USD or Riel? Which bank? Here’s how to pull cash in Cambodia without losing a chunk to fees

Cambodia runs on US dollars. Sort of. You’ll see USD prices in restaurants, get USD out of most ATMs, and pay tuk-tuks in Riel coins. It’s a dual-currency country, and that’s the first thing to wrap your head around before you even tap your card at an airport ATM.

The second thing? ATM fees in Cambodia stack hard. A local operator charge, your home bank’s foreign withdrawal fee, an FX markup, and a sneaky “do you want this in SGD?” prompt that costs you money if you say yes. Knowing the order of things saves you real money over a week-long trip.

Here’s the full picture — best ATMs, what to expect to pay, USD vs Riel, and the safest way to do it as a Singaporean traveller.

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⚡️ TL;DR

Highlights	Details
Cheapest fee	Vattanac Bank (low flat fee, 500 USD (~S$675) limit); Maybank free if you bank with Maybank SG
Most convenient	ABA Bank — widest network, easiest to find; not the cheapest
Local ATM fee	Roughly 4–10 USD (~S$5–14) per withdrawal, depending on the bank
Most ATMs dispense	USD (some let you choose USD or KHR)
Carry small Riel for	Tuk-tuks, markets, change under 1 USD (~S$1.35)
One rule you can’t skip	Press “Decline Conversion” when the ATM offers SGD pricing
Cheapest card to use	A multi-currency travel card like YouTrip — you avoid the FX markup

⚠️ ATM fees are subject to change; verify on the ATM screen before confirming

📚 Table of Contents

1. Can You Withdraw USD from ATMs in Cambodia?
2. Should You Withdraw USD or Cambodian Riel?
3. Tipping in Cambodia: What You Need to Know
4. Which ATM Is Best for Foreigners in Cambodia?
5. How Much Do Cambodia ATMs Charge Foreigners?
6. Are There Any Fee-Free ATMs in Cambodia?
7. Cambodia ATM Withdrawal Limits
8. How to Withdraw From an ATM in Cambodia
9. Is It Safe to Use ATMs in Cambodia?
10. Best ATMs at Cambodian Airports
11. Cardless and QR Withdrawals in Cambodia
12. The Cheapest Way for Singaporeans to Get Cash in Cambodia
13. Best Card for Cambodia: Multi-Currency Comparison
14. FAQ

Can You Withdraw USD From ATMs in Cambodia?

Yes. Most ATMs in Cambodia dispense US dollars by default, and many give you the choice between USD and Cambodian Riel (KHR) at the start of the transaction.

This isn’t a quirk. Cambodia has used USD as a parallel currency for decades, and it’s the everyday tender for anything over a few dollars — hotels, restaurants, tours, taxis from the airport. Riel handles the small change.

One thing to watch:

• ATMs often dispense large notes. Expect 50 USD (~S$68) or 100 USD (~S$135) bills, which can be a pain to break.
• Some banks let you pick the denomination. Look for an “Other amount” or “Select notes” option.
• Hotels and bigger restaurants will happily break a 100 USD (~S$135) note. Street food stalls and tuk-tuks won’t.

If you can, withdraw amounts that come out as smaller notes (60 USD (~S$81), 80 USD (~S$108), 120 USD (~S$162)) to avoid the 100 USD note problem.

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Should You Withdraw USD or Cambodian Riel?

Withdraw mostly USD, keep a small Riel float for daily small spend.

Here’s the practical split most Singaporean travellers land on:

• USD — hotels, restaurants, tours, Grab/PassApp rides over 2 USD (~S$3), shops, Angkor Wat tickets
• Riel (KHR) — tuk-tuks under 5 USD (~S$7), market stalls, street food, tipping, change under 1 USD (~S$1.35)

You won’t get a usable rate exchanging SGD to Riel at home — money changers carry Riel rarely and at poor rates. The simpler play: arrive with USD (or load USD onto a multi-currency travel card), and let the country’s USD economy do the work.

For change under a dollar, you’ll naturally accumulate Riel as merchants give it back. 4,000 KHR ≈ 1 USD (~S$1.35) is the rule of thumb locals use.

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Tipping in Cambodia: What You Need to Know

Tipping in Cambodia isn’t traditional, but tourism has made it standard for tourist-facing services. It’s appreciated, not expected — and small amounts go a long way.

