Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Kanchanaburi?
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 Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi 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: Kanchanaburi or Phnom Penh?
Kanchanaburi
If the hustle and bustle of the big city of Bangkok is just getting to you, there's an easy escape. Kanchanaburi, Thailand is a city located at the meeting of Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, and is ideal for backpackers looking to reflect and relax. With easily accessible waterfalls and national parks, you'll wonder why anyone ever leaves.
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 Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $57Phnom Penh $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $57, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $51. 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 Kanchanaburi and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi 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: Kanchanaburi Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Phnom Penh $7.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kanchanaburi River Kwai SUP Experience with Hotel Transfers: $40
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $117
- Private Erawan Falls & River Kwai with Transfer from Kanchanaburi: $222
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $186
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Transfer with tour-sightseeing Phnom Penh to Battambang: $119
- Transfer Phnom Penh to Battambang, Private Taxi Driver: $125
- Techo Phnom Penh Airport KTI to Kampot Private Transfer: $75
- Techo International Airport Transfer to Hotel or vice versa: $30
- Techo International Airport Transfer by Car or Minivan: $22
- Techo International Airport (KTI) Transfer: $53
- Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh To Siem Reap, Friendly Taxi Driver: $135
- Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $90
- Siem Reap: Private Transfer to or from Phnom Penh: $239
- Siem Reap: Private Transfer to Phnom Penh: $115
- Siem Reap: Private Transfer From/to Siem Reap - Phnom Penh: $71
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Kanchanaburi 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 dayKanchanaburi $24Phnom Penh $23
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch$4.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Thai Cooking Class: $39
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$4.86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Sunset & Evening Dinner Cruise With One Way Free Pick Up: $9.90
- Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $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
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $39
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Phnom Penh $7.68
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Entry Park TreeHouse$6.14
Tours and Activities in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discovery Bike Tour: $18
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $37
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $40
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $52
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $58
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $58
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $62
- Full Day Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Historical Sites Tour: $78
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway Full Day Tour: $81
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $107
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 Mt. Aural Hiking Adventure Cambodia's Peak Challenge: $249
- 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
- 3 Day Cambodia Private Tours: $80
- 3 Days Local Life Experience, Nature view, Waterfall: $199
- 4 Hours Private Phnom Penh National Museum and Royal Palace Tour: $155
- 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
- A Day Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
- A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.03Phnom Penh $4.35
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 comparing the travel costs between Kanchanaburi and Phnom Penh, we can see that Kanchanaburi 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 Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi 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.