How to budget and costs whilst in Cambodia

Budgeting for your trip and the likely costs during your stay

As has been already said, the biggest expense for your trip will be the flight out to South East Asia and though this will be a very big chunk of your budget it is easy to find a good deal. It will take a little time and research but in the end you will find the time spent researching will be well worth the while.

By looking into how much it will cost you to live and travel in Cambodia, you should be able to work out a daily budget by which you should try to stick to. There will be certain times where you will go over budget and there will also be times when you stay well under budget, so it is not something to stick rigidly to. The budget that you allocate yourself should be flexible as to make sure you do not miss out on the reason you came out to Cambodia in the first place.

Like most things, a little research can save you a lot of money in the long run. By looking into travel passes or sightseeing passes, you could end up saving much on admission to sights and travelling expenses. That said you should not automatically go out and buy these packages, as they might not always suit you.

There would be no point in buying for instance, a Angkor pass for a week, when you only visit for two or three days. So, make sure that you really think about whether it is worth while buying.

When travelling around the country it is important to remember that comfort and time counts for a lot. A bus to Sihanoukville maybe cheap but it may take longer as it stops off at all the villages on the way and will get very cramped. It may be better to find a direct tourist bus that is air-conditioned and faster.

For more information on travel see the Getting around Cambodia chapter.

An easy way to save money whilst travelling is to refrain from eating out all of the time and going to the local food stalls (beware of uncooked food though) and eating back at the Guesthouse or on the beach. This will save you quite a bit, even if eating out is not terribly expensive and what could be a better setting then to eat your dinner overlooking the Tonle Sap!

You could save money if you team up with fellow travellers to get Quad rooms at guesthouses though prices are amazingly low compared to the west, as these make costs lower to the individual as the price you pay will be less than if you stayed in a single room. This system also works when it comes to hiring taxis, guides and private vehicles; the more in your group the more you spread the cost.

Cambodia is one of the cheapest backpacker destinations in the world and the costs are very low to us Western travellers. A budget of $12 a day will be fine, but if you up this to say $20 you will have a much better time. This budget would include a nights accommodation, food, local travel and sightseeing and some activities.

As has been said, some days you will spend above that limit and others you will be below, therefore it will even out and leave you with some excess for the odd splurge.

Although you are going to be money conscious as you do not want to blow all of your money early on, do make time and money available for the odd comfort or luxury. This will make you enjoy your trip a lot more and is a great way to boost morale when you get a bit low or get fed up with eating the same things over and over again.

Accommodation in Cambodia