Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or El Nido?
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 El Nido or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit El Nido 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: El Nido or Phnom Penh?
El Nido
El Nido is a coastal destination on the Philippine island of Palawan. It consists of about 45 islands and islets all with beautiful beachfront scenery and plenty of opportunities for experiencing nature above and below the water. Some of the island's best features include limestone karst cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, coves, and waterfalls.
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 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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El Nido Prices
Philippines PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEl Nido $47Phnom Penh $50
The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $47, 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 El Nido and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEl Nido $14Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEl Nido $28Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in El Nido 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: El Nido Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.El Nido $19Phnom Penh $7.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $55
- Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $40
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $36
- To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $15
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Phnom Penh HTL-APT (PNH): $200
- Techo International Airport Private Transfer: $25
- PrivateTransfer: PhnomPenh Airport(PNH/KTI) to Hotel in PhnomPenh: $27
- Private taxi transfer Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $129
- Private intercity transfer ! From Phnom Penh to any cities in Cambodia (One Way): $55
- Private Van Transfer From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $50
- Private Transfer: PhnomPenh's Hotel to PhnomPenh Airport(PNH/KTI): $27
- Private Transfer/ Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by VIP Alphard 2010: $180
- Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by VIP Alphard 2010: $190
- Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by VIP Alphard 2005: $165
- Private Transfer from Phnom Penh To Sihanoukville : $65
- Private Transfer From or to Phnom Penh <=> Sihanoukville: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and El Nido 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 dayEl Nido $20Phnom Penh $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Nido
For El Nido, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- El Nido, Sibaltan: Family Dinner, Bonfire and Karaoke: $15
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$4.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Buffet Dinner Cruise Experience with Live Music: $12
- Cooking Class in Phnom Penh: $31
- Phnom Penh Morning Market & Food Tour by Tuktuk - Includes All Food & Drinks!: $45
- Half Day - Phnom Penh Food Tour: $45
- Phnom Penh Local Market & Morning Food Tour Include Drinks: $49
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $49
- Evening Food Tour By Tuk-Tuk in Phnom Penh: $59
- Phnom Penh Food Tour By Night With Hotel Pickup: $59
- Evening Cambodian Food Tour: $60
- Phnom Penh Authentic Evening Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
- Ultimate Phnom Penh Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: 20 Tastings and Drinks: $69
- Cambodia Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.El Nido $5.34Phnom Penh $7.65
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $22
- Tour A (Big & Secret Lagoon, Shimizu, 7 Commando): $22
- El Nido Island Tour A: $22
- Tour D with Cadlao Lagoon, Paradise Beach & More: $22
- El Nido Island Tour D: $22
- Big Lagoon Kayaking & Island Adventure: $23
- Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
- Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $24
- Tour B with Snake Island, Cudugnon Cave, and More: $24
- El Nido Island Tour B: $25
- Shared El Nido Tour A: $25
- El Nido:Private Tour D with Highlights Small & Cadlao Lagoon: $25
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Killing field and Toul Sleng genocide museum Tour: $19
- Phnom Penh Full Day Private Tours: $155
- Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.92
- ( Free eSim) Classic Phnom Penh Full Day Tour : $45
- 2 Day SUV and Minivan Tour Phnom Penh and Siem Reap: $145
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
- 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
- 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
- 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour : $15
- A Day Trip Sightseeing of Phnom Penh With Private Tour Guide : $65
- A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More : $35
- A day Trip Sightseeing Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Private English Speaking Driver : $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEl Nido $8.31Phnom Penh $4.33
When comparing the travel costs between El Nido and Phnom Penh, we can see that Phnom Penh 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 El Nido Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, El Nido or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido 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.