Cambodia Guide
Money
Cambodia's unit of currency is the riel, abbreviated to "r". Notes come in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000, although the bigger notes are seldom seen, as dollars tend to be used for larger transactions. US dollars are accepted everywhere; you can pay in dollars rather than riel at guesthouses, restaurants, tourist sites, even street stalls. In fact, it's possible to get by in Cambodia without actually changing any foreign currency into riel at all. Coins are not used, however, so all of your small change will come back to you in local currency, and smaller transactions are almost always priced in riel; the standard rate used is $1 = 4000r. Thai baht, abbreviated to "B", are also widely used in the border areas, and on the main trade routes from Thailand.
It's best to change your currency into dollars before you enter Cambodia, although banks in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap will exchange most currencies. ATMs are easy to find in most cities, particularly at branches of ANZ Royal Bank, where for a small fee you can withdraw money via Cirrus/Maestro. Credit-card cash advances are available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Battambang, but don't rely on them as a source of cash, as systems are unreliable. Branches of the Canadia Bank give commission-free cash advances on Visa and MasterCard. Traveller's cheques can be changed at most banks for a small commission, normally two percent.