Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Da Nang?
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 Da Nang or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Da Nang 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: Da Nang or Phnom Penh?
Da Nang
Halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the North is the easy-going beach city of Da Nang (or Danang, for some). The third most populated city in Vietnam, Da Nang draws in crowds with its beautiful and calm beaches as well as its history as a French colonial port.
With beaches, mountains, and cityscape, there's bound to be a point of interest for all travelers. Da Nang is also a transit hub to get to the four Vietnamese UNESCO World heritage sites: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Hue, Hoi An, and My Son.
Da Nang experiences wet season from September through March and dry season from April through August with average temperatures of around 80℉.
Da Nang is also known to have some of the friendliest locals, probably due to the peace and quiet and lack of heavy traffic, even in the city.
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 Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Da Nang Prices
Vietnam PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDa Nang $56Phnom Penh $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Da Nang is $56, 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 Da Nang and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDa Nang $18Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDa Nang $36Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Da Nang and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Da Nang 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: Da Nang Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Da Nang $11Phnom Penh $7.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Da Nang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Da Nang:
- Afternoon private transfer from Danang city to the Golden Bridge: $44
- Ba Na Hills Day/Night Ticket With Round-trip Private Transfer: $79
- Ba Na Hills and Surroundings Nature Park Pass & Shared Transfer: $58
- Best Tour/ Transfer to Hue Imperial City: $61
- Coconut Jungle- Basket Boat Ride- Hoi An City - PRIVATE TRANSFER: $66
- DA NANG AIRPORT to Da Nang Hotel by Private Transfer: $17
- DCAR Limousine to GOLDEN BRIDGE - Private Transfer ( 8-9 Hours): $89
- Da Nang - Hoi An Airport Transfer: $18
- Da Nang Airport (DAD) to Da Nang Hoi An Hotels Private Transfer: $5.15
- Da Nang Airport (or Da Nang hotel) Transfer to Hue by Private Car: $55
- Da Nang Airport Arrival Or Departure By Private Transfers: $12
- Da Nang Airport Arrival Private Transfer: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- PNH Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $7.00
- Techo Airport (KTI) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $16
- Private Phnom Penh Airport Transfers to your hotel in town: $20
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $20
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $21
- Private Arrival Transfer: Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) to Hotel: $22
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer: Phnom Penh's Hotel to Techo Airport(KTI): $27
- Private Transfer: Techo Airport (KTI) to Hotel in Phnom Penh: $27
- Techo Private (KTI) Private Airport Transfer: $30
- Techo International Airport Transfer to Hotel or vice versa: $30
- Phnom Penh To Techo Airport (KTI) By Private Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Da Nang or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Da Nang 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 dayDa Nang $27Phnom Penh $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Da Nang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Da Nang.
- Da Nang Private Street Food Tour with Students Flexible Itinerary: $5.00
- Da Nang Street Food Tour with Karaoke, Bar, Acoustic Optional: $5.00
- Ho Chi Minh City Authentic Street Food Tour With Local Students: $7.92
- Da Nang Live Cooking and Green Tea Experience: $15
- Tasty Dinner Han River Dragon Cruise by Yatch & Tradictional Show: $17
- Coffee Making and Cooking Class: $17
- Da Nang Han River Night Cruise Sightseeing And Dinner Option: $20
- Da Nang Poseidon Cruise with Dinner and Dragon Bridge Show: $22
- Han River Night Cruise with Optional Dinner: $23
- Trà Quế Vegetable Village, Herbal cocktail & HoiAn Cooking Class: $29
- Vietnamese Banh Xeo Cooking Class w.t Traditional Recipes-Private: $30
- 6 Hours Cooking Activity Pick up Da Nang: $33
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$4.82
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
- Penh Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $36
- 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.Da Nang $13Phnom Penh $7.62
Tours and Activities in Da Nang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Da Nang are as follows:
- Hue Imperial City and Royal Tombs Scenic Tour With Hai Van Pass: $1.90
- Da Nang City Sightseeing and My Son Sanctuary Heritage Experience: $1.90
- Vietnam Da Nang Museum Admission Ticket: $4.01
- Discover Hue Ancient Capital Tour with Imperial City, Royal Tombs: $5.00
- Da Nang Nightlife Cruise on Han River with Show, Bar or Massage: $5.00
- Sun World Ba Na Hills Ticket | QR code | Free Cancellation: $5.00
- Da Nang Sun World Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Tour with Cable Car: $5.00
- Hue City Sightseeing Private Tour With Hai Van Pass Train Ride: $5.00
- Da Nang City Sightseeing Private Tour With Optional Paragliding: $5.00
- Da Nang Night Cruise on Han River with Optional Shows or Massage: $5.00
- Da Nang City Tasting Local Streeet Food Private Tour With Student: $5.00
- Da Nang Ultimate Highlights Tour With Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills: $5.00
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Riverside Walking Tour with Snack, Drinks & Local Ferry Ride: $7.20
- Sunset Cruise-"Unlimited BBQ Buffet-Beers, Sodas & Fruit Platter": $7.45
- Phnom Penh Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer & BBQ Buffet: $8.00
- Sunset Cruise on the Mekong with Kanika Boat: $8.00
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Sunset Cruise with free flow beer, soft drinks & fruit platter: $8.99
- Sunset Cruise-Unlimited Beers-Sodas-BBQ buffet-Fruit platter: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise with freeflow beers & BBQ buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer &Fruit platter: $9.35
- Phnom Penh Bus with Free Boat Cruise 1 Day Pass: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDa Nang $9.05Phnom Penh $4.32
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 comparing the travel costs between Da Nang and Phnom Penh, we can see that Da Nang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Da Nang Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Da Nang or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Da Nang. When comparing the sizes of Da Nang 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.