Phnom Penh is yet another great travel bargain in Southeast Asia. Cambodia has its own currency – the Riel – but all ATMs dispense US dollars and nearly everything is priced in USDs, so you are only likely to deal with riels as small change in place of coins. Generally this city is more expensive than Vietnam, and similar to Thailand, but for most Westerners everything will seem cheap anyway.
Unless you want to hit the firing range near the Killing Fields, all the attractions in Phnom Penh are quite cheap as well, and many are free.
| Population | 1,200,000 |
| Area | 2,000,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+7 |
| Currency | US dollar |
| Airports | Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) |
At most restaurants you’ll see an emphasis on Western food, which is often quite good compared to elsewhere in SE Asia, but local dishes are also on most menus and are usually even better bargains. Draft beer, specifically Angkok Beer, is cheap and cold all over, and often on a happy hour pricing scheme. Bottled beer and hard alcohol aren’t quite as cheap.
| Budget breakfast | Some hotels include breakfast with the room. If not there are many restaurants serving eggs and pancakes plus local options. | $1.60 - $3.00 |
| Budget lunch | Most restaurants serve Western dishes as well as Cambodian fare, and are open all day and into the night. | $2.70 - $4.50 |
| Budget dinner | Restaurants along the river are comfortable, but a bit more expensive than those inland. | $4.00 - $7.50 |
| Draft beer (glass) | Angkor Beer is cheap on tap and served almost everywhere. Bottled beers are more expensive, often double. | $0.75 - $1.50 |
| Happy pizza | Several restaurants along the river and others near the lake serve normal pizzas with cannabis as a topping for the regular price. | $4.00 - $8.00 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 88 | 71 | 0.3 |
| February | 91 | 72 | 0.4 |
| March | 93 | 74 | 1.4 |
| April | 95 | 76 | 3.1 |
| May | 93 | 76 | 5.7 |
| June | 91 | 76 | 5.8 |
| July | 90 | 76 | 6.0 |
| August | 90 | 76 | 6.1 |
| September | 88 | 76 | 8.9 |
| October | 87 | 76 | 9.9 |
| November | 86 | 74 | 5.5 |
| December | 86 | 71 | 1.7 |
Phnom Penh has a typical tropical climate with a rainy season and a dry season, with temperatures that are fairly similar the whole year through. As with everywhere else in Southeast Asia, the hottest and most comfortable days are usually in April, just before the rainy season starts to kick in. It’s most comfortable in December and January, with reasonable temperatures and almost no rain.
When rain comes it’s almost always in violent bursts lasting 30 minutes or so, and finding shelter in this city is rarely a problem. Only during the peak in September and October might it cause problematic flooding.
| 21 Mar | 6:04am | 6:11pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:38am | 6:26pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:50am | 5:57pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:15am | 5:42pm |
Hotels in Phnom Penh can be incredibly cheap, though spending just a bit more money will get you a nicer place that is likely to be worthwhile. High end hotels aren’t much cheaper than they are elsewhere, but mid range places can have great quality and be good bargains.
Phnom Penh hotels don’t vary their listed prices much through the year, but the high season is definitely December through February, plus a spike in visitors during the July and August holidays. During these times it’s hard to get a great deal, but during the rest of the year you can often bargain a room price down a bit, especially for a longer stay.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 4.00 - 10.00 |
| 6.00 - 28.00 |
| 10.00 - 65.00 |
| 29.00 - 89.00 |
| 85.00 - 201.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 4.00 - 5.90 |