Cambodia · budget
Siem Reap Budget Per Day: How Much Does a Trip Cost? — Trip Planner
Your Siem Reap plan for this trip — when to go, how long you need, and what to prioritise. What a day in Siem Reap costs — meals, transit, top attractions, and the bookable activities worth adding to the budget. Prices sourced from Viator listings, refreshed as they change.
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Budget-friendly experiences in Siem Reap
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What things cost in Siem Reap
A dollar stretches further here than anywhere nearby: a market noodle bowl is US$2 to 3, a restaurant main US$6 to 9, and Pub Street draught under a dollar in happy hour. A full day of tuk-tuk on the small circuit runs US$18 to 25, more for the grand circuit. Guesthouses start near US$15 and the three-day pass is US$62.
What to eat in Siem Reap
Fish amok, a coconut and kroeung mousse steamed in banana leaf, is the dish to order, though Pub Street versions are diluted into curry. Kandal Village and Wat Bo Road hold the better kitchens. Look for prahok-based dips, nom banh chok rice noodles sold from morning shoulder baskets, and sugarcane juice at the Old Market. Beef lok lak with a fried egg is the everyday plate.
What first-timers get wrong in Siem Reap
The Angkor pass is never sold at the temples and never by your tuk-tuk driver: buy it at the official ticket centre. A pass bought after five is valid from the following day and lets you in for that evening's sunset free. Shoulders and knees must be covered for Angkor Wat's upper level. Cambodia prices in US dollars, with riel appearing only as change.
Siem Reap with kids, realistically
Temple days with children need a five o'clock start and a long midday break, because the sandstone becomes punishing by ten. Angkor Wat's upper Bakan level has near-vertical stairs and a minimum age, while Bayon and Ta Prohm suit small legs far better. Tuk-tuks are open-sided with no belts. Phare's circus and the Tonle Sap floating villages work from about six upward.
When the weather turns in Siem Reap
Rainy season spans May to October, and the afternoon downpour is brief but total. Angkor National Museum, the Artisans Angkor silk workshops and Theam's Gallery all keep you dry. Temple moats look their best immediately afterwards, so wait it out rather than cancelling the day. Roads to outlying temples turn to mud, so confirm your driver still wants the Beng Mealea run.
When to go to Siem Reap
| Best months for budget per day | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| December | 30°C / 86°F | 4 days |
| January | 31°C / 88°F | 2 days |
| November | 30°C / 86°F | 13 days |
The month to avoid is May — around 33°C (91°F) with roughly 23 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: December is the sweet spot, May the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Light, breathable clothing — linen and technical fabrics earn their keep, High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.