The practical guide:

Situation	Common practice
Tuk-tuk / Grab driver	Round up the fare, or add 1 USD (~S$1.35)
Sit-down restaurant (good service)	5–10% on the bill, in cash
Half-day tour guide	5 USD (~S$7) is generous
Full-day tour guide	10–15 USD (~S$14–S$20)
Spa / massage therapist	2–5 USD (~S$3–S$7) per session
Hotel housekeeping	1–2 USD (~S$1.35–S$3) per night
Hotel porter / bellhop	1 USD (~S$1.35) per bag
Temple guide (informal)	5–10 USD (~S$7–S$14)

A few practical notes:

• Cash tips, in USD or Riel. Card tips don’t reliably reach staff.
• USD for tips over 1 USD; Riel for change-level tips. Both are widely accepted.
• Service charge (typically 10%) is sometimes added to bills at higher-end restaurants and hotels — check the bill before tipping on top.
• Tipping is recent in Cambodian culture and was driven by tourism. Don’t feel awkward if you skip it for small services — it’s not as expected as in the US.

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Which ATM Is Best for Foreigners in Cambodia?

It depends on what’s closest and how much you’re withdrawing. There isn’t one “best” — but there are a few clear winners depending on your card and your withdrawal size.

Cheapest standard fee:

• Vattanac Bank — around 4 USD (~S$5) flat per withdrawal, up to 500 USD (~S$675). The lowest standard foreign-card fee most travellers will find
• SBI Ly Hour Bank — sometimes free for certain international Visa cards, but with a low per-transaction cap of ~200 USD (~S$270)

Free if your bank is the right one:

• Maybank Cambodia — fee-free if you hold a Maybank Singapore account and use a Maybank ATM. If you don’t bank with Maybank SG, a standard cross-bank fee applies

Best for one big withdrawal (saves you multiple trips):

• BRED Bank — lets you withdraw a larger amount in one go (up to roughly 2,000 USD (~S$2,700) at the daily cap, depending on the package). Fee per withdrawal sits in the mid-range, so the win here is convenience, not the lowest cost per dollar

Widest network (not the cheapest, but you’ll see one everywhere):

• ABA Bank — fee typically in the mid-to-upper range (commonly cited around 6–10 USD (~S$8–14)) per withdrawal; standard limit 500 USD (~S$675), with some machines allowing higher caps
• Canadia Bank — flat fee per transaction, 500 USD (~S$675) limit
• ACLEDA Bank — flat fee per withdrawal, 500 USD (~S$675) per-transaction limit (officially confirmed)
• CPBank — flat fee per transaction, 500 USD (~S$675) limit

Travellers commonly report Canadia, ACLEDA and CPBank in the 5 USD (~S$7) range, with ABA running higher — but published foreign-card fees vary, so check the ATM screen before confirming.

💡 Tip: Stick to branch-attached ATMs during daylight hours. They’re better maintained, less likely to swallow your card, and a real person inside can help if something goes wrong.

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How Much Do Cambodia ATMs Charge Foreigners?

This is where it gets messy. A single Cambodian ATM withdrawal stacks up to four fees:

Fee	Who charges it	Typical amount
Local ATM operator fee	The Cambodian bank	Roughly 4–10 USD (~S$5–14) per withdrawal, depending on bank — Vattanac sits at the low end, ABA at the upper end
Foreign withdrawal fee	Your home bank	S$5 (UOB) to S$7 (DBS) per overseas Cirrus/PLUS withdrawal
FX markup	Your home bank	Up to 3.25% (DBS and OCBC published rate)
DCC (if you say yes)	The ATM operator	Typically a 3–7% markup, sometimes 10–12%

ATM fees are subject to change; verify on screen before withdrawal.

Realistically, withdrawing 200 USD (~S$270) on a Singapore bank debit card costs you around S$10–15 in fees alone — before any FX markup or DCC mistake.

A traveller on TikTok recently flagged paying around 28 GBP (~S$48) in combined charges on a 600 USD (~S$810) withdrawal in Cambodia. Whether that’s representative depends on the card, but it shows how fast the stack adds up.

The fix: minimise withdrawal count (take out more, less often), decline conversion every time, and use a card that doesn’t charge an FX markup.

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Are There Any Fee-Free ATMs in Cambodia?

Not really. The local operator fee almost always applies to foreign cards.

Some “free withdrawal” content online refers to your home bank waiving its side of the fee, not the Cambodian bank’s. ATMs in Cambodia run as commercial services for foreign cards — expect the local fee, no matter who issued your card.

What you can control:

• Use a card without a foreign withdrawal fee (like YouTrip — free ATM withdrawals up to S$400 per calendar month, then a 2% fee on withdrawals after that)
• Withdraw bigger amounts less often so the flat local fee spreads further
• Avoid DCC so you don’t add a markup on top

If you see an ATM advertising “no fee”, read the screen carefully before confirming. It usually means no fee from that bank if you have their card.

