Cambodia has become one of the more affordable Southeast Asian trips for Filipinos, mainly because Philippine passport holders don't need a visa for short visits and because Siem Reap and Phnom Penh both run cheap on food and local transport once you're there. The main cost swing is the flight, since there's no direct Manila–Cambodia route and connecting fares vary a lot by season and how far ahead you book. This guide breaks down exactly what a Cambodia trip costs in 2026, from the plane ticket to the Angkor Wat pass, converted to PHP at the current exchange rate of roughly ₱60.70 to $1.
A 5-day Cambodia trip from Manila for a budget traveler typically totals around ₱35,000–₱50,000 per person, including round-trip flights, hostel-level accommodation, an Angkor Wat multi-day pass, food, and local transport.
- Philippine passport holders get visa-free entry to Cambodia for stays up to 30 days as ASEAN nationals — no visa fee needed for a standard trip
- Round-trip flights from Manila run roughly ₱23,600 to Phnom Penh and ₱17,400–₱45,000 to Siem Reap depending on season and booking window
- The Angkor Wat temple pass alone costs (about ₱2,250) for one day, (about ₱3,765) for three days
- A realistic daily budget for a budget traveler in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh runs – (about ₱1,520–₱2,730) covering hostel, food, and local transport
- A mandatory online e-Arrival Card must be submitted within 7 days before your flight, separate from any visa requirement
How Much Does a Cambodia Trip From the Philippines Cost Overall?
A 5-day, 4-night trip covering either Siem Reap alone or a Siem Reap-Phnom Penh combo typically runs ₱35,000 to ₱55,000 per person for a budget-to-mid-range traveler, with flights usually eating up 40-50% of that total. The biggest lever you control is the flight — booking 2-3 months ahead and flying on off-peak weekdays (Tuesday-Thursday departures) can shave $100-150 (roughly ₱6,000-₱9,000) off round-trip fares compared to weekend or peak-season bookings around Christmas, Holy Week, or the December-January dry season when Cambodia tourism peaks.
Flights From Manila to Cambodia
There's no direct flight between Manila and Cambodia, so every route connects through a hub, most commonly Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur, on a mix of Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Vietnam Airlines, and Cambodia Angkor Air/AirAsia Cambodia for the final leg. Round-trip fares to Phnom Penh start around $389 (about ₱23,600), while Siem Reap fares vary more widely, from roughly $287 (about ₱17,400) on a good deal to $742 (about ₱45,000) at typical pricing depending on how far ahead you book. Cebuanos have fewer direct-hub options than Manila-based travelers, so flying out of NAIA generally gives more competitive connecting fares. If your itinerary covers both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, a short domestic hop between the two on Cambodia Angkor Air or a budget carrier runs about $70-72 one-way, which is often cheaper and much faster than the 6-hour overland bus.
Entry Requirements: Visa-Free Access and the Mandatory e-Arrival Card
As ASEAN nationals, Philippine passport holders can enter Cambodia visa-free for stays of up to 30 days — no visa application or visa fee is needed for a standard tourist trip. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. Separate from the visa exemption, Cambodia requires every traveler to submit a free e-Arrival Card online within 7 days before their flight; this replaces the old paper arrival card and air arrivals no longer get a physical passport stamp, just an email confirmation, so keep that confirmation saved on your phone. If you're planning to stay longer than 30 days, an e-visa is required in advance, costing $30 (about ₱1,820) for a single-entry 30-day tourist e-visa, non-refundable, applied for through the official government portal at evisa.gov.kh — avoid third-party visa sites that charge markup fees for the same e-visa.
Accommodation Costs in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh
Budget dorm beds in hostels run $5-10 (about ₱300-610) a night in both cities, while a private budget hotel room typically costs $15-25 (about ₱910-1,520) a night. Mid-range boutique hotels, common around Siem Reap's Pub Street area or Phnom Penh's riverside, run $35-70 (about ₱2,125-4,250) a night and usually include a pool, which matters given Cambodia's heat. For a 4-night trip, budget travelers should plan roughly ₱2,400-6,000 total on lodging, while mid-range travelers should budget ₱8,500-17,000.
Food Costs: Street Meals to Restaurant Dining
Street food and local market meals cost $1-3 (about ₱60-180) per meal, and a sit-down meal at a local Cambodian restaurant away from tourist strips runs $2-4 (about ₱120-245). Restaurants closer to the main temple roads or Pub Street charge more, typically $5-10 (about ₱300-610) per main dish, largely because of the tourist foot traffic. A realistic daily food budget is $10-15 (about ₱610-910) if you mix street food with one sit-down meal, or $20-30 (about ₱1,215-1,820) if you're eating mostly at tourist-area restaurants and cafes.
Local Transportation: Tuk-Tuks, Buses, and Ride-Hailing Apps
A short tuk-tuk ride within Siem Reap or Phnom Penh city runs $1-3 (about ₱60-180) if you negotiate before boarding, or you can use the Grab or PassApp apps for fixed, no-haggle fares. Hiring a tuk-tuk driver for a full day at the Angkor temples costs $15-25 (about ₱910-1,520) for the whole vehicle, which works out to roughly $4-7 (about ₱245-425) per person if you're splitting with travel companions. For the overland route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, a bus ticket costs $10-18 (about ₱610-1,090) for the roughly 6-hour trip, while a private taxi runs $80-100 (about ₱4,860-6,070) for the same route, worth it only if you're splitting the cost among 3-4 people. Airport transfers in Siem Reap run $6-8 (about ₱365-485) by tuk-tuk or $20-30 (about ₱1,215-1,820) by car into town; Phnom Penh airport taxis charge $12-15 (about ₱730-910) to the riverside area.
