$100 & $50 are still floating around & accepted, but not so many dollars in lower denominations - get used to the 50k, 20k & 10k riels instead; and yes ATMs dispense Khmer Riel also in the big denominations like 50k/20k.

If you're just visiting Cambodia, then the usual rules still apply - small payments are usually done in Riel, larger payments are done in dollars, although Riel is perfectly fine for larger payments also. The only reason smaller payments under a dollar can't be done using dollars is because $1 is the smallest denomination.

However, if you're staying long term, get yourself an ABA account. I don't think I'm alone in saying this, but hardly anyone uses cash in the KOW anymore. Absolutely everything and anything can be paid for via ABA. I don't even carry a wallet with me anymore. Just my phone. Can't remember the last time I went to an ATM and can't remember the last time I paid for anything in cash.

DeparRudeAnts wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:53 pm

xandreu wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2023 6:38 pm don't think I'm alone in saying this, but hardly anyone uses cash in the KOW anymore.

Do you not get out much?

Yes. I live in Cambodia and go out every day. And when I go out, I often buy things. And every time I do, I use ABA to pay.

I'm not sure how 'whether I get out much' is relevant to my comment.

Care to expand on your rather vague and seemingly irrelevant comment?

Wouldn’t this largely be determined by what type of visitor you are? If you are most likely frequenting western oriented establishments, like bars and restaurants, then you might well be doing most of your purchases in Electronic or Cash US dollars.
If you’re more inclined to mixing day to day at a local level, then you might find a greater proportion of transactions in Cash riels.

As a daily effort, I’d say we as a family split things roughly 50/50 between US$ and KH Riels, out and around Phnom Penh, although that’s starting to shift towards Electronic dollars, and Cash riels, with significantly less Electronic riels.
But we have the convenience of a local bank account, and take money out in either currency to suit- like government official stuff which is US $ cash, in the main.
There are plenty of occasions where cash Riels is the only way, but that’s largely in the provinces.