Which place is cheaper, Cozumel 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 Cozumel?
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 Cozumel. 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 Cozumel?
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.
Cozumel
Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesCozumel Prices
Mexico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $50Cozumel $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in Cozumel is $124. 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 Cozumel in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Cozumel $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Cozumel $128
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Cozumel
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Cozumel? 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 Cozumel Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.84Cozumel $21
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
- Techo International Airport to Siem Reap Private Transfer: $160
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- 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 Siem Reap: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville city: $145
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel
Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $96
- Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
- Cozumel Airport Private Round-Trip Transfer: $106
- Cozumel Airport Private Transfer by Car: $24
- Cozumel Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $47
- Cozumel Airport To Hotel Private Transfer by Minivan: $53
- Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel Island Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
- Cozumel Cruise Port to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
- Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
- Atv Jungle Ride sin transfer: $49
- KUZÁ Beach Escape with Cancun & Riviera Maya Transfer: $141
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Cozumel?
Prices for flights to both Cozumel 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 $22Cozumel $38
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 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel
For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
- Private Mexican Trompitos Cooking Class in Cozumel: $82
- Kuza Beach & Flavors Experience-Mexican cooking Class & Beach Day: $89
- Cozumel Food Tour: $90
- Cozumel Food Tour: Street Tacos and Local Market: $109
- Romantic Gourmet Dinner Experience at Pirate Ship in Cozumel: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.62Cozumel $41
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
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
- 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
- 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
- All Inclusive Half Day Phnom Penh Discovery Tour: $55
Tours and Activities in Cozumel
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.
- Cozumel Historic Waterfront Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.75
- Cozumel Tequila and Chocolate Tour with VIP Mexican Drink: $10
- Cozumel!! Guacamole And Margarita Fiesta!!! ( Virtual Experience): $12
- Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
- Cozumel Transparent Boat Tour With Snorkel Stop: $19
- Tequila History and Tasting Experience and Unlimited Beach Break: $25
- Chankanaab Experience from Snack Bar Lindas: $27
- El Cielo Snorkeling Adventure in Cozumel: $28
- Clear Boat Adventure and Snorkeling Tour Underwater World: $28
- Cozumel El Cielo Snorkeling Reef and Marine Experience: $29
- Snorkel into Heaven Palancar Columbia and El Cielo Experience: $29
- Cozumel's Reefs in El Cielo, Palancar and Columbia Guided Tour: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.32Cozumel $10
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 Cozumel
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:
- Chocolate Seaside Workshop & Wine Tasting: $51
- Downtown Cozumel & Brewery: $79
- Cozumel's First Distillery: Exclusive Craft Rum & Gin Tasting: $99
- Cozumel 5-Hour Private Bar Crawl Tour: $110
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Cozumel, we can see that Cozumel 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 Cozumel is in North 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 Cozumel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cozumel 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 Cozumel Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Cozumel?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cozumel. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Cozumel, 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.