Cost of Studying in Cambodia: Tuition Fees and Living Expenses
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 18, 2026 • Money & Budgeting, Study in Southeast Asia
Public university tuition in Cambodia commonly runs 200-800 USD a year for local students, while private universities charge 1,000-3,000 USD a year, and international student rates at private universities run 2,000-5,000 USD for a bachelor's and 3,000-7,000 USD for a master's. A single student in Phnom Penh spends roughly 780-1,000 USD a month on rent, food and transport, less if sharing housing and eating locally.
💵 Public tuition: 200-800 USD a year for local students
💵 Private tuition: 1,000-3,000 USD a year for local students, more for international students
🏠 A 1-bedroom apartment runs 300-550 USD a month outside the city center, more in BKK1
⏱️ Local meals cost 1.50-5 USD, Western or Asian restaurant meals run 10-20 USD
Tuition fees by university type
Tuition in Cambodia depends heavily on whether you attend a public or private university, and on whether you enroll as a local or international student. Public universities keep fees low because the government subsidizes them, while private universities set their own fee schedules and charge international students a separate, higher rate.
| University type | Student type | Typical tuition per year |
|---|---|---|
| Public university | Local | 200-800 USD |
| Private university | Local | 1,000-3,000 USD |
| Private university | International, bachelor's | 2,000-5,000 USD |
| Private university | International, master's | 3,000-7,000 USD |
These ranges vary by faculty and institution. At Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia , published undergraduate fees, including administrative charges, range from about 897 USD in year one to 1,097 USD in year four. Some institutions publish a flat minimum instead, such as the University of Cambodia's 1,000 USD a year baseline for foreign students. Check the specific faculty's published fee schedule rather than relying on a university-wide average, since medicine, engineering and business programs commonly cost more than humanities or education programs.
What tuition does and does not include
Published tuition figures generally cover instruction only. Registration fees, lab fees for science and engineering programs, library fees, exam resit fees and graduation fees usually sit outside the base tuition number and appear as separate line items on your invoice. Budget an extra 5-15 percent on top of tuition for these charges in your first year, then check your specific university's fee schedule for the exact figure once you have an offer.
Monthly living costs in Phnom Penh
Most international and out-of-province students study in Phnom Penh, so living costs there set the baseline for budgeting. A single person's overall monthly budget in Phnom Penh runs roughly 780-1,250 USD , and a student on a tighter budget lives comfortably around 1,000 USD a month, less with shared housing and home cooking.
| Expense | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside city center (Toul Tom Poung) | 300-550 USD |
| 1-bedroom apartment, upscale district (BKK1) | 400-900+ USD |
| Local meal (noodle soup or cookshop) | 1.50-5 USD per meal |
| Western, Japanese or Korean restaurant meal | 10-20 USD per meal |
Sharing an apartment with roommates cuts your rent significantly below the solo rates above, and it is common practice among Cambodian and international students alike. Eating at local cookshops and markets instead of Western restaurants keeps your food budget close to the low end of the range, while a diet mixing in imported or Western food pushes it toward the high end.
Costs outside Phnom Penh
Rent and daily costs run lower in secondary cities such as Siem Reap and Battambang than in Phnom Penh, though these cities offer a smaller range of degree programs and fewer private university options. If your target program exists both in Phnom Penh and a secondary city, comparing the total cost of living makes a meaningful difference to your annual budget, especially on the housing side.
Building your full year budget
Add tuition, mandatory fees, and 12 months of living costs together to get a realistic annual figure, then add a buffer for one-time costs like a housing deposit, a laptop, textbooks and health insurance in your first year. For a local student at a public university on a lean budget, total annual cost including modest living expenses lands well under 15,000 USD. For an international student at a private university paying international rates and living moderately, total annual cost more commonly sits between 11,000 and 22,000 USD, depending on the program and lifestyle.