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Phnom Penh Prices & Cost of Living 2026
Cambodia · Big city — Phnom Penh is about 82% cheaper than New York. Not just exchange rates: what a fair price is, where it turns into a rip-off, and what that means in your money.
Phnom Penh prices at a glance
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Phnom Penh travel difficulty
Tuk-tuks need haggling; card-game scams — PassApp/Grab avoid it
English in tourist areas; drivers know little English or the way
PassApp/Grab tuk-tuks everywhere; express bus to Techo airport
US dollar cash rules; cards at hotels/restaurants; ATMs charge fees
Phone/bag snatching from tuk-tuks and walkers, esp. riverside & BKK
Good to knowIn tuk-tuks keep phone and bag inward; carry small, crisp dollar notes
Handy apps: PassApp · Grab
Visas depend on your passport, so they are not scored. Felt different on the ground? Tell other travelers below. Travel difficulty in Southeast Asia › Difficulty ranking for 502 cities ›
In your money
Phnom Penh is about 82% cheaper than New York
Based on 8 things travelers buy most, compared with New York. Each pair of bars is the same purchase in both cities, converted to your currency. Set your own city and currency in “My basis” above.
Phnom Penh in numbers
- 🍜28 local meals
- ☕35 coffees
- 🍺50 beers
- 🚕40 5-km taxi rides
- 💆10 h of massage
- 🏨2.2 hotel nights
- Local meal1 h 50 min · New York 52 min
- Coffee1 h 28 min · New York 15 min
- Beer1 h 3 min · New York 23 min
- Taxi1 h 19 min · New York 59 min
- Massage#50 cheapest
- Half-day tour#64 cheapest
- Beer#66 cheapest
- 1-bed rent#239 cheapest
- Entry ticket#221 cheapest
Phnom Penh price guide & rip-off thresholds
Phnom Penh travel budget
Per person per day, estimated. Flights and shopping not included.
See 4-day, 1-week and 1-month budget tables › · Plan a multi-city trip budget ›
How to spend money in Phnom Penh
US dollars are used everywhere; change under $1 comes back in riel.
Not required. $1–2 for tuk-tuk drivers, guides and massages is common.
Local places charge the menu price; hotels and upscale restaurants may add tax and service.
PassApp and Grab fix tuk-tuk fares upfront. On the street, agree the price before you get in.
Haggling is normal at markets (Russian Market, Old Market) and with tuk-tuks.
Don't drink tap water.
Drivers raising the fare on arrival; for Angkor day tours, lock in route and price before setting off.
Live prices reported in Phnom Penh
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FAQ
Is Phnom Penh cheaper than New York?
Across 8 things travelers buy most (meals, coffee, beer, taxis, hotels…), Phnom Penh is about 82% cheaper than New York. A local meal is about $3.5 and a coffee about $2.8.
How hard is Phnom Penh to travel?
Averaging rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, Phnom Penh scores 3.0/5 — 'hard'. The main thing to watch is rip-offs & haggling (4/5): Tuk-tuks need haggling; card-game scams — PassApp/Grab avoid it. Tip: In tuk-tuks keep phone and bag inward; carry small, crisp dollar notes
Is Phnom Penh good for first-time travelers?
It is doable, but go prepared (3.0/5). Rip-offs & haggling: Tuk-tuks need haggling; card-game scams — PassApp/Grab avoid it. Tip: In tuk-tuks keep phone and bag inward; carry small, crisp dollar notes
What is a realistic daily budget for Phnom Penh?
Mid-range (3-star hotel, local meals plus a dinner out, two taxi rides) is about $80.9 a day. Guesthouses and street food bring it to about $29.5; 4-star and restaurants push it to about $167.
How much does it cost to live in Phnom Penh for a month?
A short-term studio (about $1,133) plus food, transport and a SIM (about $556) comes to roughly $1,689 a month. A local long-term lease (studio about $500) brings it down a lot.
How much should a taxi cost in Phnom Penh?
For 5 km in town, expect $2 – $4; anything above $4.8 is suspicious. PassApp and Grab fix tuk-tuk fares upfront. On the street, agree the price before you get in.
Do you tip in Phnom Penh?
Not required. $1–2 for tuk-tuk drivers, guides and massages is common. Local places charge the menu price; hotels and upscale restaurants may add tax and service.
Can you use cards in Phnom Penh?
US dollars are used everywhere; change under $1 comes back in riel.
Where do these numbers come from?
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in the median of what people actually paid.
Fair range & rip-off line — each item gets its own spread (tight for transit, wide for street food). Above 1.2× the top of the fair range is flagged as a likely rip-off.
Budgets add up item prices for the lifestyle described above. Peak season and prime tourist spots run higher.
Exchange rate as of October 2026: 1 USD = $1. Last updated 2026-10-05.