A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amman vs. Phnom Penh for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Amman or Phnom Penh?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Phnom Penh. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Amman or Phnom Penh?

Amman

Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.

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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Amman?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $135, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $50. 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 Amman and Phnom Penh in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amman $49
    Phnom Penh $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amman $98
    Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Amman and Phnom Penh

Looking for a hotel in Amman 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.

Hotels in Amman


Hotels in Phnom Penh


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: Amman Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amman $24
    Phnom Penh $7.84
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:


  • Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.71
  • RIde to Airport
    $28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman

Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $19
  • Airport pickup or drop off transfer from or to Amman city: $95
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $30
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman: $40
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Amman By Minivan: $58
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer To Petra By Minivan: $237
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer to Amman: $24
  • Amman Airport Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $40
  • Amman Airport Transfer Pickup/Drop-Off: $22
  • Amman Airport private Transfers From/To multi destinations: $24
  • Amman Airport to Petra Shuttle, Comfortable & Affordable Transfer: $160
  • Amman Private Airport & City Transfers: $72

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:

  • Transfer Phnom Penh to Battambang, Private Taxi Driver: $125
  • Techo Phnom Penh Airport KTI to Kampot Private Transfer: $75
  • Techo International Airport Transfer to Phnom Penh Hotel: $30
  • Techo International Airport Transfer to Hotel or vice versa: $30
  • Techo International Airport Transfer by Car or Minivan: $22
  • Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh To Siem Reap, Friendly Taxi Driver: $135
  • Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $90
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer to or from Phnom Penh: $239
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer to Phnom Penh: $115
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer From/to Siem Reap - Phnom Penh: $71
  • Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
  • Siem Reap To Battambang Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Phnom Penh?

Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Amman 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Amman $58
    Phnom Penh $22
Typical Food Prices in Amman

For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Pastries
    $4.23
  • Tea
    $5.64

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman

For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Amman by Night Tour with Local Dinner: $31
  • private cooking with local chef: $40
  • Private 2 Hour Cooking Class with the Locals in Amman: $50
  • Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $80
  • Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman: $107
  • Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Arak Experience: $140

Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:


  • Dinner for Two
    $10
  • Breakfast for Two
    $4.82

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.

  • Sunset & Evening Dinner Cruise With One Way Free Pick Up: $9.90
  • Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $9.90
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise with English Speaking Guide: $10
  • Dinner 4-course Mekong River cruise with Kanika Boat: $27
  • Nightlife three hours food tours: $27
  • Evening City Tour by Tuk Tuk with 1 Dinner: $29
  • Cooking Class in Phnom Penh: $31
  • Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
  • Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
  • Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
  • Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $39
  • Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amman $32
    Phnom Penh $7.62

Tours and Activities in Amman

For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Full Day Amman Private City Tour: $9.99
  • Amman Private City Tour with Local Lunch: $18
  • Amman Private City Tour with Local Mansaf Lunch: $18
  • Seven Sleepers Cave and King Abdullah Mosque Private Tour: $18
  • Amman Old and New Private City Tour: $18
  • Amman Private City Tour: $18
  • Amman Private Guided City Tour: $18
  • Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Guided Tour: $27
  • Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Ma'in Private Guided Tour: $27
  • Madaba Mount Nebo and Baptism Private Guided Tour: $31
  • Amman and Seven Sleepers Cave Private Tour: $31
  • Full Day Madaba Mount Nebo Baptism and Dead Sea Private Tour: $35

Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh

Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2 Day-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
  • 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
  • 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
  • 3 Days Local Life Experience, Nature view, Waterfall: $199
  • 4 Hours Private Phnom Penh National Museum and Royal Palace Tour: $155
  • 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
  • 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour: $15
  • A Day Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
  • A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace S21 Killing Fields and More: $35
  • A day Trip Sightseeing Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Private English Speaking Driver: $105
  • Adventure Cambodia: A 12-Day Guided Tour off the Beaten Path: $1,525
  • All Inclusive Half Day Phnom Penh Discovery Tour: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amman $14
    Phnom Penh $4.31

Sample the Local Flavors in Amman

Also in Amman, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Full Day Tour of Ajloun Castle with Cable Car and Wine Tasting: $127

Sample the Local Flavors in Phnom Penh

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Phnom Penh:

  • Phnom Penh Pub Crawl with Free Mad Monkey Singlet: $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Phnom Penh, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East 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 Phnom Penh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phnom Penh 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Phnom Penh.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Amman or Phnom Penh?

Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Amman. When comparing the sizes of Amman 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.