USD → KHR
Cheapest way to send money to Cambodia
Cambodia is unique in that they use two currencies. The official currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR). The U.S. dollar is widely used and accepted. It is a de facto official currency. You will pay most hotels, restaurants, and large purchases in dollars. For smaller transactions of less than $1, riels are commonly used. Most ATMs dispense US dollars.
One nice thing is that if you’re sending U.S. dollars, you won’t have to pay any foreign exchange fees. The money will arrive as dollars. You will only have to pay a flat fee. You have to watch out though because some remittance services charge a higher flat fee if you’re sending money from the U.S. because they can’t make money on a markup of the exchange rate.
When sending money to a Cambodian bank account, some banks also charge an additional SWIFT fee. This is usually around $10.
If you're traveling to Cambodia, the most convenient way to access your cash is by withdrawing dollars from an ATM. The fees are reasonable and withdrawal limits are high. You won't have to pay an exchange fee if your money is already in dollars. Of course, you could also just bring dollars and spend them in Cambodia. Then there are zero fees. Credit cards are not widely accepted in Cambodia. Many merchants charge additional fees for cards.
I feel that using the US dollar has made Cambodia more expensive. Pretty much everything is priced in dollars if you’re a tourist. That means everything costs at least $1. Cambodia is still a cheap place to travel but it would be even cheaper if they used their own currency.
Checked . Fee figures are typical estimates, not live quotes. Change them in the calculator if you know your exact fees.
01
The transfer
How much, and which two currencies.
Not in the list? Choose “Enter my own…” and type the 3-letter code (GEL, VND, COP…).
02
How the money moves
Sending to someone else and spending your own money there are different questions. Pick one from the matching group.
To someone else
Your own money there
Loading live rate…
After fees · Wise
1 USD = 3,933 KHR
Mid-market is 4,050.
Adjust feesThese are typical estimates, not official numbers from the company›
Sending $1,000 to someone in Cambodia
Money leaves you and arrives with them in Cambodian riels. Sorted cheapest first. “Cost” is the fee plus whatever the rate is worse than mid-market, which is the part most comparisons leave out.
| Method | Cost | They receive |
|---|---|---|
| Taptap SendcheapestTapTapSend is often one of the cheapest options for sending money to Cambodia. If you're sending money from the U.S., there is a flat fee of $5. If you're sending from another country, there is no flat fee but they charge a low markup of around 0.5%-1.0%. They charge a flat fee for transfers from the U.S. because there is no currency exchange. TapTapSend can send money to Cambodian bank accounts and mobile wallets, and they offer cash pickup. They only have a mobile app, not a desktop website. | $5.000.5% | 4,029,750KHR |
| Western UnionWestern Union allows you to send money to a Cambodian bank account or mobile wallet. They also offer cash pickup. They charge a flat fee of $0.00-$1.99 for sending from bank to bank. Western Union also charges a pretty steep markup of 1.5%-4% on the exchange rate. There is an additional fee for cash pickup. Western Union has a large network of cash pickup locations. This makes them a good option if you need to move cash in a hurry. | $21.952.2% | 3,961,102KHR |
| WorldRemitWorldRemit charges a flat fee of around $1.99-$4.99 if you're sending money from your bank account to a Cambodian bank account. They also charge an exchange rate markup of 1%-2.5% if you're sending a currency other than US dollars. You can send to Cambodian bank accounts and mobile wallets. They also offer cash pickup. | $24.892.5% | 3,949,195KHR |
| RiaRia charges a flat fee of around $3-$5 for each transfer to Cambodia. They also charge an exchange rate markup of 1.5%-3.5%. If you send money from the U.S., there is no markup. You just pay the flat fee. Ria can send money to Cambodian bank accounts and mobile wallets. They also offer cash pickup. | $24.902.5% | 3,949,155KHR |
| RevolutRevolut works for sending money to Cambodian bank accounts. Revolut does not charge a markup. They use the mid-market rate. They do charge a flat fee of $3-$10. The fee depends on your home currency, the amount, and your plan. In Cambodia, there is a SWIFT fee of around $10 on incoming transfers. On weekends, they charge an additional 1% transfer fee. Revolut uses a subscription model. They offer a fee-free allowance on all plans then charge a percentage fee after you go over the monthly allowance. The allowance depends on your plan. On the standard plan, it's $1,000 per month then you pay a 1% fee. There is also a fee for moving funds to your Revolut account from your debit card or bank account. You can only send to a Cambodian bank account or withdraw from an ATM with your international Revolut card. Revolut debit cards are not available to Cambodian residents. | $25.002.5% | 3,948,750KHR |
