A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kampong Cham vs. Kaikoura for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kampong Cham or Kaikoura?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Kampong Cham and Kaikoura can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Kampong Cham or Kaikoura?

Kampong Cham

Kampong Cham is the sixth largest city in the country, located in the east of Cambodia. Just two and a half hours away from Phnom Penh is a surprisingly large province by the same name. Kampong Cham is the capital of this province, a quiet town on the west side of the Mekong River. While the town does not cater to tourists like other large cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the charm of Kampong Cham lies in the beauty and simplicity of local life. Visitors will also get a glimpse into agricultural life on the plantations of rubber trees, tobacco and cashews.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Kaikoura or Kampong Cham?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kampong Cham is $31, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $135. 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 Kampong Cham and Kaikoura in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kampong Cham $20
    Kaikoura $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kampong Cham $40
    Kaikoura $96
Compare Hotels in Kampong Cham and Kaikoura

Looking for a hotel in Kampong Cham or Kaikoura? 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.

Hotels in Kampong Cham


Hotels in Kaikoura


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: Kaikoura Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampong Cham $7.67
    Kaikoura $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampong Cham or Kaikoura?

Prices for flights to both Kaikoura and Kampong Cham 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kampong Cham $6.46
    Kaikoura $38

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampong Cham $5.76
    Kaikoura $152

Tours and Activities in Kaikoura

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaikoura are as follows:

  • Llama Trek (Taster) - Kowhai River Valley and Native Woodland Tour: $81
  • 1-Hour Private Heli-Picnic Mountain top tour in Kaikoura : $237
  • 40-minute Mt Fyffe Summit Heli Tour in Kaikoura : $222
  • Half Day Zipline Adventure in Kaikoura: $97
  • Kaikoura Swim with Dolphins Tour from Christchurch: $238
  • Kaikoura Whale Watch Day Tour from Christchurch: $211
  • 1-Hour Whale Watching Helicopter Tour: $624
  • Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
  • Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $89
  • Seal-Watching Pedal Kayak Tour: $71
  • Whale Watching Cruise: $98
  • Wildlife Kayaking Tour at Sunset: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampong Cham $5.47
    Kaikoura -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampong Cham and Kaikoura, we can see that Kaikoura is more expensive. And not only is Kampong Cham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kampong Cham is in Asia and Kaikoura is in Pacific, 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 Kampong Cham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampong Cham 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura than you might in Kampong Cham.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kampong Cham Expensive? and Is Kaikoura Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kampong Cham or Kaikoura?

Kampong Cham has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Kaikoura. When comparing the sizes of Kampong Cham and Kaikoura, 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.