Which place is cheaper, Berlin 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.
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Should you visit Phnom Penh or Berlin?
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 Berlin. 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 Berlin?
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.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
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 Adventure Tours to Germany, and The Best Cultural Tours in Germany.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesBerlin Prices
Germany Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $50Berlin $197
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in Berlin is $197. 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 Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Berlin $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Berlin $144
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Berlin
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Berlin? 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 Berlin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.84Berlin $20
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
- Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville Private Car or Van Transfer: $165
- Private Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $160
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Kompot or Kep: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville city: $145
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket$1.57
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Bahn Ticket$3.37
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Short Taxi Ride$22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City by Luxury Van: $175
- Arrival Private Transfer from Berlin Airport BER to Berlin City in Business Car: $169
- Arrival Private Transfer from Brandenburg Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Car: $175
- Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Business Car: $107
- Arrival Transfer: Berlin Airport BER to Berlin in Luxury Van: $118
- Berlin Airport (BER) to Berlin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $155
- Berlin Airport (SXF) to Berlin - Arrival Private Transfer: $114
- Berlin Airport Private Transfer Flexible Destinations: $114
- Berlin Airport Transfers, City Transfers and Disposal Services: $114
- Berlin City Departure Private Transfer to Berlin Train Station in Luxury Van: $96
- Berlin Departure Private Transfers from Berlin City to Berlin Airport SXF: $95
- Berlin Private Airport Transfers | English Speaking Driver: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin 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
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Food Meals for one dayPhnom Penh $22Berlin $101
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$4.82
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 Cruise with BBQ Buffet Dinner, Unlimited Beer & Tour Guide: $9.90
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with English Speaking Guide: $10
- 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
- Penh Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $36
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
- Street Art and Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $39
Typical Food Prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
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Sandwich and Coffee To Go$5.62
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Turkish Sandwich$2.25
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Currywurst$2.25
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2 Pho Noodles$10
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Restaurant Dinner and Beers (for 2)$67
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Mauer Park (2)$12
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Coffees at Impala$8.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- International Dinner and Drinks Evening in Berlin: $7.09
- English Stand-Up Comedy Show with Free Pizza and Free Shots: $17
- English Comedy Show with Pizza and Shots in Central Berlin: $20
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Hard Rock Cafe Berlin With Set Lunch or Dinner: $38
- Mitte Culinary Food Tour: $51
- Berlin Mitte Culinary – The Food Tour: $56
- Berlin Food Tour: Taste the Best with a Full Meal & Beer: $67
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $74
- Disco - Acrobatics Dinner and Dance - Variety Theater in Berlin: $78
- Sharing plate food tour in Berlin: $80
- Candlelight dinner for two – Italian night in Berlin: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.62Berlin $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
- 10 Stop Phnom Penh Tour by Tuk-Tuk, includes S21 & Killing Fields: $33
- 2 Day Mt. Aural Hiking Adventure Cambodia's Peak Challenge: $249
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Siem Reap Private Tour, Cambodia Road Tour: $25
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
- 2hours Private Sunset Cruise with unlimited beer, soft drinks and Tour guide: $66
- 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
- 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour: $15
- A Day Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
Typical Entertainment Prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Berlin Zoo (2)$22
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
- Communist East Berlin and Berlin Wall Walking Tour: $1.14
- Berlin 2-Hour Segway Tour: $2.33
- Berlin Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.42
- Berlin Highlights Walking Tour: $3.43
- Berlin Must-see Tour – offer at the end of the tour: $3.43
- Berlin Highlights History Walking Tour + Optional Food Tastings: $3.43
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Berlin: $4.56
- Rude Bastards tour of Berlin (CYHIT): $4.56
- Berlin City Tour: $4.57
- City's Highlights Walking Tour: $4.65
- Podcast Tour Berlin A Field Guide to Urban Belonging: $5.47
- Podcast Tour Echoes in the Concrete of Berlin's Techno Underground: $5.47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.32Berlin $18
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Show$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Alternative Pub Crawl, Bars, Beats & Insider Stories: $11
- Pub Crawl & Party with Free Shots & VIP Club Access: $12
- Ludwig's Original Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $17
- Berliner Berg Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting: $19
- Cirque du Burlesque Berlin show ticket: $21
- Pub Crawl with Shots and VIP Club Entry: $22
- Vagabund Brauerei Beer Tasting & Guided Brewery Tour: $29
- Sip Up Comedy - Stand Up Comedy with Wine Tasting: $31
- Ludwig's Queer Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entry: $34
- Wine on Canvas - Paint Workshop and Wine Tasting: $47
- Showgirls of Burlesque Show: $76
- Berlin Wall Wine Tasting: Cold War History and Wine & Cheese: $97
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Berlin, we can see that Berlin 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 Berlin 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 Berlin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berlin 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 Berlin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Berlin?
Berlin has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Berlin, 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.