How much does it cost to travel to Phnom Penh?
You should plan to spend around $40 (៛165,093) per day on your vacation in Phnom Penh. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $13 (៛52,532) on meals
- $7.75 (៛31,746) on local transportation
- $24 (៛99,834) on hotels
A one week trip to Phnom Penh for two people costs, on average, $564 (៛2,311,304). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Phnom Penh has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Phnom Penh expensive to visit?
Phnom Penh is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Cambodia, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its affordability. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Phnom Penh in depth.
Within Asia, Phnom Penh is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Luang Prabang, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Taipei.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Phnom Penh Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Phnom Penh?
The average Phnom Penh trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Phnom Penh travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
៛99,834
($24)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
៛31,746
($8)
|
|
Food 2
|
៛52,532
($13)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
៛30,848
($8)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
៛5,528 -
16,585
($1 - 4)
|
|
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1
|
៛1,250 -
3,750
($0 - 1)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
៛8,733 -
26,199
($2 - 6)
|
Accommodation Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Phnom Penh is $12 (៛49,917). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Phnom Penh is $24 (៛99,834). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Phnom Penh is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $7.75 (៛31,746) per person, per day, on local transportation in Phnom Penh.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$7.75
៛31,746
How much does it cost to go to Phnom Penh? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Phnom Penh will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Phnom Penh can vary, the average cost of food in Phnom Penh is $13 (៛52,532) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Phnom Penh should cost around $5.13 (៛21,013) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Phnom Penh is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$13
៛52,532
Typical prices for Food in Phnom Penh are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Phnom Penh, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
-
Dinner for Two
៛41,000
-
Breakfast for Two
៛19,500
Entertainment Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Phnom Penh typically cost an average of $7.53 (៛30,848) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$7.53
៛30,848
Tips and Handouts Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Phnom Penh is $2.70 (៛11,057) per day. The usual amount for a tip in Phnom Penh is 5% - 15%.
-
Tips and Handouts1
For guides or service providers
$2.70
៛11,057
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Phnom Penh is $0.61 (៛2,500), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$0.61
៛2,500
Alcohol Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $4.26 (៛17,466) on alcoholic beverages in Phnom Penh per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$4.26
៛17,466
Water Budget in Phnom Penh
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.61 (៛6,584) on bottled water in Phnom Penh per day. The public water in Phnom Penh is not usually considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.61
៛6,584
Phnom Penh On a Budget
Phnom Penh Royal Palace, Cambodia
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city in the country of Cambodia. It is located at the edge of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers and is the nation's center of economics and industry. The metropolitan area has a population of about 2.2 million.
Phnom Penh was once called the "Pearl of Asia." In the 1920s it was one of the most impressive French built cities in the region and was an important tourist destination. During the Vietnam War, refugees fled to the city and by 1975 the city's population was between 2 and 3 million, most of them being refugees. The city fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and they cut off supplies to the population for over a year. Journalists reported torture and mutilation of the trapped civilians and the Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated the city in what is known as the death march. The Khmer Rouge was driven from the city by the Vietnamese in 1979 and reconstruction began.
Today, tourism continues to grow in the city and those who visit are greeted by a welcoming and friendly population, a rich culture, and truly rewarding travel experience.
Phnom Penh has a tropical wet and dry climate. It is hot year around with very little temperature variation. Lows are usually in the low 70s Fahrenheit and highs are in the mid to high 90s Fahrenheit. The southwest monsoon brings rains between May and October and the northeast monsoon brings the dry season from November to March.
Sights
There are a good number of sights spread throughout town. In the riverfront area, known as Sisowath Quay, you will find many of the nicer buildings and more sculpted lawns. This area is also where you'll find the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which offers a thorough overview of the country's horrific past. There is also the Royal Palace, the National Museum of Cambodia, Wat Phnom, and Wat Botum, among many other interesting sights.
Neighborhoods
Wat Phnom is at the top of a hill in the north of of the city. This temple is still visited by worshipping locals and tourists who make the climb. The French Quarter is to the east of Wat Phnom. This area has the city's most impressive colonial architecture. The area also has Boeng Kak Lake, the Royal School of Fine Arts, and Hotel Le Royal.
The city's central market is Psah Thmai. It's a great place to shop.
In the east there is the Tonle Sap river, along which there are many restaurants and bars. The two kilometer strip begins at the Royal Palace and Siver Pagoda and ends to the east of Wat Phnom. On the other side of the river is Prek Leap. This area can be reached by the Cambodian-Japanese Friendship Bridge.
On the southern side of town you'll find the grand Hotel Cambodiana Phnom Penh and the Independence Monument.
The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum is in the western part of town.
Activities
Activities in Phnom Penh include cooking classes, bike tours, river cruises, and massages. If you're interested in doing some shopping, there are some great markets around town that offer everything from the essentials, like sunglasses, to local handicrafts, which make great souvenirs. Some of the better markets in town include the Central Market, Sorya Mall, City Mall, Russian Market, and Olympic Market.
Food and Dining
Phnom Penh has an excellent selection of food options, most of which are quite cheap. There is a surprising diversity of international choices available with everything from French, Thai, and Vietnamese represented. Of course, Cambodian food is available everywhere as well. Cambodian food is quite delicious, and is comparable to Thai food, although much less spicy. Many of the sauces are coconut based and are served over either fish or chicken. In the riverfront area you'll find most of the restaurants that cater to tourists, and are therefore the most diverse, but also the most expensive.
Cambodia is also well known for its exotic street food. If you're the adventurous type, you can try anything from duck embryo eggs to frogs, or grilled pig's ears, among many other things. It's probably best not to make a meal of the local specialties, but they can make for an interesting snack option.
Transportation
Many of the city's hotels are near the river, and it is possible to explore most neighborhoods on foot. There is also no shortage of motorbikes, taxis, or tuk tuks that can take you around. Do negotiate a fair price before committing to the ride.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.