Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Jakarta?
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 Jakarta 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 Jakarta 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: Jakarta or Phnom Penh?
Jakarta
As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Jakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJakarta $68Phnom Penh $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $68, 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 Jakarta and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJakarta $30Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJakarta $60Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta 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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jakarta $18Phnom Penh $7.87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$0.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ): $30
- Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor: $27
- All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer: $15
- Departure Private Transfer: Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK: $110
- Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Bandung/Lembang Arrival Transfer: $70
- Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Cipanas - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Jakarta Airport CGK to Bandung or Lembang Round Trip Transfer: $140
- Jakarta Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $28
- Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta Airport CGK to Jakarta City in Business Van: $110
- Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK in Business Van: $110
- Jakarta Arrival Private Transfers from Jakarta Airport CGK to Jakarta City: $110
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
- Techo International Airport to Siem Reap Private Transfer: $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
- Private Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Mondulkiri City: $147
- 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 Jakarta or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Jakarta 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 dayJakarta $26Phnom Penh $23
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.45
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Dinner$0.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fun Food Tour Jakarta: $30
- Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $50
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120
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.
- Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $9.90
- Sunset & Evening Dinner Cruise With One Way Free Pick Up: $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
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jakarta $11Phnom Penh $7.65
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- Ancol Entrance Gate Entry Ticket: $3.97
- Gondola Ancol Entry Ticket: $4.77
- Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Atlantis Water Adventures at Ancol Entry Ticket: $9.53
- Jakarta Aquarium Safari Admission Ticket: $11
- Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience: $27
- Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour: $33
- Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide: $36
- Jakarta Fun Walkingtour ~ Using Public Transportations: $37
- Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation: $40
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
- Jakarta Walking Tour with Public Transportation Visiting Sites: $45
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-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
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
- 3 Day Cambodia Private Tours: $80
- 4 Hours Private Phnom Penh National Museum and Royal Palace Tour: $155
- 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
- 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour: $15
- A Day Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
- Adventure Cambodia: A 12-Day Guided Tour off the Beaten Path: $1,525
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJakarta $3.80Phnom Penh $4.33
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 Jakarta and Phnom Penh, we can see that Jakarta 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 Jakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jakarta 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 Jakarta Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Phnom Penh?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta 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.