Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap or Ayutthaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ayutthaya or Siem Reap?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Siem Reap? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ayutthaya or Siem Reap?
Ayutthaya
Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAyutthaya $62Siem Reap $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $62, while the average daily cost in Siem Reap is $81. 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 Ayutthaya and Siem Reap in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAyutthaya $21Siem Reap $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAyutthaya $42Siem Reap $102
Compare Hotels in Ayutthaya and Siem Reap
Looking for a hotel in Ayutthaya or Siem Reap? 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: Ayutthaya Hotel Prices and Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ayutthaya $27Siem Reap $8.79
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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River Ferry Crossing$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:
- Transfer from Bangkok: $98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$13
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Bike Rentals$1.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Siem Reap Airport (SAI): Transfer to/from Siem Reap Hotel: $7.50
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $9.00
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $10
- Tonle Sap Sunset Boat Cruise with Transfers: $23
- Private Transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $24
- Siem Reap Angkor Airport Transfer or Pick-up: $25
- Private Transfers Siem Reap Angkor Airport (SAI): $26
- Phare, Cambodian Circus with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $27
- Private Transfers Siem Reap New Airport/ Angkor Wat Tour: $29
- Private Transfers Siem Reap New Airport/ Angkor Wat Tour: $29
- Private One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $30
- Siem Reap Angkor International Airport private transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Ayutthaya or Siem Reap?
Prices for flights to both Siem Reap and Ayutthaya 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 dayAyutthaya $20Siem Reap $16
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$3.82
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Ice Cream$0.82
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Breakfast for 2$3.82
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Breakfast for 2$9.55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.
- Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $19
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
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Breakfast for Two$5.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $17
- Apsara Dinner Show with Free transfer from to your hotel: $20
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $26
- Apsara Dance Show & Dinner with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $27
- Cooking Class and Market Shopping: $29
- Khmer Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $29
- Morning Cooking Class & Market Tour: $29
- Half-Day Cambodian Cooking Class: $32
- Cambodian Cooking Class from Siem Reap: $32
- Cambodian Desserts Cooking Lesson with Tastings: $32
- Cambodian Cooking Class: $35
- Afternoon Cooking Class & Village Tour: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ayutthaya $27Siem Reap $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Temple Entrances (2)$5.46
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Wat Entrance$1.36
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
- Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $35
- The Incredible Ayutthaya Ancient Temple Tour: $52
- Colors of UNESCO Heritage 6 hour Bicycle Tour: $54
- From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Day Tour Small Group: $57
- Day out to Ayutthaya with return Grand Pearl River Cruise: $71
- Bangkok: City Highlights, Temple, and Market Walking Tour: $77
- Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $141
- From Bangkok: Tour Ayutthaya + Lunch + Spanish guide: $147
- Ancient City Temple Tour: $163
- From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Full Day Private Guided Tour: $346
- Ayutthaya’s Heritage Revealed A Day Tour from Bangkok: $630
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Angkor Tour Guide$8.24
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Walking Tour: $6.00
- Angkor Wat Tour by Tuk-Tuk with English Speaking Driver: $9.00
- Angkor Eye Standard Ride Ticket: $12
- Angkor Temples Sunrise Tour with tours guide at only 9$/pax: $12
- Angkor Temples Tour - Shared Tours tours guide: $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Small Tour: $13
- Small Tour Group + Sun Rise 12$ / 1pax: $13
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Small-Groups with Guide tour: $13
- Angkor Sunrise Temple Tour with Angkor Wat, Bayon & Ta Prohm: $13
- Sunset Small Groups with Massive Temples & Guide tour: $14
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Sunrise Angkor Wat Temple Tour: $15
- Angkor Wat one Day Private Tour for All Highlight Temples: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAyutthaya $18Siem Reap $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Siem Reap, we can see that Siem Reap is more expensive. And not only is Ayutthaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ayutthaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ayutthaya 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 Siem Reap would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Siem Reap than you might in Ayutthaya.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is Siem Reap Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Siem Reap?
Siem Reap has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya and Siem Reap, 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.