Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Petra and Phnom Penh can help you decide which place is right for you.
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $41. 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 Petra and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Petra 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Phnom Penh:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Phnom Penh, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra 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.