Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Addis Ababa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Addis Ababa or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Addis Ababa or Phnom Penh, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Addis Ababa or Phnom Penh?
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia and also the nation's largest when ranked by its population of over three million. There are also more than 120 international missions and embassies in Addis Ababa, making the city a hub for international diplomacy concerning Africa. Other draws include its thriving marketplaces, spicy food, and rich coffee.
Phnom Penh
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAddis Ababa $32Phnom Penh $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Addis Ababa is $32, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $41. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Addis Ababa and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAddis Ababa $21Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAddis Ababa $42Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Addis Ababa and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Addis Ababa or Phnom Penh? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Addis Ababa Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Addis Ababa $3.74Phnom Penh $7.81
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Addis Ababa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Addis Ababa are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Addis Ababa
Also for Addis Ababa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Services Addis Abeba Airport : $23
- Addis Ababa Airport in/out transfer: $49
- Addis Ababa Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $82
- Addis Shuttles: On-Time & Reliable, Airport Transfers: $20
- City and Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa: $26
- City/Airport Transfer in Addis Ababa - Shuttles: $22
- City/Airport Transfers-Addis Ababa: $26
- Lalibela Full Day Tour with Guide and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Bole Airport Addis Ababa (ADD) to Addis Ababa: $114
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Vip Taxi Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $450
- Vip Taxi Transfer from Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk: $450
- Private Taxi transfer from Bangkok to Phnom Penh City: $449
- Private Taxi transfer from Pattaya to Phnom Penh (Cambodia): $435
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Pattaya (Thailand): $435
- Private Transfer Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Hotel or Airport: $420
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Bangkok: $408
- 3-Days Sightseeing Tour include Airport Transfer: $300
- Phnom Penh to Mondulkiri Private Transfer: $215
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Koh Kong Province: $172
- Private taxi transfer Phnom Penh to Pursat or Battambang: $155
- Private Transfer VIP Vehicle Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: $155
Is it cheaper to fly into Addis Ababa or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Addis Ababa change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAddis Ababa $8.35Phnom Penh $13
Typical Food Prices in Addis Ababa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Addis Ababa:
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Slice of Cake$0.06
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Addis Ababa
For Addis Ababa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food tour in Addis Ababa with airport pick-up.: $56
- Mom's cooking class: $60
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour Addis Ababa: $62
- Addis abeba Full Cooking class.: $70
- Yod Abyssinia Cultural Night: Dinner, Music, and Dance: $87
- Ethiopian cooking class: $95
- Cooking class in Addis Ababa: $95
- Local Ethiopian Food Tour: $100
- Food tours in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: $103
- Unique Ethiopian Cooking Class and Coffee Ceremony with a Local in Addis Ababa: $116
- Food tours in Addis Ababa tastever with lunch: $120
- Private Ethiopian Home Cooking Class in Addis Ababa with Transfer: $124
Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:
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Dinner for Two$10
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Breakfast for Two$4.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $9.90
- Sunset Dinner Cruises w/Live Music, 5&7pm; Free Pickup Available: $9.90
- Dinner Cruise 1h45 on the Mekong including 4 courses + 1 drink: $23
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Evening Food Tour with Drinks & Tuk Tuk Included: $40
- Phnom Penh Morning Market & Food Tour by Tuktuk - Includes All Food & Drinks!: $45
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive over 10 Local Tastings: $49
- Evening Cambodian Food Tour: $60
- Phnom Penh's experience: cooking class and stay over : $60
- Phnom Penh Authentic Evening Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
- Ultimate PP Food Tour by Tuk Tuk - 20 tastings & drinks included: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Addis Ababa $3.86Phnom Penh $7.59
Tours and Activities in Addis Ababa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Addis Ababa.
- Private City Tour of Addis Ababa: $39
- Addis Ababa city tour.: $49
- Pup crawl and nightlife tour in Addis Ababa.: $50
- Best of Addis Ababa City Tour: $53
- City Tour with Airport Pick-Up: $56
- Historical and sightseeing tour in Addis Ababa: $57
- Addis Ababa City Tour: $60
- Half Day City Tour of Addis Ababa : $60
- Addis Ababa city Tour: $60
- City Highlights and Market Tour: $60
- Guided Walking Tour with National Museum: $61
- Guided City Tour: $62
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Killing field and Toul Sleng genocide museum Tour: $18
- Phnom Penh Full Day Private Tours: $155
- Phnom Penh boating sunset Tour: $87
- 10 Stop Phnom Penh Tour by Tuk-Tuk, includes S21 & Killing Fields: $34
- 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
- 2 days Tour Cambodia shooting Range Phnom Penh Experience + video: $120
- 2 days tour in Phnom Penh City Tour: $80
- 2hours Private Sunset Cruise with unlimited beer, soft drinks and Tour guide: $67
- 4 Hours Private Phnom Penh National Museum and Royal Palace Tour: $155
- 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
- 9 Days Cambodia Highlights Guided Motorcycle Tour: $2,003
- 9-Day Cambodia Tour with Angkor Wat: $1,199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAddis Ababa $3.19Phnom Penh $4.30
Sample the Local Flavors in Addis Ababa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Addis Ababa:
- Pub-crawl Tour ( locally crafted beer and wine tasting ): $52
- Night Tour Addis Ababa beer and wine tasting: $59
- Pub crawl Addis Ababa: $69
Sample the Local Flavors in Phnom Penh
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Phnom Penh:
- Mad Monkey Phnom Penh Pub Crawl: $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Addis Ababa and Phnom Penh, we can see that Phnom Penh is more expensive. And not only is Addis Ababa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Addis Ababa is in Africa and Phnom Penh is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Addis Ababa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Addis Ababa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Phnom Penh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phnom Penh than you might in Addis Ababa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Addis Ababa Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Addis Ababa or Phnom Penh?
Addis Ababa has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Addis Ababa and Phnom Penh, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.