Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Krabi?
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 Krabi or Phnom Penh?
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 Krabi and Phnom Penh can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Phnom Penh?
Krabi
Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.
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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $72Phnom Penh $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $72, 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 Krabi and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $41Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $82Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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: Krabi Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $4.23Phnom Penh $7.90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.12
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$3.04
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.43
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Longboat Taxi from Town$6.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ATV Jungle Adventure in Krabi with Roundtrip Transfer: $37
- Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $136
- Ao Nang to Krabi Private Transfer: $30
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Koh Phi Phi: $28
- Aonang any hotel to Khao Lak Private transfer: $104
- Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $97
- From Koh Lanta: Speedboat Transfer to/from Ao Nang: $63
- From Speedboat Transfer to Ko Yao Yai or Koh Yao Noi: $33
- Full Day Krabi Jungle Tour With Elephant Trekking Transfers: $80
- Private Van (3-8 Pers) R/T Transfer Airport-Krabi-Airport: $58
- KRABI:PVT Car (1-2 Per)Transfer KBV Airport-Aonang, Krabi Town: $30
- KRABI:Private Car Round Trip Transfer Airport-Krabi Hotel-Airport: $58
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 to Siem Reap Private Transfer: $160
- Techo International Airport Transfer to Phnom Penh Hotel: $30
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Krabi 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 dayKrabi $24Phnom Penh $23
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$7.60
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Drinks on the Beach$7.30
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$19
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$34
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Mango Shake$1.52
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Pad Thai$3.04
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Fruit from the Market$1.82
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Pancakes$3.04
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Coffee & Cake$2.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $32
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Snorkeling: $32
- 7 Islands Sunset & Plankton Swim with BBQ Dinner: $35
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Island Hopping with BBQ Dinner by Big Boat: $35
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $36
- Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $39
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night: $39
- Small-Group Smart Thai Cooking Class in Krabi: $40
- Snorkeling and Sunset to Krabi 7 Islands by Longtail Boat + Buffet BBQ Dinner: $40
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $40
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $40
- Krabi Best of 7 islands Adventure Tour with Beachside BBQ Dinner: $42
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
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $11Phnom Penh $7.68
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$10
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Thai Massages (for Two)$24
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Bikini & Sarong$18
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$13
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.60
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$58
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- DIY tour - Finest selection of Krabi Hidden Gems: $7.91
- 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat Krabi + Lunch + Pick Up + Drop Off: $20
- Klong Root Kayaking and Swimming with ATV Tour From Krabi: $21
- Blue Dragon Cabaret Show Tickets Krabi: $22
- Popular 4 Islands Tour By Classic Longtail Boat From Krabi: $22
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $23
- 4 Islands Tour by Longtail Boat & Thai Buffet Lunch: $23
- Jurassic World Filming Tour Kayak and ATV Adventure in Krabi: $23
- Ao Thalane Mangrove Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $24
- Krabi 4 Islands Tour and Snorkeling with Shared boat: $25
- Krabi 4 Islands Shared Tour with Lunch and Guide: $25
- Half-Day Kayak Adventure at Ao Thalane: $25
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
- 2 Day-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Siem Reap Private Tour, Cambodia Road Tour: $25
- 4 Hours Private Phnom Penh National Museum and Royal Palace Tour: $155
- 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
- 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour: $15
- A Day Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
- A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More: $35
- Adventure Cambodia: A 12-Day Guided Tour off the Beaten Path: $1,525
- All Inclusive Half Day Phnom Penh Discovery Tour: $55
- Architectural tour in Phnompenh: $75
- Best of Half-Day Private City Tour: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrabi $4.84Phnom Penh $4.35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.74
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Cocktails (for Two)$9.12
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Krabi Pub Crawl - The Best Nightlife Tour in Ao Nang!: $15
- Railay Pub Crawl: $16
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 Krabi and Phnom Penh, we can see that Krabi 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 Krabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krabi 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 Krabi Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi 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.