Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Deqin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Deqin 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 Deqin 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: Deqin or Phnom Penh?
Deqin
Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, 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 dayDeqin $65Phnom Penh $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $41. 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 Deqin and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $36Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $72Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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: Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Deqin $19Phnom Penh $7.81
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- 1 Way Transfer Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville/Sihanoukville-Phnom Penh: $88
- Airport transfer and Shihanouk ville: $25
- Daily Transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $65
- From Private Transfer To/From Siem Reap: $58
- From Private Transfer to Siem Reap: $61
- From Sihanoukville: Private Taxi Transfer to Phnom Penh City: $73
- Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
- Phnom Penh - Battambang Road Transfer With Stops Sightseeing: $118
- Phnom Penh - Siem Reap Road Transfer Plus Sightseeing: $89
- Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $25
- Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $25
- Phnom Penh Airport Private Pick up or Transfer : $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Deqin 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 dayDeqin $16Phnom Penh $13
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$4.80
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
- Dinner Cruise 1h45 on the Mekong including 4 courses + 1 drink: $23
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Evening Food Tour with Drinks & Tuk Tuk Included: $40
- Phnom Penh Morning Market & Food Tour by Tuktuk - Includes All Food & Drinks!: $45
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive over 10 Local Tastings: $49
- Evening Cambodian Food Tour: $60
- Phnom Penh's experience: cooking class and stay over : $60
- Phnom Penh Authentic Evening Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
- Ultimate PP Food Tour by Tuk Tuk - 20 tastings & drinks included: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Phnom Penh $7.59
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 with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $9.60
- Sunset Cruise with commentary from Tour Guide: $10
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer & Soft Drinks: $11
- NEW Sunset Cruise! "Your cruise U Choose" - BBQ, Drinks or Cruise: $11
- Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $12
- Sunset Cruise - Three Packages to Choose From!: $13
- The best Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers and Soft Drinks: $15
- Killing Fields and Prison S21 Bus Tour: $15
- Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) and Choeung Ek Killing Fields Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Phnom Penh $4.30
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 Deqin and Phnom Penh, we can see that Deqin is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Deqin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Deqin 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 Deqin Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
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.