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

Should you visit Cappadocia or Phnom Penh?

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

Should I visit Cappadocia or Phnom Penh? 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: Cappadocia or Phnom Penh?

Cappadocia

Cappadocia is in Central Anatolia, between the mountains Erciyes, Melendiz and Hasan. It is famous for its underground cities, fairy chimneys, and caves. The landscape of the area is some of the most unique you'll ever see. The fairy chimneys are bizarrely shaped rock outcroppings that have evolved from the unique geography in the area. There are hiking trails through the series of valleys that make up the area. It's a great place to explore for outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers.

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 from Istanbul, The Best 2-Week Tours from Istanbul, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Cappadocia?

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 Cappadocia is $132, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $51. 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 Cappadocia and Phnom Penh in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cappadocia $37
    Phnom Penh $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cappadocia $74
    Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Cappadocia and Phnom Penh

Looking for a hotel in Cappadocia 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 Cappadocia


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: Cappadocia Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cappadocia $36
    Phnom Penh $7.90

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cappadocia

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

  • 2 Hour Quad Bike Safari in Cappadocia ( Transfer Include ): $37
  • Cappadocia 2-Hours Sunset ATV Quad Tour w/Free Hotel Transfer: $41
  • Cappadocia ATV Safari Sunrise Sunset Daytime Hotel Transfer: $25
  • Cappadocia Airport Transfer Private Service NAV ASR: $17
  • Cappadocia Airport Transfer to/from Kayseri/Nevşehir (ASR or NAV): $14
  • Cappadocia Balloon Watching & Sunrise Hike - Hotel transfer!: $106
  • Cappadocia Dervishes Ceremony with Transfers: $24
  • Cappadocia Flying Dress Photo Shoot with Transfer: $211
  • Cappadocia Green South Walking Tour Lunch and Transfer: $40
  • Cappadocia Guided Green Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $80
  • Cappadocia Half-Day Jeep Safari with hotel Transfer: $80
  • Cappadocia Horseback Ride through Valleys — Sunset/hoteltransfer: $23

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 Transfer/ Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by VIP Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $160
  • Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
  • Phnom Penh To Mondulkiri Private Transfer Mini Van And Car: $151
  • Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
  • Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville Taxi - Safe & Private Car Transfer: $150
  • Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
  • Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
  • Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145

Is it cheaper to fly into Cappadocia or Phnom Penh?

Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Cappadocia 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
    Cappadocia $60
    Phnom Penh $23
Typical Food Prices in Cappadocia

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Cappadocia:


  • Cookies
    $0.02

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cappadocia

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

  • Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Drinks: $39
  • Cappadocia Traditional Turkish Night Show and Dinner: $47
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night With Unlimited Drinks And Dinner: $50
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night wTransfer,Dinner &Unlimited Drinks: $59
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner: $60
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night Show, Dinner & Unlimited Drinks & Pickup: $65
  • Turkish Night at Cave Restaurant with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks: $65
  • Turkish Night Show: Unlimited Alcohol, Dinner and Transfer: $70
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with Dinner and Unlimited Drinks: $72
  • Turkish Night Show With Dinner in a Cave Restaurant: $76
  • Cappadocia Turkish Night Show with dinner, unlimited alcohol: $77
  • Dinner with traditional dance shows in cave restaurants: $78

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
    $4.86

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.
    Cappadocia $67
    Phnom Penh $7.68
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cappadocia

For Cappadocia, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Underground City Entrance for Two
    $0.65
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride for Two
    $13
  • Horseback Riding for Two
    $2.50
  • Cappadocia Driving Tour
    $2.67
  • Goreme Museum Entrance Fee
    $0.33
  • Whirling Dervishes Show
    $2.18
  • Turkish Bath
    $1.53
  • Hot air ballooning
    $8.83
  • Goreme open air museum
    $0.44
  • Bellydancing Show
    $2.84

Tours and Activities in Cappadocia

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cappadocia.

  • Cappadocia Private Jeep Safari Tour with Hotel Pickup & Champagne: $3.51
  • Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Tour in Cappadocia - Göreme Experience: $3.51
  • Cappadocia Sunrise Balloon Watching Tour with Hotel Pickup: $3.51
  • Cappadocia Red Tour Lunch + Guide + Museum Tickets /Small Group: $3.51
  • Skip the Line: Guray Museum Admission Ticket: $4.70
  • Private Cappadocia Tour with Guide & Driver: $5.00
  • Cappadocia Tour Full Day ( Red Tour + Underground City ): $5.25
  • Sunset or Daytime ATV Adventure Tour: $5.28
  • Cappadocia Horse Tour: $6.93
  • Cappadocia Artisan & Local Craft Experience: $9.00
  • Sunset Horseback Riding Tour in Cappadocia: $13
  • Horseback Riding Experience in Beautiful Valleys of Cappadocia: $13

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
  • 10 Stop Phnom Penh Tour by Tuk-Tuk, includes S21 & Killing Fields: $33
  • 2 Day Mt. Aural Hiking Adventure Cambodia's Peak Challenge: $249
  • 2 Day-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
  • 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
  • 2 Days Phnom Penh Siem Reap Private Tour, Cambodia Road Tour: $25
  • 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 & More: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cappadocia $13
    Phnom Penh $4.35

Sample the Local Flavors in Cappadocia

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cappadocia:

  • Signature Local Wine Tasting in Cappadocia: $11
  • Guided Bar Crawl with Hotel Pickup and Snack: $33
  • Cappadocia Wine Tasting Experience: $41
  • Local Wine Tasting Experience: $41
  • Cappadocia Vineyard Experience and Wine Tasting: $54
  • Combo Tour with Wine Tasting and Adventure Tours: $59
  • Cappadocia - Avanos Clay Workshop and Wine Tour: $65
  • Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys Guided Tour with Local Wine Tasting: $88
  • SKIP-THE-LINE: Cappadocia Tour w/wine tasting and clay shaping: $90
  • Cappadocia Private Wine Tasting Tour: $129
  • Cappadocia Private Tour-Mixed Tour+Home-made Wine Tasting: $219

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 Cappadocia and Phnom Penh, we can see that Cappadocia is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cappadocia 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 Cappadocia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cappadocia 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 Cappadocia Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cappadocia or Phnom Penh?

Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 250 times larger than the population of Cappadocia. When comparing the sizes of Cappadocia 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.