Loans
Comparing Cambodian Loans
See the true annual cost of five common Cambodian loan types side by side. Some low "per-cycle" rates compound into very high yearly costs once fees are included.
Terms for each product
1. Online Loan (App-Based)
2. Loy Roub (Cycle Loan)
3. Chong Kar (Interest-Only)
4. Flat Rate Loan (MFI)
5. Declining Balance (Bank/MFI)
Optional. Chong kar has no maturity, so there is no scheduled total.
Cheapest Option: 5. Declining Balance (Bank/MFI)
EAR / APR (nominal) 19.6% · True EAR (incl. fees) 21.9%
Most Expensive Option: 1. Online Loan (App-Based)
EAR / APR (nominal) 156.4% · True EAR (incl. fees) 439.1%
| Loan type | Cash Actually Received | Installment per Period | Total Interest (over term) | EAR / APR (nominal) | True EAR (incl. fees) | Cost Rank (1 = most expensive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Online Loan (App-Based)Often unlicensed. Many app-based lenders operate without NBC approval, which may be against Cambodian law. | $950 | $1,030 | $1,564 | 156.4% | 439.1% | 1 |
| 2. Loy Roub (Cycle Loan)Unregulated informal lending, not licensed by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC). | $1,000 | $1,100 | $1,217 | 121.7% | 121.7% | 2 |
| 3. Chong Kar (Interest-Only)Unregulated informal lending, not licensed by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC). | $1,000 | $50 | $600 | 60.0% | 60.0% | 3 |
| 4. Flat Rate Loan (MFI) | $990 | $98 | $180 | 36.8% | 39.5% | 4 |
| 5. Declining Balance (Bank/MFI) | $990 | $92 | $100 | 19.6% | 21.9% | 5 |
Gap between cheapest and priciest
136.9%
In annual rate
Cheapest costs
$100
Total Interest (over term)
Priciest costs
$1,564
Total Interest (over term)
29 Sept 2026
Annual rate as quoted. The bars are ranked most to least expensive.
The quoted rate is what the lender advertises. The true rate is worked out on the cash you actually receive after the up-front fee, which is what the loan really costs you.