| WiseWise is partially available in Cambodia. You can use Wise to send money to a Cambodian bank account and you can use the Wise card to spend money in Cambodia. Residents can't open a Wise account or get a Wise debit card. There is a transfer fee of 0.5%-4.5%. There is also a SWIFT payout fee of around $7.94. Wise also charges a low flat fee of around $1-$2 on top of that. | $29.002.9% | 3,932,550KHR |
| XoomXoom has a flat fee of $0.00-$4.99 to send money to a Cambodian bank account or mobile wallet from a bank account. Sending from a debit card or credit card can cost $10-$15. They also charge a markup of 1%-3% on the exchange rate. Sometimes the markup can climb to 4%-6%. Xoom is one of the more expensive options. They also offer cash pickup and mobile wallet options. | $34.843.5% | 3,908,897KHR |
| RemitlyRemitly charges a flat fee of around $17.49 to send USD to a Cambodian bank account. If you send Euros, the flat fee is lower. It's usually €2.99-€4.99, depending on where you send the money from. If you send USD to USD, there is no transfer fee. That is why the flat fee is higher. If you send Euros, they also charge a markup of 0.5%-4% on the exchange rate. | $37.143.7% | 3,899,582KHR |
| PayPalPayPal is one of the most expensive ways to send money to Cambodia. They charge a 5% transfer fee with a maximum of $4.99. They also have a markup of up to 3%-4% on the exchange rate. There is an additional fee of around 2.9% if you send from a credit card or debit card instead of your PayPal balance. It's important to note that you can't send money from a PayPal account to a Cambodian bank account. You can only send it to another PayPal account. That means the recipient must use the money to pay for something where PayPal is accepted. | $39.824.0% | 3,888,748KHR |
| Bank wireA flat wire fee of around $50, plus a hidden markup of roughly 1%-3% on the exchange rate, unless you're sending US dollars. For this reason, a bank wire transfer to Cambodia only makes sense for large transactions. | $78.507.8% | 3,732,075KHR |
On $1,000, Taptap Send costs about $5.00 and Bank wire about $78.50. That's a difference of $73.50 for the same money, or $882 over a year if you move this much every month.
Spending your own money in Cambodia
For when you are traveling there and the money is already yours. Costs are per $1,000 converted. Remember that some cards and ATMs charge you for every transaction rather than once.
| Method | Cost | You get |
|---|---|---|
| CashcheapestCambodia uses the US dollar alongside the Cambodian Riel. You don't need to exchange money to travel in Cambodia. You can just use dollars for everything. Change for small amounts under $1 is usually given in riels. | $0.000.0% | 4,050,000KHR |
| ATM withdrawalMost ATMs in Cambodia dispense US dollars. There is usually a flat withdrawal fee of $4-$8. At most banks, the maximum withdrawal is $500. There are some ATMs that offer withdrawals of up to $2,000. If your money is already in dollars, you won't be charged an exchange fee. To withdraw $1,000, you'd have to make 2 transactions. That would cost $8-$16. Some of the lower-cost ATMs include BRED Bank, Canadia Bank, and Vattanac Bank. | $8.000.8% | 4,017,600KHR |
| Card spendCredit cards are not commonly accepted in Cambodia. Many merchants that do accept them charge a 3%-3.5% fee on credit card payments. This is on top of any foreign exchange fees your credit card company charges. Many charge 1%-3% unless you're using a zero-fee travel credit card. | $30.003.0% | 3,928,500KHR |
On $1,000, Cash costs about $0.00 and Card spend about $30.00. That's a difference of $30.00 for the same money, or $360 over a year if you move this much every month.
Figures use a rate of about 4,050 KHR to 1 USD; the calculator above uses the live rate.
How the money arrives in Cambodia
Most common first. Which of these your recipient can actually use usually matters more than a fraction of a percent in fees.
- 1Mobile digital wallets (Wing Bank or ABA Bank)
- 2National QR Code System (Bakong and KHQR)
- 3Bank transfer to Cambodian account
Living in Cambodia, not just sending money there
A transfer is one number. These work out a whole month, including what the transfers cost you over a year.
- Cost of living in Phnom Penh$1,869/mo