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In Cambodia, the US dollar is widely accepted, but you'll still need to know how to use the local currency, the Cambodian Riel.
You can exchange your US dollars for Riel at a currency exchange office or a bank, but be aware that the exchange rate may not be favorable.
The official currency of Cambodia is the Riel, but it's often used in conjunction with the US dollar, especially for smaller purchases.
Most businesses in Cambodia, including markets and street food stalls, will accept US dollars as payment, but you may receive change in Riel.
What Is KHR?
The KHR, or Cambodian Riel, is the official currency of Cambodia. Its symbol is ៛.
The riel has a rich history, circulating in Cambodia during two separate periods: from 1953 to 1975 and from 1980 to the present.
One-hundredth of a riel is called a sen, and one-tenth of a riel is called a kak.
Exchange Rate
The exchange rate between the US dollar and the Cambodian riel is an important thing to understand when traveling to Cambodia. The official exchange rate fluctuates, but in practice, most street vendors and small shops use 4,000 riel to $1 USD.
You can find the current exchange rate on a currency converter like XE, which is a great resource for backpackers. But if you're looking for historical rates, you can check a table like the one below.
In larger shops, supermarkets, and tourist attractions, the exchange rate can be different, ranging from 4,000 to 4,500 riel to $1 USD. Paying with dollars in these places can help you save your riel for smaller transactions.
Currency Conversion
Currency Conversion is a breeze in Cambodia, thanks to the country's dual-currency system. The US dollar is widely accepted, but you'll also need to know how to convert it to the local currency, the Cambodian Riel (KHR).
To convert US dollars to Cambodian Riel, you can use the exchange rates listed in the table below. For example, 1 USD is equivalent to 4,041 KHR.
You can also use online currency converters, like the one mentioned in Example 3, to get the current exchange rate and track changes over time. This is especially helpful if you're planning to make a large transaction or need to know the current rate for a specific amount.
In some cases, you might receive a combination of US dollars and Cambodian Riel as change, like I did when I checked into my hostel. Don't worry if you're not sure what to do with the Riel – it's still a widely accepted currency in Cambodia.
Understanding the Currency
The Cambodian riel is the official currency of Cambodia, and its code is KHR. The riel was first introduced in 1953 as an at-par replacement for the piastre de commerce, the currency of French Indochina.
The riel's value was set at four riel to $1 in 1980, after the Khmer Rouge regime was toppled. This rate has since diverged, with the value of the riel currently holding near one-twenty-four-thousandths of a dollar.
You can easily convert US dollars to Cambodian riels using online currency converters. Simply type in the amount you want to convert, select USD as the currency to convert from, and KHR as the currency to convert to.
Here's a rough idea of the current exchange rate: as of December 2020, 1 U.S. dollar is worth roughly 4,000 KHR.
What Is Khr?
The riel is the official currency of Cambodia, with the currency code KHR. Its symbol is ៛.
The riel has a few sub-units, including the sen, which is one-hundredth of a riel, and the kak, which is one-tenth of a riel.
As of December 2020, 1 U.S. dollar is worth roughly 4,000 KHR.
Currency Explained!
The official currency of Cambodia is the Cambodian riel, denoted by the symbol ៛. It's a bit confusing, but the riel has circulated in Cambodia during two separate periods, from 1953 to 1975 and from 1980 to the present.
You can exchange US dollars for riel at a currency exchange or withdraw riel from an ATM, but be aware that some businesses may not accept riel. In fact, I once had a minor meltdown when my cashpoint gave me US dollars, but I was lucky to find a hostel that accepted them.
The value of the riel is currently near one-twenty-four-thousandths of a dollar. To give you a better idea, as of December 2020, 1 U.S. dollar is worth roughly 4,000 KHR.
You can easily convert US dollars to riel using a currency converter, which will show you the current rate and how it's changed over the past day, week or month. Here's a quick rundown on how to use one:
- 1. Simply type in the box how much you want to convert.
- 2. Click on the dropdown to select USD in the first dropdown as the currency that you want to convert and KHR in the second drop down as the currency you want to convert to.
- 3. Our currency converter will show you the current USD to KHR rate and how it's changed over the past day, week or month.
Keep in mind that some areas close to the Thai and Vietnamese borders also accept Thai Baht and Vietnamese Dong respectively, so you might encounter multiple currencies in a single country.
De-Dollarisation
De-dollarisation is a real phenomenon, and Cambodia is a great example.
In Cambodia, the use of US dollars is being phased out, starting with small notes in Phnom Penh.
You can no longer get anything smaller than a $50 bill from an ATM, which is a significant change.
Locals still seem happy to accept US dollars for now, but it's a step towards using the riel instead.
In practice, you may only be able to withdraw $100 bills from an ATM, making it harder to use smaller denominations.
Getting more people to use riel is a long-term goal, but it's clear that US dollars are still widely accepted.
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