Quick summary
Grab at Phnom Penh airport now means Techo International Airport (KTI), which replaced Phnom Penh International (PNH) on 9 September 2025. A Grab car to the city costs about $15–20, an official airport taxi $17–35, and the Airport Express Bus 1,500 Riels (about $0.37) one way, daily 5:30 AM–11:30 PM.
The bus stops at 11:30 PM and pre-booked cars add a $10 surcharge after 10 PM, so late arrivals pay more. Below: app setup, every KTI-to-city option, visa-on-arrival paperwork and late-night fallbacks.
Techo International Airport (KTI) officially replaced Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) on 9 September 2025. Every 2026 arrival now lands roughly 20–26 km south of the city, with 45 minutes to an hour of road between the terminal and a central hotel.
The cheapest ride out costs about 37 US cents. The gap between the cheapest and the dearest option is more than $34. For travellers arriving from North America, Europe or Australia, the decision usually turns on one thing: what time you land. A late arrival changes the choice.
The wrong choice at the kerb costs many times the bus ticket. The right one depends on your arrival time, your luggage and whether your phone can register a Cambodian ride-hailing account.
Phnom Penh’s airport changed: KTI, not PNH
A booking that still says PNH is out of date. The two Phnom Penh airports sit on opposite sides of the city, so a car sent to the old code will not find you.
The move did not change the risk in the city. Motorbike-based bag snatching is a documented problem in Phnom Penh, particularly around the Riverside area and BKK1. Phones held at the kerb are the usual target. The bag-snatching risk in Phnom Penh is worth reading before you arrive.
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Set up Grab or PassApp before you land
Grab Phnom Penh airport pickups are the default for most visitors, with PassApp as the local backup. Both need an account before you can book, and registration is where arrivals get stuck.
PassApp may require an active mobile number, and its SMS verification has failed on foreign numbers. That can leave arrivals trying to sign up in the arrivals hall on airport Wi-Fi.
Grab has the broader reach. As of August 2026 the company lists 21 Cambodian locations with live vehicle supply by market, while PassApp covers seven cities. Grab’s Cambodia footprint spans ride-hailing, food delivery and digital payments in one app.
The official taxi counter inside the terminal needs no phone.
Your KTI-to-city options and what they cost
Four ways out of KTI have widely different prices. Since 9 September 2025 the Airport Express Bus has run daily from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM between the airport and the city centre, according to Phnom Penh City Bus, the operator that announced the route.
A one-way bus ticket costs 1,500 Riels (about $0.37). A Grab car to the centre typically costs $15–20, while official airport taxis at the counter run $17–35.
The bus is roughly one-fortieth of a Grab fare. The app undercuts the official taxi counter at the bottom of its range, while the top taxi fare is more than double the cheapest app quote.
Pre-booked cars are priced by vehicle: a 4-seat car is $28 and a 7-seat van $35, both before 10 PM. The smaller car costs more than a typical Grab ride but falls within the official taxi range; the van sits at the top of that range. You pay for certainty, not a lower price.
Car rental counters are in the Arrival Hall if you would rather drive yourself.
Arrival paperwork and late-night fallbacks
Most nationalities can buy a visa on arrival at KTI for $30. The counter asks for a passport photo and US dollar cash, and the banknote rule for Cambodia’s visa on arrival is strict enough to be worth reading before you fly.
Late arrivals face a narrower choice. After the bus stops, the options are the app, the official taxi counter or a pre-booked car at the higher rate.
PassApp is the weak link at that hour. An untested account can leave you standing at the kerb trying to sign up.
Before your flight lands at KTI
Three of these are decided before you board.
- Check the code on your booking and on any pre-booked transfer: the arrival airport is KTI, not PNH.
- Carry the paperwork for a visa on arrival: a passport photo and clean, unmarked US dollar notes.
- Set your fallback before you land: the last Airport Express Bus leaves at 11:30 PM, and pre-booked cars add $10 after 10 PM. Set the account up and test the payment flow before you leave home; if PassApp has not been tested, treat the official taxi counter as your backup.
The bus, the counter and the app all leave from the same terminal, and only one has to be arranged before you board. Confirm Grab’s pickup point in the app before you exit.
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Questions? Answers.
How do I get from Phnom Penh airport to the city?
Three options leave KTI: the Airport Express Bus at 1,500 Riels, a Grab car at about $15–20, and an official airport taxi at $17–35. The trip is 20–26 km and takes 45 minutes to an hour. If you plan to drive yourself, car rental counters are inside the Arrival Hall.
How much is a Grab from the airport?
A Grab car from KTI to central Phnom Penh typically costs $15–20, the cheapest car option on the corridor. Pre-booked cars are priced higher — $28 for a 4-seat car and $35 for a 7-seat van before 10 PM — so the app is the cheaper car booking unless it cannot serve you.
Is there Grab in Phnom Penh?
Yes. Grab lists 21 Cambodian locations as of August 2026, and PassApp, the main local alternative, covers seven cities. Both need an account set up in advance, and PassApp’s SMS verification has failed on foreign mobile numbers.
Which is cheaper, Grab or taxi?
Grab, at the bottom of the range. A Grab car runs about $15–20 against $17–35 for an official airport taxi, so the app saves up to $20 at the top of the taxi range. The Airport Express Bus undercuts both at 1,500 Riels.
Is it safe to take Grab at night?
The practical difference after dark is price certainty. The Airport Express Bus stops at 11:30 PM, pre-booked cars add a $10 surcharge after 10 PM, and the app fare is quoted before you travel rather than negotiated at the kerb.
