Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Antananarivo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Antananarivo or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Antananarivo and Phnom Penh can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Antananarivo or Phnom Penh?
Antananarivo
Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.
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 Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar, 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 dayAntananarivo $70Phnom Penh $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Antananarivo is $70, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $40. 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 Antananarivo and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAntananarivo $29Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAntananarivo $58Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Antananarivo and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Antananarivo 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: Antananarivo Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Antananarivo $14Phnom Penh $7.78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:
- Madagascar: Airport Ivato transfer to hotel: $33
- Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $68
- Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Private Phnom Penh Airport Transfers to your hotel in town: $10
- Phnom Penh Airport Transfers: $15
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Phnom Penh APT-HTL (PNH): $16
- Private Transfer: Phnom Penh Airport(PNH) to Hotel in Phnom Penh: $18
- Phnom Penh Airport Transfers: $19
- Private Transfer From Phnom Penh International Airport To Phnom Penh City Center: $21
- Private Taxi Transfer From/To Phnom Penh Airport - Hotels: $22
- Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $22
- Phnom Penh International Airport Transfer (PNH): $23
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Hotels: $24
- Private Airport Transfer: $24
- Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Antananarivo or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Antananarivo 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 dayAntananarivo $28Phnom Penh $13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Antananarivo.
- Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245
- Private City and food tour in Antananarivo: $500
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$4.78
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
- 4-hours cooking with us in the Hinterlands of Phnom Penh: $30
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Evening Food Tour with Drinks & Tuk Tuk Included: $36
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive over 10 Local Tastings: $44
- Phnom Penh Morning Market & Food Tour by Tuktuk - Includes All Food & Drinks!: $45
- Khmer Cooking Class Full Day: $46
- Ultimate PP Food Tour by Tuk Tuk - 20 tastings & drinks included: $69
- Phnom Penh Authentic Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
- Phnom Penh's Ultimate Street Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: $69
- Cambodia Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Antananarivo $23Phnom Penh $7.56
Tours and Activities in Antananarivo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Antananarivo are as follows:
- Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $24
- Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
- Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
- Antananarivo : Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $36
- Guided Tour and sunset in queen's palace: $65
- Private Ambohimanga and Ironwork Shop Tour from Antananarivo: $89
- Madagascar: Customizable Tour with Car Rental: $111
- Private Tour Through the Wildlife of Madagascar and the Kingdom of Rova: $141
- Day - Tour Ampefy: $150
- Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
- Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $209
- Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mad Monkey Phnom Penh Riverside Walking Tour: $6.00
- Mad Monkey Phnom Penh Riverside Walking Tour : $6.00
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $14
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $14
- The best Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers and Soft Drinks: $15
- Killing Fields and Prison S21 Bus Tour: $15
- Phnom Penh Killing Field Toul Sleng Prison Tour: $15
- The killing field and Toul Sleng Genocide museum (S21) Tour: $15
- NEW Sunset Cruise! "Your cruise U Choose" - BBQ, Drinks or Cruise: $15
- Sunset Cruise with unlimited beer & soft drinks -English speaking guide on board: $16
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAntananarivo $9.35Phnom Penh $4.28
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 Antananarivo and Phnom Penh, we can see that Antananarivo is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Antananarivo 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 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 Antananarivo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Antananarivo or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 13% larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Antananarivo 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.