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

Should you visit Kampong Cham or Rotorua?

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 Rotorua can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Kampong Cham or Rotorua?

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.

Rotorua

Located on the banks of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua is famous as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. The area has a variety of geothermal sights, but it is also close to several lakes and has more traditional activities as well, including fishing, boating and white water rafting.

Rotorua is located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which is the largest volcano in the area. There are four major volcanic calderas that now have lakes, and several other volcanoes in the area. Rotorua sits on top of a thermal hot spring, and there are many vents and hot pools throughout the area. Many of the hot pools and sights are located within parks, with some of the best being Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.

Rotorua has a warm, temperate climate. Because of the area's inland location, it has less wind than many places in New Zealand. Temperatures during the winter months can fall to below freezing, but snow is incredibly rare.

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 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Rotorua 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 Rotorua is $93. 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 Rotorua in more detail.



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

Looking for a hotel in Kampong Cham or Rotorua? 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 Rotorua


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: Rotorua Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kampong Cham $7.67
    Rotorua $5.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotorua

Also for Rotorua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms: $180

Is it cheaper to fly into Kampong Cham or Rotorua?

Prices for flights to both Rotorua 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
    Rotorua $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotorua

For Rotorua, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet: $92
  • Te Pa Tu Māori Cultural Experience with Dinner: $154

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kampong Cham $5.76
    Rotorua $34

Typical Entertainment Prices in Rotorua

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Rotorua's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Lunch Out for Two
    $27

Tours and Activities in Rotorua

For Rotorua, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 4x4 Self Drive Yamaha Experience : $90
  • Agrodome Farm Experience including Farm Show and Farm Tour - Rotorua: $30
  • Cultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuisine at Te Pā Tū : $157
  • From Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with Festive Lunch: $154
  • From Wai O Tapu & Waimangu Eco Thermal Morning Tour: $86
  • From Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu and Te Puia Full-Day Tour: $193
  • Geothermal Adults Only Mineral Bathing - Pavilion Pools Bathing Ticket: $27
  • Geothermal Mineral Baths Experience: Pavilion Pools for 12+: $27
  • Hells Gate Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa Experience: $50
  • Hobbiton Day Tour from Rotorua with lunch at Hobbiton: $156
  • Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour White Water Sledging Experience: $77
  • Kaituna River: Whitewater Rafting Experience: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kampong Cham $5.47
    Rotorua $12

Typical Alcohol Prices in Rotorua

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rotorua:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kampong Cham and Rotorua, we can see that Rotorua 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 Rotorua 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 Rotorua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotorua 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 Rotorua Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kampong Cham or Rotorua?

Rotorua has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Kampong Cham. When comparing the sizes of Kampong Cham and Rotorua, 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.