Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Koh Lanta?
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 Koh Lanta or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Phnom Penh can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Koh Lanta or Phnom Penh?
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
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 Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Koh Lanta Prices
Thailand PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lanta $63Phnom Penh $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $63, 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 Koh Lanta and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lanta $28Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lanta $56Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta 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: Koh Lanta Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lanta $6.37Phnom Penh $7.90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:
- ATV Jungle Ride on Ko Lanta Noi with Hotel Transfers: $48
- Koh Lanta Private Transfers to or from Krabi Airport (KBV): $91
- Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta Private Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- A Day Trip Transfer Sightseeing Phnom Penh Battambang: $99
- A Day Trip Transfer Sightseeing Phnom Penh Siem Reap: $99
- Battambang: Transfer From/To Sihanoukville & Hidden Gems: $50
- From Private Transfer To/From Siem Reap: $58
- From Sihanouk: Private Taxi Transfer to Phnom Penh City: $73
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
- Intercity Transfer Siem Reap-Phnom Penh/Phnom Penh-Siem Reap: $95
- Overland Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: $59
- PHN Airport Transfer Plus Killing Field, Toul Sleng Museum: $65
- Phnom Penh - Battambang Transfer Plus Stop Sightseeing: $118
- Phnom Penh - Siem Reap One-Way Private Transfer: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Koh Lanta 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 dayKoh Lanta $21Phnom Penh $23
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$4.91
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Casual Lunch$8.29
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Casual Dinner$14
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koh Lanta.
- Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $49
- Thai Cooking and Market Tour in Koh Lanta: $51
- Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $60
- Thai Cooking in a Teak House on Koh Lanta: $61
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
- Small Group Phnom Penh Food Tour and Local Market Experience: $39
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lanta $34Phnom Penh $7.68
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$21
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$11
Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mangrove Tour by Kayaking in Ko Lanta With Lunch: $23
- Koh Lanta Mangrove and Monkey Point Longtail Boat Tour: $24
- Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $30
- Half Day Mangrove and Lanta Old Town Tour: $31
- Half-Day Thung Yee Peng Mangrove Kayaking Adventure: $31
- 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $31
- Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $34
- Sea Cave and Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $36
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $36
- 4 Islands Tour by Speedboat with Snorkeling: $49
- Tin Adventure Sea Tour to 4 Islands & Emerald Cave from Koh Lanta: $50
- Lanta Old Town and Mangrove Forest Sightseeing Tour: $50
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Riverside Walking Tour with Snack, Drinks & Local Ferry Ride: $7.20
- Sunset Cruise-Unlimited BBQ Buffet-Beers, Sodas & Fruit Platter**: $7.45
- Sunset Cruise on the Mekong with Kanika Boat: $8.00
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Phnom Penh Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer & BBQ Buffet: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise-Unlimited Beers-Sodas-BBQ buffet-Fruit platter: $9.00
- Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Angkor Optional Mekong Cruise: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with freeflow beers & BBQ buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer &Fruit platter: $9.35
- Phnom Penh Bus with Free Boat Cruise 1 Day Pass: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lanta $4.27Phnom 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lanta and Phnom Penh, we can see that Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta 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.