Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Athens 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 Athens 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: Athens or Phnom Penh?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
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 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €154Phnom Penh €44
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is €44. 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 Athens and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Phnom Penh €11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Phnom Penh €22
Compare Hotels in Athens and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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: Athens Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Phnom Penh €6.85
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- "Private Airport Transfer: Athens Airport to/from Piraeus Port": $79
- "Quick Athens Highlights Tour: Airport or Cruise ship Transfers": $264
- Aegean Wonders Santorini Transfers: $31
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Business Car: $90
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Car: $140
- Airport Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Van: $125
- Airport Transfer: Athens to Athens Airport ATH by Luxury Van: $125
- Alimos Glyfada Vouliagmeni to Athens Airport Private Transfer: $39
- Arrival Transfer from Αthens Airport to Piraeus Port: $51
- Arrival Transfer from Athens Airport to Athens City: $86
- Arrival Transfer: Athens Airport ATH to Athens by Luxury Van: $125
- Athens Airport Private Arrival Transfer To Athens City: $86
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh City to Can Tho City: $375
- Siem Reap: Private Transfer to or from Phnom Penh: $239
- Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by VIP Alphard 2010: $190
- Private Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $160
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
- Private Taxi Transfer from/to Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville city: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Kompot or Kep: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $145
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Athens 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 dayAthens €64Phnom Penh €20
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Athens Food Tour (5+ Stops) - Full Meal Included by Do Eat Better: $55
- Ancient Roman and Greek Dinner With Ancient Wine Styles: $64
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $68
- Classic Athens Food Tour with Local Drink & Market Visit: $68
- Cooking Class & Meal at a Roof Garden in Athens: $68
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $74
- Acropolis Food Tour with a Local Friend: $74
- Athens Street Food Tour: Taste the best street food: $78
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $79
- Athens Private Food Tour:Eat like a Greek! Seafood& Wine included: $80
- Feast on LGBTQ+ Walking Food Tour: $82
- Around Greece in 5 Dishes: Dinner, Theater & Music: $82
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€8.84
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Breakfast for Two€4.21
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 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
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
- Street Art and Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $39
- Authentic Walking Food Tour with Local Guide: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Phnom Penh €6.65
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self Guided Walking Tour in Athens Hidden Gems: $1.12
- Self-Guided Tour In Athens With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.42
- Ancient Athens Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.42
- Athens Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $4.85
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- South Slope Acropolis Self-Guided 3D Audio Tour (No Ticket): $8.00
- Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.01
- Athens Exploration Private Game and City Tour on your Phone: $9.14
- Piraeus City Tour: 1-Day Hop On Hop Off Mini Train Ticket: $9.15
- Athens' Podoniftis Stream: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Corinth Tour: $11
- Athens Walking Tour with Audio Guide on Your Smartphone: $11
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ( Free eSim) Phnom Penh Historical Full Day Tour: $40
- 2 Day Mt. Aural Hiking Adventure Cambodia's Peak Challenge: $249
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Siem Reap Private Tour, Cambodia Road Tour: $25
- 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
- 3 Day Cambodia Private Tours: $80
- 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
- A Day Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
- A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace S21 Killing Fields and More: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Phnom Penh €3.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $14
- Polykala Distillery: 128 years of history & liqueur tasting.: $16
- The NightCrawlers | Athens Bar Hopping | Pub Crawl: $22
- Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $27
- Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $36
- Greek Wine Tasting and Pairing in Chalandri: $46
- Athens Small Group Wine Tasting with a Sommelier: $51
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $56
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting: $56
- Athens bar crawl: $57
- Athens Greek Wine Tasting with Sommelier and City Views: $62
- Greek food and wine tasting: $68
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 Athens and Phnom Penh, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens 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 Athens Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Athens. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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.