Which place is cheaper, Amsterdam or Phnom Penh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Phnom Penh or Amsterdam?
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 Phnom Penh and Amsterdam. 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: Phnom Penh or Amsterdam?
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.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
-
Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesAmsterdam Prices
Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $51Amsterdam $245
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $51, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $245. 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 Phnom Penh and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Amsterdam $119
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Amsterdam $238
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Amsterdam
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Amsterdam? 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: Phnom Penh Hotel Prices and Amsterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.90Amsterdam $23
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
-
Ride on Tram$3.72
-
Renting a Bike$17
-
One Hour Canal Cruise$12
-
Single Day Transit Pass$3.03
-
Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport$3.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Airport Amsterdam to Amsterdam: $147
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Airport Amsterdam to Den Haag: $295
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Haarlem: $206
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Utrecht: $265
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam Airport to Zaandam: $114
- 1-15 persons Taxi or Bus Transfer Amsterdam in Amsterdam City: $112
- AMS Schiphol Airport VIP Meet and Assist Pickup (with Hotel Private Transfer): $206
- Airport Private Transfer: Schiphol Airport ↔ Amsterdam City: $147
- Airport Transfer: Amsterdam to Schiphol Airport AMS by Luxury Van: $105
- Airport Transfer: Schiphol Airport AMS to Amsterdam by Luxury Van: $105
- Airport transfer [Schiphol airport - Hotel in Amsterdam]: $115
- Amsterdam & Schiphol Airport to Den Bosch Private Transfer: $154
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam and Phnom Penh 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 dayPhnom Penh $23Amsterdam $93
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$10
-
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
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
-
Afternoon Tea$6.98
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Romantic Dinner in the Dark Amsterdam: $50
- Self Guided Food Tour in De Pijp District of Amsterdam: $59
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café: $60
- Taste Your Way Around Amsterdam Food Tour: $60
- 3-course dinner party at a secret pop-up restaurant: $71
- Amsterdam : Guided Cultural Food Tour: $83
- Amsterdam Food Tour: +10 Tastes, Culture and Canals with Sherpa: $88
- Top 10 Tastes of Guided Walking Food Tour: $91
- 10 Tastes of Food Tour by UNESCO Canals and Jordaan: $105
- Jordaan Food Tour: Special 10 Year Anniversary Edition: $107
- Private Dutch Pancake Cooking Class in an Amsterdam Canal Home: $109
- Private Amsterdam Red Light District and Food Tour (TOP RATED): $120
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.68Amsterdam $42
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum$6.98
-
Entry for two to the Anne Frank House$20
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Self-Guided Tours Amsterdam With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.53
- Alternative Tour Amsterdam | Drugs Story, Street Art & More: $3.53
- Amsterdam All In One Tour Walking Tour: $3.54
- Amsterdam Highlights Walking Tour: $4.72
- Bill's Bike Tour - Rent a Flower Bike in Amsterdam: $5.00
- Self Guided Space Tourist Exploration of Amsterdam's Cosmic Side: $5.00
- Amsterdam West Specialty Coffee Spots: A Self-Guided Cycling Tour: $5.41
- A tasty stroll through Pijp: A self-guided audio tour: $5.75
- Amsterdam History Walking Tour: $5.90
- Private Tour of Simonehoeve Cheese Farm and Clog Factory: $5.90
- Amsterdam’s Magic Canals: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure: $6.00
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.35Amsterdam $28
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Original Amsterdam Pub Crawl: $28
- Amsterdam Craft Beer Brewery Tour by Bus with Tastings: $77
- Halloween Bar Crawl in Central Amsterdam: $100
- Private Amsterdam Red Light District and Pub Tour including drink: $103
- Dutch Wine Tasting Experience: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Amsterdam, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phnom Penh is in Asia and Amsterdam is in Europe, 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam 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 Phnom Penh Expensive? and Is Amsterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Amsterdam?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Amsterdam. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Amsterdam, 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.