Costs in Cambodia

The 2023 Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey, abbreviated CSES, recorded average monthly household consumption of about 2,086,000 KHR nationwide, 3,097,000 KHR in Phnom Penh, 2,224,000 KHR in other urban areas and 1,800,000 KHR in rural areas. The corresponding average monthly consumption per person was about 489,000 KHR, 738,000 KHR, 516,000 KHR and 419,000 KHR. Average available household income was about 2,666,000 KHR nationwide, 4,149,000 KHR in Phnom Penh, 2,922,000 KHR in other urban areas and 2,226,000 KHR in rural areas. Median available income per person was lower: about 469,000 KHR nationwide, 772,000 KHR in Phnom Penh, 541,000 KHR in other urban areas and 387,000 KHR in rural areas. These figures describe observed spending and income, not a guaranteed minimum or a complete personal budget. Cambodia uses the Cambodian riel, or KHR, alongside the US dollar. The National Bank of Cambodia recorded an average rate of about 4,011 KHR per US dollar in 2025. Keeping a budget in both currencies helps when rent, deposits, imported goods or services are priced in dollars, but exchange-rate and inflation changes can alter the KHR cost. The national poverty line of 10,951 KHR per person per day from 2019/20 is not a realistic full-cost household budget because it does not represent current rent, utilities, insurance, schooling, transport or emergency needs. Food and non-alcoholic drinks accounted for about 219,000 KHR per person per month, or 44.8% of consumption nationwide. The Phnom Penh figure was about 294,000 KHR, while rural households averaged about 196,000 KHR and allocated 46.9% of consumption to this category. Market purchases, home production, season, household size and restaurant use create substantial differences. Restaurant meals should be budgeted separately from ordinary food purchases. Housing, water, electricity and energy averaged about 105,000 KHR per person per month nationwide. The figure was about 227,000 KHR in Phnom Penh, 112,000 KHR in other urban areas and 73,000 KHR in rural areas. The category includes housing-related costs, but there is no reliable single nationwide standard rent. Cambodia recorded 91.8% of households as owners, 4.9% as renters and 3.2% living rent-free in 2023. Renting was much more common in Phnom Penh at 25.9%, compared with 4.1% in other urban areas and 0.4% in rural areas. A rental budget should check the deposit, furnishing, location, season, electricity billing, water charges, waste collection and any landlord surcharge separately. Average living space was about 54.6 square metres per household nationwide, 62.3 square metres in Phnom Penh and 52.3 square metres in rural areas; the national average was about 1.6 rooms, with 2.0 in Phnom Penh and 1.4 in rural areas, and about 3.2 people per room nationwide. Access to improved drinking water was about 89% nationally in 2023, but service differs by location. Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, or PPWSA, supplies Phnom Penh and parts of its surrounding area. Outside formal supply zones, households may use wells, tankers or bottled water. Electricity tariffs are regulated by the Electricity Authority of Cambodia, or EAC, and depend on the connection and consumption category. A landlord's utility statement should be checked rather than assuming that electricity, water or waste collection is included in rent. Health spending averaged about 28,000 KHR per person per month nationwide, 24,000 KHR in Phnom Penh and 30,000 KHR in rural areas. The amounts can rise sharply when treatment is needed, so a separate medical reserve is useful. The National Social Security Fund, or NSSF, provides the formal Health Care Scheme for eligible employees and their households through contracted facilities. Employers have carried the employee contribution since 2018. Access generally requires an NSSF card and at least six months of contributions during the previous twelve months, subject to the scheme's eligibility and facility limits. The Voluntary Social Security Scheme on Healthcare, introduced under Sub-Decree 280/2023, offers an option for self-employed people and dependants, with contributions set actuarially. Non-members and people using private care normally pay directly, and prices vary considerably by provider and treatment. Transport averaged about 41,000 KHR per person per month nationwide, 55,000 KHR in Phnom Penh, 48,000 KHR in other urban areas and 34,000 KHR in rural areas. Motorcycles were present in 86.1% of households in 2023, creating recurring fuel, maintenance, registration, insurance and repair costs. Phnom Penh City Bus provides a formal public-transport alternative, but services are limited by location. Free festival buses are temporary and should not be treated as a regular transport option. A driving-test fee is 95,000 KHR, while renewal or exchange of a driving licence costs 30,000 KHR. The Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway uses electronic toll collection; the device requires 20 US dollars of account credit, and the actual toll depends on the vehicle and road section. Education spending averaged about 10,000 KHR per person per month nationwide, 29,000 KHR in Phnom Penh, 9,000 KHR in other urban areas and 6,000 KHR in rural areas. Cambodia's formal basic-education framework covers nine years, but public-school access does not eliminate the full household cost. Uniforms, textbooks, transport, meals, learning materials and private tuition may be charged or purchased separately. Communication averaged about 12,000 KHR per person per month nationwide and 22,000 KHR in Phnom Penh. As a market benchmark, Smart Laor! offers have included 1.50 US dollars for 20 GB over seven days, 6 US dollars for 90 GB over 30 days and 10 US dollars for 150 GB over 30 days. Smart 5G@Home offers have included 15, 18 and 22 US dollars per 30 days for 500, 1,000 and 2,000 GB; a router deposit may apply, and fixed-line or 5G coverage depends on the provider and neighbourhood. Recreation and culture averaged about 6,000 KHR per person per month nationwide and 11,000 KHR in Phnom Penh. Temples, nature areas and community activities may have low or no entrance costs, while cinemas, tourism and private sports or cultural services vary strongly by place and season. Clothing and footwear averaged about 15,000 KHR per person per month, furnishing and household equipment about 3,000 KHR, miscellaneous goods and services about 41,000 KHR, and alcohol and tobacco about 9,000 KHR. Miscellaneous spending can include weddings, funeral rituals, parties, participation costs and gifts. A separate annual or event reserve prevents these irregular expenses from distorting the monthly budget. Family Package and IDPoor support may reduce costs for registered vulnerable households, including households with a pregnant woman or infant, schoolchildren, older people or a person with a disability. Eligibility and programme status must be checked locally; these programmes do not create a universal household allowance. A household budget should therefore distinguish recurring monthly expenses from annual or one-off costs such as a rental deposit, furnishing, documents, vehicle purchase or repair, school charges, medical treatment and ceremonies. The National Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of Planning publish CSES and Consumer Price Index data. The Consumer Price Index, or CPI, tracks price movement over time. In Phnom Penh, October 2025 prices were 1.9% higher overall than a year earlier, with food up 2.7%, housing up 1.9%, education up 2.9%, communication up 0.1%, transport down 1.8% and health down 1.2%. A budget should use the latest available CPI series rather than applying one fixed national increase. A practical calculation starts with household type and region, adds the CSES consumption baseline, replaces the housing figure with the actual rent and utilities, then checks food, transport, health coverage and reserve, education, family events, communication, leisure and a seasonal buffer. Banking, debt and tax obligations are separate subjects and should only be added where they directly change a stated cost.