Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Kampala?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kampala or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kampala 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: Kampala or Phnom Penh?
Kampala
Kampala is the capital of Uganda in the South part of the country near Lake Victoria. It is the largest city in Uganda, with a population of over two million people. This city is very safe and the locals are known to be very kind and approachable.
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 Camping Tours in Uganda, The Best Safaris in Uganda, 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 dayKampala $69Phnom Penh $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Kampala is $69, 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 Kampala and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKampala $59Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKampala $118Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Kampala and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Kampala 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: Kampala Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kampala $2.48Phnom Penh $7.81
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kampala
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kampala are as follows:
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Taxi around town$3.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kampala
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kampala:
- Entebbe Airport Transfers: $80
- Entebbe Airport taxi. For a safe, affordable and reliable 24/7 airport transfer.: $45
- From 3-Day Murchison Falls Safari with Transfer: $2,200
- Full-Day Kampala Trip with Lunch and Hotel Transfers: $200
- Private Transfer from Entebbe Airport (EBB) Uganda to Kampala: $128
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Daily Transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $115
- From Private Transfer to Siem Reap: $61
- Fully Private Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $30
- Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
- Intercity Transfer Siem Reap-Phnom Penh/Phnom Penh-Siem Reap: $110
- Overland Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville : $59
- Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $23
- Phnom Penh Airport Pickup/Transfer: $25
- Phnom Penh Airport Transfers: $19
- Phnom Penh Airport or Hotel Private Transfer: $28
- Phnom Penh International Airport Transfer (PNH): $23
- Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $26
Is it cheaper to fly into Kampala or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Kampala 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 dayKampala $8.36Phnom Penh $13
Typical Food Prices in Kampala
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Kampala:
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Lunch for 2$1.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kampala
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kampala.
- Like a local cooking Tours: $26
- Three-Hour Food Tour: $41
- Private Cooking Class with a Local Host: $47
- Momma Ida's Ugandan Cuisine Cooking Tour: $75
- Kampala City Walking Food Tour: $77
- Night-time Boda Boda Street Food Tour: $91
- Amazing Race - Food Tour: $103
- Half-day Kampala City Tour and Traditional Dance Show with Dinner (7-Hours): $147
- Kampala food tour: $205
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.
- Sunset Dinner Cruises w/Live Music, 5&7pm; Free Pickup Avail: $9.90
- Sunset Dinner Cruises w/Live Music, 5&7pm; Free Pickup Available: $9.90
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour Drinks & Tuk Tuk included: $36
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive over 10 Local Tastings: $44
- 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
- Evening Cambodian Food Tour: $60
- Ultimate PP Food Tour by Tuk Tuk - 20 tastings & drinks included: $69
- Phnom Penh Authentic Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
- Phnom Penh's Ultimate Street Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: $69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kampala -Phnom Penh $7.59
Tours and Activities in Kampala
Here are a few actual costs in Kampala for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Uganda Community Tour: $15
- African Fabric Market Tour : $18
- 3-Hour Walking Tour with Optional Gaddafi Mosque: $24
- Kampala:Guided walking tour: $25
- Entebbe Walking Tour (3 Hours) with Zoo and Botanical Gardens Options: $25
- Tombs, King’s palace and Gaddafi mosque walk tours: $26
- Steve Kampala Walking tours: $27
- Safe Motorbike Tour in Kampala (Boda Boda Tour): $30
- Kampala Guided walking Tour: $30
- Free Female Guided Walking Tours Kampala (3 Hours): $30
- Inside Kampala walking tour (Female guided): $32
- Running City Tour of Kampala at Dawn (7 KMs | Sundays): $33
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
- One Hour City Light Cruise-Foods & Drinks available for purchase: $8.00
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Private Phnom Penh Day Tour : Explore All Highlights Sites: $9.00
- Sunset River Cruise with Drink and BBQ Options: $12
- Sunset Cruise in Phnom Penh - One and a Half Hours: $12
- Phnom Penh Killing Fields and Prison S21 Join Tour: $15
- The killing field and Toul Sleng Genocide museum (S21) Tour: $15
- From Killing Fields and Prison S21 Tour: $15
- Sunset Cruise with unlimited beer & soft drinks -English speaking guide on board: $16
- killing field and Toul Sleng genocide museum Tour: $16
- Mekong River Sunset Cruise Tour: $17
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKampala -Phnom Penh $4.30
Sample the Local Flavors in Kampala
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kampala:
- Entebbe and club,pub and bar crawl experiences: $35
- Kampala Pub Crawl | Uganda | 4 hours: $65
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 Kampala and Phnom Penh, we can see that Kampala is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kampala is in Africa 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 Kampala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kampala 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 Kampala Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kampala or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Kampala. When comparing the sizes of Kampala 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.