Money in Cambodia
- Jon Elkins
- Jun 10, 2018
- 2 min read
Cambodia is an inexpensive place to visit and somewhere your money goes a long way. There are 2 currencies in use in Cambodia, the Cambodian Riel and US Dollars. It's generally accepted that one dollar is worth 4,000 Riel, although some retailers and attractions will use a slightly different exchange rate (up to 4,200 Riel to the Dollar).
Both currencies are equally accepted, however Riel can come in very small denominations. So when you go to the ATM, make sure you get US dollars, otherwise you could end up with a big wad of cash. There are many ATMs located around Siem Reap - most of which accept both Visa and Mastercard. We highly recommend using ATMs supplied by either ABA Bank or ANZ Bank (we've personally had issues using other ATMs that swallow cards or don't dispense cash).
The people of Cambodia like their money in good condition, so if your money has a small tear or fault, it's likely to be unaccepted. When you receive change, check your money to ensure that it's in good condition.
Occasionally forged US notes can be found in circulation, but these fakes are usually very easy to spot. The paper that they are printed on is often thinner than a normal note and one side will be faded or washed out.
It's quite rare to receive a $2 note, which some people consider lucky because they are so uncommon. However, some establishments will not take these notes, so unless you want to keep your $2 as a keepsake, don’t accept them and ask for it to be changed.
Money can be exchanged at most local markets, or any of the numerous exchanges around Cambodia. Just remember to check the current exchange rate first to make sure you're getting a good deal.
Online banking is only just starting to gain a presence in Cambodia and transactions using services like PayPal or Stripe aren't currently possible. A number of restaurants are now starting to accept Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies as payment, although this is still very much in its infancy and not widespread.
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