One of Southeast Asia’s most affordable destinations
Cambodia remains genuinely cheap by any standard — one of the last places in Southeast Asia where budget travel means $25-35/day for a comfortable experience. Angkor Wat entry fees are a significant one-time cost, but daily expenses outside that are very low.
Accommodation
Budget guesthouse (private room, fan): $8-18/night. Budget with AC: $12-25/night. Mid-range hotel: $30-70/night. Siem Reap boutique hotel: $50-150/night. Phnom Penh is slightly cheaper than Siem Reap across all categories.
Food
Local rice and soup stall: $1-3. Khmer restaurant: $3-8 per person. Tourist restaurant: $8-18 per person. Cambodian food is excellent — amok (fish or chicken in coconut curry steamed in banana leaf), bai sach chrouk (pork and rice breakfast), lok lak (stir-fried beef with egg). Street food from $0.50-2.
Transport
Tuk-tuk in Siem Reap for Angkor temples: $12-20/day (driver waits while you explore). Grab in Phnom Penh: $2-5 for city journeys. Bus Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $7-12 (5-6 hours). Bus Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $8-12.
Angkor temples
Entry fees: $37 (1 day), $62 (3 days), $72 (7 days). These are the significant budget item for Cambodia travel. The 3-day pass is the sweet spot for most visitors — enough time to see Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm, Preah Khan, and other key temples at a reasonable pace.
Daily total
Budget: $25-40/day (excluding Angkor entry). Mid-range: $60-100/day. Cambodia is excellent value.