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Cambodia ATM Withdrawal Limits

Per-transaction limits vary widely by bank:

Bank	Typical max per transaction	Fee per withdrawal
Vattanac Bank	500 USD (~S$675)	Low flat fee — commonly cited around 4 USD (~S$5)
BRED Bank	Up to ~2,000 USD (~S$2,700) daily across one or more transactions	Mid-range — see BRED’s published World Package or fee schedule
Maybank Cambodia	500 USD (~S$675)	Free for Maybank SG holders at Maybank ATMs; standard cross-bank rate otherwise
Canadia Bank	500 USD (~S$675)	Standard flat fee — commonly cited around 5 USD (~S$7)
CPBank	500 USD (~S$675)	Standard flat fee — commonly cited around 5 USD (~S$7)
ACLEDA Bank	500 USD (~S$675) (officially confirmed)	Standard flat fee — commonly cited around 5 USD (~S$7)
ABA Bank	500 USD (~S$675); some machines allow higher	Upper-range fee — commonly cited around 6–10 USD (~S$8–14)
SBI Ly Hour	~200 USD (~S$270)	Sometimes fee-free for certain international Visa cards

Your home bank’s daily limit usually applies on top of this. DBS sets a default of S$3,000 per day for combined local + overseas ATM withdrawals, adjustable up to S$9,000 via digibank. Other SG banks land in a similar range.

The maths usually nudges you toward one bigger withdrawal at the start of the trip instead of 100 USD (~S$135) every other day. BRED’s higher daily ceiling helps if you want to minimise trips — but per-dollar economics still depend on the specific fee structure, so check the screen before confirming.

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How to Withdraw From an ATM in Cambodia

Decline the home-currency conversion prompt — always choose to be charged in USD or KHR, never SGD.

Why “Decline Conversion” matters: that “guaranteed rate” prompt is Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), and it’s almost always worse than your bank’s rate. The typical markup runs 3–7%, sometimes as high as 10–12% — added on top of whatever you’re already paying in fees. Visa and Mastercard require operators to disclose it, but the prompt is engineered to look like the helpful default. Decline it, let your bank convert, save the extra markup.

📖 Related Guide: Find out more about how to withdraw with YouTrip here

Is It Safe to Use ATMs in Cambodia?

ATMs in Cambodia are broadly safe if you stick to a few habits.

What to do:

• Use branch-attached ATMs during the day
• Cover the keypad with your other hand when entering your PIN
• Carry a backup card in a separate bag or pocket — ATM card-swallows happen
• Check the card slot for skimming devices (loose plastic, anything that doesn’t sit flush)
• Set up SMS/app alerts so you see every withdrawal in real time

What to avoid:

• Standalone street ATMs late at night
• ATMs in dim alleys or behind buildings
• Letting anyone “help” you at the machine

If an ATM eats your card, go inside the branch immediately — most banks can return it during business hours. After hours, call your home bank’s emergency line to freeze the card before it’s misused.

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Best ATMs at Cambodian Airports

Both major Cambodian airports have decent ATM coverage in the arrival areas — no need to panic about cash on touchdown.

Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH):

• Around three ATMs inside the arrivals hall (post-immigration)
• Around six more ATMs immediately outside the arrivals exit
• Main networks present: ABA, Canadia, ACLEDA — pick the lower-fee option if your bank doesn’t waive its side
• Same fees as in-town ATMs; no airport surcharge

Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI):

• Multiple ATMs in the arrivals hall and outside the exit
• Same major bank networks (ABA, Canadia, ACLEDA)
• Same fee structure as in-town

Should you withdraw at the airport at all?

Yes — but only a small starter amount. Airport ATMs charge the same as any other branch, and having USD on hand for the taxi or first-day food beats fumbling through an airport money changer’s worse rate. Don’t pull your whole trip’s budget in one go though — you’ll be carrying USD around unnecessarily.

Skip the airport currency exchange counters. Their USD rates are reliably worse than ATM withdrawals, and you don’t need to pre-convert SGD to USD when the ATM dispenses USD anyway. If you’ve loaded SGD on a YouTrip card, the wholesale rate kicks in at the ATM — no exchange counter needed.

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Cardless and QR Withdrawals in Cambodia

Cambodia has its own QR payment standard called KHQR, run by the National Bank of Cambodia’s Bakong system. It’s primarily a retail payment standard for in-store purchases — not a generic ATM cash-out system, though a few local banks layer cardless withdrawal on top via their own apps.

