What currency should I bring to Cambodia?

US dollars in clean, recent notes are the most useful currency to bring, and you will receive riel as change for small amounts. There is no need to buy riel before arriving — ATMs and licensed money changers are widely available.

What is the exchange rate for the Cambodian riel?

The riel trades close to 4,000 to the US dollar and has been broadly stable for years. Businesses commonly use exactly 4,000 as a working rate for change. Our exchange page shows the live market rate.

Can I use US dollars everywhere in Cambodia?

Dollars are accepted almost everywhere for amounts of one dollar and above, especially in cities and tourist areas. Amounts below a dollar, and most rural transactions, are handled in riel. Damaged or torn dollar notes are often refused.

How much is one chi of gold?

One chi is 3.75 grams. Its value is the global spot price per troy ounce divided by 31.1035, multiplied by 3.75 — then converted to riel at the current USD/KHR rate. Shop prices add a premium of several percent for workmanship and margin.

Are ATMs reliable in Cambodia?

Yes in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and coastal towns, where machines usually dispense both dollars and riel. Fees are typically four to six dollars per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often, and prefer machines attached to bank branches.

Do shops in Cambodia accept credit cards?

Hotels, supermarkets and mid-range or upmarket restaurants in cities accept cards. Markets, small eateries, transport and most rural businesses are cash or KHQR only, so carry cash outside urban centres.

Vendors and cash transactions at a Cambodian market, where riel and US dollars circulate together

Money in Cambodiaរូបិយវត្ថុនៅកម្ពុជា

Cambodia runs on two currencies at once and prices gold in units you will not find anywhere else. This is how the riel, the US dollar, card payments and the gold market actually work day to day.

Official currency

Khmer riel (KHR)

Symbol ៛, no subunits in use

Working rate

≈ ៛4,000 / US$1

Stable for years; see our live rate

Gold unit

1 chi = 3.75 g

10 chi make one damleung

Two currencies, one economy

The Khmer riel is legal tender, but the US dollar circulates freely alongside it and dominates larger transactions. Hotels, tours, electronics, rent and medical bills are usually quoted in dollars. Markets, tuk-tuks, street food, utilities and anything under a dollar are quoted in riel.

The practical convention is a working rate near 4,000 riel to the dollar. Pay with a five-dollar note for a $3.50 item and you will often receive change as one dollar plus 2,000 riel — riel functions as the small change the dollar lacks. Because of this, coins are essentially absent from daily life.

One rule catches every visitor: damaged or heavily marked US notes are frequently refused, and older series notes can be rejected outright. Bring clean, recent bills, and check the notes you are handed as change.

ATMs, cards and exchanging money

ATMs are widespread in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and coastal towns, and most dispense both dollars and riel. Withdrawal fees of four to six dollars per transaction are standard, so fewer, larger withdrawals are cheaper. Machines at bank branches are safer than free-standing units.

Cards are accepted at hotels, supermarkets and mid-range restaurants in cities, but Cambodia is still a cash-first country outside them. QR payment through the national KHQR system is now near-universal among local businesses; foreign visitors can increasingly link to it through participating regional banking apps.

For exchange, licensed money changers around central markets usually beat bank counters and offer better rates than airport desks. There is no legal reason to use unlicensed street changers. During multi-day holidays banks close entirely, so withdraw before the break.

How gold is priced and sold

Gold is a mainstream savings vehicle in Cambodia, not just jewellery. It is bought and sold by weight at goldsmith shops, most heavily around Phnom Penh's central and Orussey markets, and prices are quoted in local units rather than grams or ounces.

The base unit is the chi, equal to 3.75 grams. Ten chi make one damleung, or 37.5 grams. To convert a global spot price into a local quote, divide the price per troy ounce by 31.1035 to get the price per gram, multiply by 3.75 for one chi, then multiply by the USD/KHR rate for the riel figure.

Shop prices sit above that calculated raw value. Expect a premium of several percent covering workmanship, purity certification and the shop's margin, and a slightly lower buy-back price when you sell. Purity is quoted as 24K for investment bars and chains, and 18K for most jewellery.

Practical budgeting notes

Keep small riel notes for tuk-tuks, markets and street food, and dollars for accommodation and tours. Tipping is not obligatory but is common in tourist-facing service, typically a dollar or two.

Our exchange page tracks the USD/KHR rate through the day alongside other regional currencies, and the gold page converts live spot prices into per-chi figures in both dollars and riel.

Frequently asked questions

What currency should I bring to Cambodia?: US dollars in clean, recent notes are the most useful currency to bring, and you will receive riel as change for small amounts. There is no need to buy riel before arriving — ATMs and licensed money changers are widely available.
What is the exchange rate for the Cambodian riel?: The riel trades close to 4,000 to the US dollar and has been broadly stable for years. Businesses commonly use exactly 4,000 as a working rate for change. Our exchange page shows the live market rate.
Can I use US dollars everywhere in Cambodia?: Dollars are accepted almost everywhere for amounts of one dollar and above, especially in cities and tourist areas. Amounts below a dollar, and most rural transactions, are handled in riel. Damaged or torn dollar notes are often refused.
How much is one chi of gold?: One chi is 3.75 grams. Its value is the global spot price per troy ounce divided by 31.1035, multiplied by 3.75 — then converted to riel at the current USD/KHR rate. Shop prices add a premium of several percent for workmanship and margin.
Are ATMs reliable in Cambodia?: Yes in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and coastal towns, where machines usually dispense both dollars and riel. Fees are typically four to six dollars per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often, and prefer machines attached to bank branches.
Do shops in Cambodia accept credit cards?: Hotels, supermarkets and mid-range or upmarket restaurants in cities accept cards. Markets, small eateries, transport and most rural businesses are cash or KHQR only, so carry cash outside urban centres.

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Photo: Kep crab market — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)