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

Should you visit Phnom Penh or Antigua Guatemala?

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 Antigua Guatemala. 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 Antigua Guatemala?

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.

Antigua Guatemala

Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $75. 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 Antigua Guatemala in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Phnom Penh $12
    Antigua Guatemala $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Phnom Penh $24
    Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Antigua Guatemala

Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Antigua Guatemala? 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 Phnom Penh


Hotels in Antigua Guatemala


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 Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Phnom Penh $7.87
    Antigua Guatemala $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:

  • Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh City to Can Tho City: $375
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer to or from Phnom Penh: $239
  • Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by VIP Alphard 2010: $190
  • Private Transfer/ Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by VIP Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $160
  • Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
  • Phnom Penh To Mondulkiri Private Transfer Mini Van And Car: $151
  • Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
  • Private Taxi Transfer from/to Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: $145
  • Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville city: $145
  • Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Kompot or Kep: $145
  • Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala

Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $79
  • One-Way Shared Van Transfer to Panajachel: $25
  • Antigua: One way private transfer to Guatemala City: $69
  • Antigua: One way shared transfer to Guatemala City: $24
  • Antigua: One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey, Lanquin: $49
  • Antigua: Private Transfer to Guatemala City Airport: $30
  • From Antigua Guatemala One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $34
  • From Antigua: One way private transfer to Panajachel: $194
  • From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City: $85
  • From Panajachel: One Way Shared Transfers to Antigua: $25
  • Guatemala City Airport: Private Transfer to Antigua: $30
  • Panajachel: One way shared transfer to Antigua: $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Antigua Guatemala?

Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala 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 day
    Phnom Penh $23
    Antigua Guatemala $25
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
    $4.84

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
  • 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
  • Small Group Phnom Penh Food Tour and Local Market Experience: $39

Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:


  • Lunch
    $3.29
  • Lunch
    $7.89

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala

For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
  • Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
  • Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
  • Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
  • Antigua Street Food Tour: $65
  • Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
  • Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
  • Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
  • Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
  • Antigua Local: Evening Street Food Tour with Dinner: $84
  • Cooking Class With Local Family: $84
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour: $85

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Phnom Penh $7.65
    Antigua Guatemala $15

Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh

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

  • 10 Sightseeing Highlight Sites in Phnom Penh with English Guide: $30
  • 2 Day-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
  • 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
  • 3 Day Cambodia Private Tours: $80
  • 3 Days Local Life Experience, Nature view, Waterfall: $199
  • 4 Hours Private Phnom Penh National Museum and Royal Palace Tour: $155
  • 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
  • A Day Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
  • A Day Trip Sightseeing of Phnom Penh With Private Tour Guide: $65
  • A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace S21 Killing Fields and More: $35
  • A day Trip Sightseeing Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Private English Speaking Driver: $105
  • Adventure Cambodia: A 12-Day Guided Tour off the Beaten Path: $1,525

Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.

  • Antigua Earthquake Baroque Architecture Audio Guided Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Antigua Guatemala Historic Center Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Signature Lattes Tasting Experience in Antigua for Coffee Lovers: $13
  • Historical and Cultural Walking Tour of Antigua Guatemala: $20
  • Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
  • Guided City Tour with Chef David Farfan: $20
  • Cultural and Fun Walking Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $22
  • Walking Tour with Local Guide: $23
  • From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Tour in English/Spanish: $23
  • Guided Walking Tour with Coffee: $24
  • Antigua walking tour: Highlights, history, culture.: $25
  • La Antigua Myths and Legends Stories Night Walking Tour: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Phnom Penh $4.33
    Antigua Guatemala $12

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 Antigua Guatemala

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:

  • Antigua Bar Crawl: $26


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala is in Central America, 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 Antigua Guatemala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Antigua Guatemala?

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