Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Doha?
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 Doha or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Phnom Penh can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Phnom Penh?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Phnom Penh $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, 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 Doha and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Doha and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Phnom Penh $7.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $128
- Arrival Transfer to West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
- Departure Transfer from Lusail: $27
- Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $128
- Doha : City Tour To All Main Attractions Including Transfers: $55
- Doha Arabian Horse Riding Adventure in the Desert with Transfer: $135
- Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $120
- Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Doha Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $139
- Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer: $39
- Doha Private Airport Transfer: $99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- A Day Trip Transfer Sightseeing Phnom Penh Battambang: $99
- A Day Trip Transfer Sightseeing Phnom Penh Siem Reap: $99
- Battambang: Transfer From/To Sihanoukville & Hidden Gems: $50
- From Private Transfer To/From Siem Reap: $58
- From Sihanouk: Private Taxi Transfer to Phnom Penh City: $73
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
- Intercity Transfer Siem Reap-Phnom Penh/Phnom Penh-Siem Reap: $95
- Overland Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: $59
- PHN Airport Transfer Plus Killing Field, Toul Sleng Museum: $65
- Phnom Penh - Battambang Transfer Plus Stop Sightseeing: $118
- Phnom Penh - Battambang Transfer Sightseeing Day Trip: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Phnom Penh $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Live BBQ Buffet and Hotel Transfer: $23
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $32
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Doha Evening Dhow Cruise with Dinner Option: $39
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
- Qatar: Desert Dune Bashing with lunch/dinner in Desert Beach Camp: $55
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $65
- Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
- Full Day Desert Safari in Qatar with Lunch/Dinner by sea side: $159
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160
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$4.86
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
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Street Art and Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Phnom Penh $7.68
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
- National Museum Ticket at Qatar: $23
- Doha Desert Safari, ATV, Camels, Sandboarding and Inland Sea Tour: $28
- Qatar Desert Safari Adventure Experience .: $28
- Top Doha Night City Tour Including Souq Waqif , Lusail And Katara: $30
- Doha Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $30
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Doha Sightseeing Tour with Optional Sunset Dhow Cruise: $34
- Explore Heart of Qatar Doha City Tour with Professional Guide: $35
- Guided City Tour with Traditional Dhow Cruise Skyline: $35
- Qatar Desert Safari: Dune Bashing & Inland Sea (Shared Tour): $37
- Arabian Dhow Cruise in Doha with Sunset and Skyline Views: $37
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 on the Mekong with Kanika Boat: $8.00
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Angkor Optional Mekong Cruise: $9.00
- Phnom Penh Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer & BBQ Buffet: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise-Unlimited Beers-Sodas-BBQ buffet-Fruit platter: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with freeflow beers & BBQ buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer &Fruit platter: $9.35
- Phnom Penh Bus with Free Boat Cruise 1 Day Pass: $10
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket Free Mekong Cruise: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Phnom Penh $4.35
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 Doha and Phnom Penh, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha 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 Doha Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.