For Singaporean travellers, the picture changed recently:

• Cross-border QR Phase 2 launched 30 March 2026 — Singapore travellers can now scan KHQR codes at Cambodian merchants using RoamQR-linked apps (OCBC, Changi Pay and others) to pay directly in SGD
• PayNow’s own consumer app doesn’t directly scan KHQR — the connection runs through RoamQR’s network, not PayNow’s
• For ATM cash withdrawal, a physical card is still your default option as a Singaporean visitor
• YouTrip withdrawals at Cambodian ATMs use the physical card and Visa network — standard insertion, not QR

If you’ll be in Cambodia regularly, check which SG bank or wallet app currently supports KHQR scan-to-pay. For a one-off holiday, your card is still the simpler option.

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The Cheapest Way for Singaporeans to Get Cash in Cambodia

Three options most SG travellers consider:

Option	What you pay	Verdict
YouTrip card	Wholesale FX rate, zero markup, zero fees on withdrawals up to S$400/month, then 2% after	Best rate of the three — load SGD, lock in the rate, withdraw USD at any Cambodian ATM
Bring USD from JB / SG money changer	Money changers charge a markup on top of the interbank rate, and you carry cash	Convenient if you already have USD on hand, but the rate is rarely as good as wholesale; cash also adds loss/theft risk
SG bank debit card	Up to 3.25% FX markup + S$5–7 foreign withdrawal fee + local ATM fee	Most expensive of the three

YouTrip’s edge for Cambodia specifically: you skip the FX markup that both money changers and SG bank cards bake into every conversion. YouTrip uses the wholesale FX rate with zero markup, and the first S$400/month of overseas ATM withdrawals are free of any YouTrip fee. The only fee you can’t avoid is the local Cambodian ATM operator’s charge (~4–10 USD (~S$5–14)) — but that applies to every foreign card equally.

YouTrip isn’t a credit card, isn’t SDIC-insured, and won’t help with credit-card travel insurance. For everyday spend and cash withdrawals abroad, it’s the simplest way to keep the FX side honest.

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Best Card for Cambodia: Multi-Currency Comparison

A multi-currency card removes most of the friction of spending in a USD economy like Cambodia: FX markup, foreign withdrawal fees, and DCC traps. Here’s how the main options stack up for SG travellers:

Features	YouTrip	Revolut	Wise	Amaze
Exchange Rate	1 SGD = 0.7883 USD	1 SGD = 0.7882 USD	1 SGD = 0.7865 USD	1 SGD = 0.7879 USD
FX Fees	No fees	No fees within plan limits on weekdays; 1% on weekends	Currency conversion fee from 0.26% ⚠️ fee varies by currency	No explicit FX fee, but ~2% spread above Mastercard rate; 1% domestic SGD fee
ATM Withdrawal Fees	Free up to S$400/month; 2% fee thereafter	Free up to S$350 or 5 withdrawals/month; 2% or S$1.49 thereafter (whichever is higher)	Free up to S$100/month; 1.75% fee thereafter	2% on all withdrawals

*Rates as of 12 May 2026

YouTrip’s combination of the best USD rates with zero FX fees and S$400 free monthly ATM withdrawals is the cleanest match. 

Load USD ahead of time, lock in the rate, and tap or withdraw without the layered markups SG bank cards stack on every transaction.

📖 Related Guide: Best Multi-Currency Cards In Singapore

FAQs

Country ATM Guides:

Need fee-free or lower-fee ATM recommendations? Explore our country-specific withdrawal guides:

🇲🇾 Malaysia ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇯🇵 Japan ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇹🇭 Thailand ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇰🇷 South Korea ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇹🇼 Taiwan ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇮🇩 Indonesia ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇻🇳 Vietnam ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇦🇺 Australia ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇲🇴 Macau ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇨🇳 China ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇺🇸 US ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇿🇦 South Africa ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇵🇭 Philippines ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇫🇷 France ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇬🇧 UK ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇳🇿 New Zealand ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇮🇹 Italy ATM Withdrawal Guide | 🇰🇭 Cambodia ATM Withdrawal Guide

Decline Conversion. Your Wallet Will Thank You.

Want to skip high fees and dodgy exchange rates altogether? YouTrip lets you pay with the best USD/KHR rates — no fees, no hidden charges. You also get free monthly ATM withdrawals of up to S$400, with a 2% fee imposed thereafter. Perfect for hassle-free travel in Cambodia.

Sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with <YTBLOG5> and get FREE S$5 in your account!

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