Les's Cambodia Monthly Budget Calculator
What will it cost?
Step 1 - enter your Target monthly budget cap / maximum ($). This is the maximum you can afford to spend per month in Cambodia.
Step 2 - go through my calculator and enter the amounts you expect to spend on each item I've outlined for you.
Step 3 - there are 3 items at the end of the calculator you can overwrite with any additional things you may need to budget for.
*IMPORTANT: If using on your cellphone, only scroll on the extreme right-hand or left-hand sides of your screen to avoid moving the sliders by mistake.
Monthly Budget Calculator
Welcome to my Cambodia Monthly Budget Calculator.
It's free to use, so please help yourself.
I've also included some bonus tips for you below.
If you're having a good day and want to buy me coffee for my work, hey - I never say no to coffee!
All the best!
Les
Housing and Utilities
Look outside the capital: Siem Reap or Kampot offer rent that is 20% to 30% cheaper than Phnom Penh.
Use local groups: Search for apartments on local Facebook housing groups instead of using expensive expat real estate agents.
Watch your electricity: AC units use a lot of power. Check your meter reading when you move in, and look for a place with a fair rate (around $0.25–$0.30 per kWh).
Food and Drink
Eat local: Street food and local Khmer meals cost $1 to $3, while Western restaurants cost $5 to $15.
Shop local markets: Buy fresh fruit and vegetables at local open-air markets instead of importing expensive goods from Western-style supermarkets.
Drink local beer: Local draft beer (Angkor or Cambodia) is very cheap compared to imported brands or wine.
Transportation
Use apps: Download ride-hailing apps like PassApp or Grab for cheap, fixed-price tuk-tuk rides instead of hailing unmetered drivers on the street.
Rent a scooter: Long-term monthly scooter rentals saves you significant money on daily transport.
Ride a bicycle: If you live in a smaller hub like Siem Reap, a bicycle is nearly free and easy to use.
Visas and Money
Get the right visa: Arrive on an Ordinary Visa (Type E/Business), not a tourist visa, so you can easily extend it long-term through a local visa agency without border runs (correct at time of writing, do your own research).
Avoid ATM fees: Bring crisp, clean US dollar bills ($1, $5, $10, $20) for arrival, then open a local bank account to reduce foreign withdrawal fees.