Withdrawing cash in Cambodia — ATMs, fees, limits

TL;DR

• In Cambodia, the bank that owns the ATM charges a per-withdrawal fee: expect about 4 to 5 USD per transaction at a third-party ATM, free if you withdraw at one of your own bank’s ATMs (e.g. an ABA card at an ABA ATM).
• ATMs dispense USD or KHR, your choice: in USD you get 50 or 100 bills (never 1 or 5), in KHR you get 10,000 to 50,000 notes.
• To avoid these fees, pay cashless with the KHQR code from your banking app — it’s the fastest-growing payment method in the country.

How withdrawals work

Cambodia runs dual-currency (USD + KHR, fixed rate ~4,100 KHR/USD). So every withdrawal comes down to two questions: which currency you want, and how much fee you pay.

The fees stacked on a withdrawal

A single withdrawal can carry up to two layers of fees:

1. ATM fee (Cambodian bank) — charged by the bank that owns the machine:
   • Card from the same bank (e.g. an ABA card at an ABA ATM): free.
   • Card from another Cambodian bank: about 4 to 5 USD per withdrawal (up to ~6 USD at some banks).
   • Foreign card (non-Cambodian Visa / Mastercard): 5 to 10 USD per withdrawal depending on the ATM.
2. Your home bank’s fee — for a foreign card, your bank may add its own foreign-withdrawal commission plus an exchange margin. These are independent of the Cambodian ATM.

USD or KHR: what the ATM dispenses

All ATMs at Cambodian banks offer both currencies:

• In USD: usually 50 or 100 USD bills (never 1, 2 or 5 — the NBC has been withdrawing small bills since 2020).
• In KHR: 10,000, 20,000 or 50,000 KHR notes.
• The daily rate applied is close to mid-market at the big banks (ABA, ACLEDA), with no hidden margin.

Cost and limits

Indicative fees by profile

These figures are indicative: each bank sets its own schedule and revises it. Confirm the current fee on your bank’s “fees” page before a large withdrawal.

Per-transaction limit

ATMs impose a maximum per withdrawal, separate from your card’s daily limit:

• The per-transaction cap depends on the ATM and the bills loaded. In practice, many machines limit to the equivalent of a few hundred USD per operation.
• For a large amount, chain several withdrawals — but every withdrawal at a third-party ATM re-charges the fee. It’s often cheaper to withdraw a large sum at once (one fee) than to make many small withdrawals.
• At your branch counter, you can withdraw much more than the ATM limit, on presentation of your passport.

Which banks for the fewest fees / most ATMs

• ABA Bank: the densest ATM network in the big cities (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Aeon Mall). Free withdrawals for ABA customers at ABA ATMs — the number-one reason to open an ABA account if you live here.
• ACLEDA Bank: the most widespread network in the provinces and rural areas. Best if you live outside the big cities.
• Canadia Bank, J Trust Royal: solid urban networks, accept foreign cards.
• Foreign card: all these networks accept Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Plus (and JCB at some banks) — but with the 5-10 USD “foreign card” fee on the KH side.

The logic is simple: hold a card from the bank whose ATMs you use. For most settled expats, that means an ABA account (see opening an account and best banks for expats).

Going cashless: KHQR / Bakong

The best way to avoid ATM fees is to not withdraw cash:

• KHQR (the NBC / Bakong system) unifies QR-code payments: a single QR code at the merchant accepts payments from all participating Cambodian banks.
• You scan from your app (ABA, ACLEDA, Wing…), you pay in KHR or USD depending on your balance, with no fee to you in the vast majority of cases.
• It’s adopted by supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, markets, taxis, and many street vendors. For daily life, KHQR covers most needs and drastically cuts your cash requirement.

The dual-currency change problem

When you pay in USD for a non-round amount (e.g. 7.50 USD), you get change in KHR (≈ 2,050 KHR here). For your withdrawals this means:

• If you withdraw only USD in large bills (50/100), you’ll struggle to pay small amounts and pile up riel as change.
• If you withdraw in KHR, you pay tuk-tuks, markets and street food directly in riel — without the unfavourable conversion some merchants apply.
• A mixed strategy is best: some KHR for daily life, USD for rent and large purchases. The “when to use which” detail is in the USD vs KHR guide.

Safety at ATMs

• Take both the card AND the cash: some ATMs dispense the bills then return the card (or vice versa). Don’t leave before you have both.
• Small withdrawals at night: don’t count large wads in the street. Put the cash away before stepping out.
• Card retained: if the ATM keeps your card, contact your bank immediately (number on the back of the card or in the app) to block it.
• Damaged USD bills from an ATM: rare, but if a bill is torn/stained, swap it at the bank counter — many merchants refuse less-than-perfect USD notes.

Common pitfalls

FAQ

How much does an ATM withdrawal cost in Cambodia?

It depends on the card. Free if you use one of your own bank’s ATMs (e.g. an ABA card at an ABA ATM). About 4 to 5 USD per withdrawal at another Cambodian bank’s ATM. 5 to 10 USD for a foreign card, plus any fees from your home bank. These figures are indicative — check your bank’s current schedule.

Is it better to withdraw in USD or KHR?

In KHR if you’ll spend at markets, tuk-tuks and street food (the denominations fit and you avoid the unfavourable conversion). In USD for rent, a large purchase or travel. Many expats withdraw a bit of both. See USD vs KHR.

Which bank has the most ATMs?

ABA Bank has the densest network in the big cities and malls; ACLEDA is the most present in the provinces and rural areas. Holding a card from the bank whose ATMs you use makes your withdrawals free.

Does my Wise or Revolut card work at ATMs?

Yes, at ABA, ACLEDA, Canadia, J Trust and other ATMs. But the Cambodian bank’s ATM fee (5-10 USD) still applies, on top of Wise/Revolut’s free allowances. For regular cash, a local ABA account is cheaper. Details in the Wise / Revolut guide.

Is there a withdrawal limit?

Yes — a per-transaction maximum (often the equivalent of a few hundred USD, depending on the ATM) and a daily limit set by your card. At your branch counter you can withdraw more with your passport.

How do I avoid withdrawal fees?

Three levers: (1) use your own bank’s ATM (free), (2) bundle withdrawals to dilute the fixed fee, (3) pay by KHQR from your banking app instead of cash — it’s free and accepted almost everywhere.