Angkor Wat Pass Costs and What Each Pass Covers
Visiting the Angkor temple complex requires a separate paid pass regardless of your Cambodia visa status: a 1-day pass costs $37 (about ₱2,250), a 3-day pass costs $62 (about ₱3,765) and is valid for use across any 10 days, and a 7-day pass costs $72 (about ₱4,370) valid across any 1 month. Most first-time visitors find the 3-day pass the best value, since it covers Angkor Wat itself, Angkor Thom/Bayon, and Ta Prohm without rushing, while a 1-day pass only realistically covers Angkor Wat and one or two nearby sites. On top of the pass, budget for the tuk-tuk hire covering the temple circuit (see transportation above) and optionally a guide, which runs about $25 (about ₱1,520) for a full day if you want historical context beyond what's posted at each site.
Best Time to Visit for Budget and Weather
Cambodia's dry season, roughly November through February, has the most comfortable temperatures for temple-hopping but is also peak season, meaning higher flight and hotel prices. The shoulder months of March and October offer a middle ground — hot but not yet at the March-May peak heat, with somewhat better flight deals. The rainy season, June through October, brings the cheapest flights and hotel rates plus lush, green temple grounds, but expect short, heavy afternoon downpours that can disrupt a tight sightseeing schedule; budget an extra buffer day if traveling during this window.
Sample 5-Day Budget for a Filipino Traveler
A realistic 5-day, 4-night budget-traveler itinerary covering Siem Reap only: round-trip flight from Manila $290-450 (about ₱17,600-27,300), 4 nights in a hostel dorm or budget private room $40-100 (about ₱2,430-6,070), a 3-day Angkor Pass $62 (about ₱3,765), food for 5 days at $12/day average $60 (about ₱3,645), local transport including one full tuk-tuk day for temples $50-70 (about ₱3,035-4,250), and miscellaneous spending money $50-80 (about ₱3,035-4,860). That totals roughly ₱33,500-49,900 per person, before souvenirs or optional activities like a floating village tour or cooking class, which typically add $20-40 (about ₱1,215-2,430) each.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not for stays of up to 30 days. Philippine passport holders get visa-free entry to Cambodia as fellow ASEAN member-state nationals, so a standard tourist trip requires no visa application or visa fee. You still need to submit a free e-Arrival Card online within 7 days before your flight, and your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay. Only trips longer than 30 days require an advance e-visa, which costs $30 through the official evisa.gov.kh portal.
A 7-day trip for a budget traveler covering both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh typically runs ₱45,000-65,000 per person, factoring in a round-trip flight (₱18,000-45,000 depending on season and booking window), 6 nights of budget accommodation, a 3-day Angkor Pass, food, local transport including the Siem Reap-Phnom Penh transfer, and some buffer for activities. Mid-range travelers who prefer air-conditioned private rooms and more restaurant meals should budget closer to ₱75,000-100,000 for the same length of trip.
Phnom Penh often has more predictable, slightly cheaper round-trip fares starting around $389 (about ₱23,600), while Siem Reap fares swing more widely from $287 to $742 depending on how far ahead you book and the season. If your trip is mainly about visiting the Angkor temples, flying directly into Siem Reap saves you the extra $70-72 one-way domestic hop or 6-hour bus ride you'd otherwise need from Phnom Penh.
US dollars are widely accepted throughout Cambodia for hotels, tours, and even many restaurants and tuk-tuk fares, so you don't strictly need to exchange money into Cambodian riel (KHR) before or during your trip. That said, riel is used for small change under $1, since vendors typically round dollar transactions and give change in riel, so it's worth keeping a small amount of local currency on hand for markets and street food stalls. Avoid exchanging pesos directly at Philippine money changers, since PHP-to-riel rates are poor — bring USD cash or withdraw USD from ATMs in Cambodia instead.
A 1-day Angkor Pass costs $37 (about ₱2,250), a 3-day pass costs $62 (about ₱3,765) and can be used across any 10 days, and a 7-day pass costs $72 (about ₱4,370) usable across a month. For most travelers spending 2-3 days around Siem Reap, the 3-day pass is the better value since it lets you see Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Bayon, and Ta Prohm at a relaxed pace instead of rushing everything into a single day, for only $25 more than the 1-day option.
Once you're on the ground, daily costs in Cambodia (food, local transport, budget accommodation) run comparable to or slightly cheaper than a domestic Philippine beach destination like Boracay or El Nido during peak season. The difference-maker is the international flight, which adds a fixed ₱18,000-45,000 cost that a domestic trip doesn't have, so a Cambodia trip's total cost is usually higher than an equivalent-length Philippine trip mainly because of airfare, not on-the-ground spending.
Most travelers find 3 full days at the Angkor temple complex enough to see the major sites — Angkor Wat at sunrise, Angkor Thom and the Bayon temple, and Ta Prohm (the 'Tomb Raider' temple with tree roots) — without feeling rushed, which aligns with the 3-day Angkor Pass. If you only have 1 day, prioritize Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm and skip the more distant temple circuits, since a single day realistically only covers 2-3 major sites given the size of the complex and the midday heat.
Conclusion
Cambodia is one of the more approachable Southeast Asian trips for Filipinos precisely because there's no visa cost or paperwork hurdle for a standard visit — your main planning task is just booking a reasonable connecting flight and budgeting for the Angkor Pass. Book flights early and fly on off-peak weekdays if your dates are flexible, since airfare is the single biggest swing factor in your total trip cost. For the latest official entry requirements, double-check evisa.gov.kh before you fly, since Cambodia has updated its e-Arrival Card and entry-stamp process in recent years.
