Currency for Visitors
Cambodian currency for Phnom Penh visitors
By SmileJet Editorial Team · Updated May 2026
Cambodia operates a dual-currency economy. USD is the working currency for tourism, dental clinics, hotels, and most restaurants. Cambodian riel (KHR) is used for amounts under US$1. Here is the practical primer.
Quick reference
| Where | Currency accepted | Cards? |
|---|---|---|
| Dental clinics | USD primary, accepted via card or cash; bank wire for large amounts | Visa, Mastercard |
| Hotels (mid-range+) | USD; some accept KHR | Visa, Mastercard, AmEx at top hotels |
| Restaurants (Western/touristy) | USD primary | Visa, Mastercard usually |
| Restaurants (local/street) | USD or KHR, change in KHR | Cash only typically |
| Tuk-tuks and Grab | USD or KHR (Grab in-app via card) | In-app for Grab |
| Markets (Russian, Old) | KHR or USD with bargaining | Cash only |
| Pharmacies and supermarkets | USD or KHR | Visa, Mastercard at major supermarkets |
| Visa-on-arrival counter | USD cash only | No cards |
What to bring and withdraw
From home: US$300 to US$500 in clean USD notes. Mix of US$50, US$20, and a few US$10s. Avoid relying on US$100 notes — many vendors cannot break them.
On arrival at PNH: Airport ATMs dispense USD reliably. Use ATMs inside bank branches in central Phnom Penh, especially after dark. Major bank ATMs (ABA, ACLEDA, Canadia, Maybank) are dependable.
For dental treatment: Use a Visa or Mastercard with no foreign-transaction fee for the bulk of treatment cost. For large cases (full mouth, both-arch All-on-4), bank wire transfer from home is usually cheaper than card-processing fees — discuss with your coordinator.
For visa-on-arrival: If you take VOA at PNH instead of e-Visa online, bring exactly US$30 in clean cash plus one passport-style photo. The counter does not accept cards.
The damaged-USD-note rule
USD notes circulating in Cambodia must be in good condition. Notes with tears, marks, ink stains, missing corners, or pre-2009 series prints are sometimes refused. The reason is structural — Cambodia recycles incoming USD into the local banking system, and damaged notes are harder to clear.
The fix is simple: withdraw fresh notes from a major bank ATM at home shortly before travel. Inspect each note before you fly. Carry flat in a wallet, not folded in a money clip.
If you do end up with a damaged note while in Cambodia, banks will sometimes accept it (with a small discount); some money-changers will too. International hotels are more accommodating than small vendors.
Cambodian riel notes you will see
The exchange rate runs at approximately 1 USD = 4,000 riel and is unusually stable. Common note denominations:
- 100 riel (≈ US$0.025) — small change, you will see these in market transactions
- 500 riel (≈ US$0.125) — common change denomination
- 1,000 riel (≈ US$0.25) — frequent change
- 2,000 riel (≈ US$0.50) — frequent change
- 5,000 riel (≈ US$1.25) — common for small purchases
- 10,000 riel (≈ US$2.50) — bigger small purchases
- 20,000 riel (≈ US$5) — uncommon as change but seen at supermarkets
- 50,000 and 100,000 riel notes exist but are rarely encountered by short-stay visitors
Treat KHR as ordinary local change rather than a currency to acquire intentionally. Spend through it on tuk-tuks, coffees, and market purchases. Most visitors finish their trip with a small handful of riel that does not exchange well outside Cambodia — keep one or two notes as souvenirs and donate the rest at airport collection boxes.
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