A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Paphos vs. Phnom Penh for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Paphos or Phnom Penh?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Paphos or Phnom Penh, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Paphos or Phnom Penh?

Paphos

Located on the southwestern tip of Cyprus, Paphos has many different archaeological sights and it is renowned as the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The town is situated between the coast and the Troodos Mountains and it has grown in recent years as a tourist destination. As such, the local government has made efforts to improve the quality of the tourism infrastructure including investing in hotels, restaurants and transportation. There is also a commercial center to the city as well as a newly built "promenade" that travels from the marina along a long coastal path. This route offers excellent views, especially during the morning or evening hours when the sun is low.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Cyprus, The Best Tours for Seniors to Cyprus, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Paphos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Paphos is €125, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is €44. 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 Paphos and Phnom Penh in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paphos €48
    Phnom Penh €11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paphos €96
    Phnom Penh €22
Compare Hotels in Paphos and Phnom Penh

Looking for a hotel in Paphos 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.

Hotels in Paphos


Hotels in Phnom Penh


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: Paphos Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Paphos €12
    Phnom Penh €6.85

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paphos

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paphos:

  • Adonis Baths Waterfall Morning Transfer: $45
  • Blue Lagoon Boat Adventure with Bus Transfer from Paphos: $35
  • Blue Lagoon cruise: giant slide & Paphos hotel transfers: $33
  • Blue Lagoon trip with Transfer from Paphos including 1 hour swim: $43
  • Ocean Vision: Show & Dance Night with buffet, open bar & transfer: $90
  • Paphos Airport (PFO) to Paphos city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $82
  • Paphos Blue Lagoon Cruise: Water Slide & Hotel Transfer: $40
  • Paphos to Paphos Int Airport (PFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
  • Blue Lagoon Boat Adventure with Bus Transfer: $34
  • Famous Blue Lagoon Sunset Cruise with transfer: $40
  • Private Paphos Airport Transfer via Vintage Mercedes: $172
  • Private Transfer from Paphos city hotels to Limassol Cruise Port: $56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:

  • 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
  • Intercity Transfer Siem Reap-Phnom Penh/Phnom Penh-Siem Reap: $95
  • 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
  • Phnom Penh - Siem Reap Oudongk Sambor Prei Kuk Transfer Day Trip: $105
  • Phnom Penh - Siem Reap Road Transfer Plus Sightseeing: $99
  • Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $65
  • Phnom Penh To Techo Airport (KTI) By Private Transfer: $35
  • Phnom Penh to Battambang Private Taxi Transfer: $130

Is it cheaper to fly into Paphos or Phnom Penh?

Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Paphos 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
    Paphos €65
    Phnom Penh €20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paphos

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paphos.

  • From Sunset Drink at Aphrodite's Rock & Folk Dinner: $67
  • Wave Dancer Fireworks, Buffet Dinner & Show Cruise: $78
  • Cyprus Food Tour: Old Town of Paphos, Cypriot Dishes and Drinks: $90
  • Moussaka Cooking Class at a Wine Village Villa in Paphos: $216

Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:


  • Dinner for Two
    €8.84
  • Breakfast for Two
    €4.21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.

  • 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
  • Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
  • Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
  • Street Art and Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $39
  • Authentic Walking Food Tour with Local Guide: $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paphos €12
    Phnom Penh €6.65

Tours and Activities in Paphos

Here are a few actual costs in Paphos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise with fun slide: $21
  • Pafos Zoo Ticket: $21
  • The Yellow Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise Swim & Snorkel: $23
  • FROM 1.5 HRS Glass Bottom Boat Cruise with swimming: $23
  • Blue Lagoon Cruise with Sightseeing from Latchi Harbour: $29
  • Nafsika II Half Day Cruise Swimming to blue lagoon water slide: $29
  • From Limassol Experience: $32
  • Swim Cruise with Turtle Watching, Drinks & Aperol: $40
  • Yellow Submarine Swim Cruise with Unlimited Drinks: $40
  • Swim Cruise with Turtle Watching, Drinks & Aperol Spritz: $40
  • Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark Entrance Ticket: $41
  • Wave Dancer Sunset Cruise with BBQ and Swimming: $45

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
  • Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.81
  • Phnom Penh Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer & BBQ Buffet: $8.00
  • Sunset Cruise on the Mekong with Kanika Boat: $8.00
  • Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
  • Sunset Cruise with free flow beer, soft drinks & fruit platter: $8.99
  • Sunset Cruise-Unlimited Beers-Sodas-BBQ buffet-Fruit platter: $9.00
  • Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $9.16
  • Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $9.16
  • Sunset Cruise with freeflow beers & BBQ buffet: $9.16
  • Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer &Fruit platter: $9.35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Paphos €9.98
    Phnom Penh €3.77

Sample the Local Flavors in Paphos

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paphos:

  • From Troodos Mountains & Villages Free Wine Tasting: $62
  • Scenic Troodos Mountains Tour with Wine Tasting from Paphos: $63
  • Paphos - Troodos Mountains 4x4 Tour with Free Wine Tasting: $69
  • Troodos Mountains Jeep Tour with Wine Tasting: $74
  • Wine tasting on-board the Demetris Chara BBQboat BlueLagoon tours: $86
  • Paphos Hills: Boutique Wine Tour & Scenic Escape - 4+ Guests: $132
  • Troodos Mountains Vino Venture: All Inclusive Full Day Wine Tour: $135
  • Paphos Akamas Wine Tour: Wineries, Sea Caves & Coastal Sights: $154
  • Paphos Half Day-Free Wine Tasting- Max 7p Group -Full A/C: $572
  • Troodos Mountains -Free Wine Tasting- Max 7p Group -Full A/C: $572

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 Paphos and Phnom Penh, we can see that Paphos is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paphos is in Europe and Phnom Penh is in Asia, 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 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 Paphos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paphos 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 Paphos Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Paphos or Phnom Penh?

Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Paphos. When comparing the sizes of Paphos 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.