Budget hotels and hostels in Siem Reap

At a glance

The short version

Why it is cheap: Supply built for peak season has to fill in the other eight months
What you can expect: A private room, air conditioning, wifi and usually a pool
Where: Spread across town; the cluster near Pub Street is loudest and often the cheapest
Green season: June to October is when the bargains are real
What to check: Air conditioning rather than a fan, and whether the quoted rate includes the temple-run driver
Not to skimp on: The Angkor pass itself, which is fixed and not negotiable

Siem Reap built for the high season and has to fill those rooms in the other eight months. That arithmetic is the whole reason budget accommodation here is as good as it is.

A private room with air conditioning, wifi and access to a pool is a realistic expectation at the bottom of this market, particularly between June and October. The gap between a dorm bed and a private budget room is often small enough that it is worth pricing both.

Where to be

The cheapest cluster sits around Pub Street, which is also the loudest. A few streets out in any direction the prices barely move and the nights get considerably quieter. That is usually the trade worth making.

What not to economise on

Air conditioning in the hot months, and the Angkor pass, which is a fixed price and the reason you came. Everything else is negotiable.

Questions travellers ask

How cheap is Siem Reap really?

Cheap enough that the temple pass is usually the largest line in a budget traveller's day, not the room.

Should I book a hostel or a cheap hotel?

In Siem Reap the gap is small. Private rooms in budget hotels often cost little more than a dorm bed, so compare both.

Is air conditioning worth it?

Between March and June, yes, without hesitation. It is the one thing worth paying for in the hot season.

Is the cheap area safe?

Siem Reap is a comfortable town. The Pub Street cluster is noisy rather than unsafe; take a tuk-tuk back late rather than walking unlit lanes.