |
| Sights & tickets | US$8 | US$15 | US$30 |
| Local transport | US$4 | US$10 | US$25 |
| Per person, per day | US$36 | US$85 | US$215 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Phnom Penh day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walking Sisowath Quay along the Tonle Sap river
- The Independence Monument and the park around it in the evening
- Browsing the Central Market (Psar Thmei) under its Art Deco dome
- The Russian Market (Psar Toul Tom Poung), early in the morning
- Orussey Market, a very local market with few tourists
- Watching the evening life in the riverside parks near the Royal Palace
Cheap eats
- Kuy teav noodle soup — about US$1.50–3
- Bai sach chrouk (grilled pork and rice) — about US$1.50–2.50
- Num banh chok (rice noodles with fish curry) — about US$1–2
- Nom pang baguette sandwich — about US$1–2
- Rice-and-curry plates in the market food sections — about US$2–4
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in guesthouses and hostels around the Riverside and Wat Phnom, near many bus company offices, at about US$15–30 a night for a room. BKK1 has slightly pricier but quieter guesthouses near the palace and museums.
Getting around cheaply
Use app-booked tuk-tuks (PassApp or Grab), usually US$1.50–4 a ride in the centre. Walk short distances in the early morning. Phnom Penh's newer Techo International Airport is south of the city, about 45–75 minutes from the centre depending on traffic; check current airport bus and shuttle options. Buses to Siem Reap cost about US$10–15.
A sample budget day
- Morning: noodle soup and iced coffee (about US$3), then the Royal Palace (about US$10)
- Lunch: rice and curry in the Central Market (about US$3)
- Afternoon: walk Sisowath Quay to Wat Phnom (about US$1)
- Evening: fish amok in a Khmer restaurant (about US$6) and app tuk-tuks (about US$4)
- Total: about US$36 including a shared guesthouse room (about US$12)
More ways to save
- Share a tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek; the US$15–20 return fare is per vehicle.
- Pay small amounts in riel to get fairer street-food prices.
- Use Khmer restaurants rather than riverside tourist cafés for cheaper, better food.
- Bring clean, untorn US dollar notes from home or from ATMs.
- Eat at restaurants run by training charities; good value and they help young people into work.
- Travel in the wet season for lower room rates.
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Common questions
Can you visit Phnom Penh on a budget?
Yes, easily. Guesthouses, street food and tuk-tuks are cheap. Plan on about US$36 a day per person sharing a room.
How much are the killing fields and S-21?
Choeung Ek is about US$6 with the audio guide, and Tuol Sleng about US$5–10 with the audio guide. A tuk-tuk to Choeung Ek is about US$15–20 return.
What is the cheapest way to get to Siem Reap?
By bus or minivan, about 6 hours for US$10–15.