Which place is cheaper, Denver 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 Denver?
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 Denver. 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 Denver?
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.
Denver
The capital of Colorado, Denver is commonly referred to as "The Mile-High City" because it is at an elevation of 5,280 feet (1,600 meters) above sea level. It also sits where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains, giving a beautiful backdrop for this metropolitan city. The city is the largest in the Rocky Mountains with a population of more than 600,000 and nearly 3 million in the metropolitan area. Denver is a cosmopolitan city with cowboy roots. It's cultural scene is thriving, and the outdoor recreation in the area is superb. Denver is a rapidly growing city but with change comes challenges. Urban sprawl is a problem and the city's infrastructure has reached its limits. Still, efforts are in place to maintain the character and personality that Denver is known for.
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 Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesDenver Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $50Denver $272
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in Denver is $272. 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 Denver in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Denver $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Denver $204
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Denver
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Denver? 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 Denver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.87Denver $94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- PNH Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $7.00
- Techo International Airport Transfer: $15
- Techo Airport (KTI) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $16
- Private Phnom Penh Airport Transfers to your hotel in town: $20
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $20
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $21
- Private Transfer From Phnom Penh International Airport To Phnom Penh City Center: $21
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH): $22
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Hotels: $24
- Phnom Penh Techo International Airport Transfer/Pick-up/Drop-off: $24
- Private Transfer: Phnom Penh's Hotel to Techo Airport(KTI): $27
- Private Transfer: Techo Airport (KTI) to Hotel in Phnom Penh: $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denver
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Denver:
- Arrival Private Transfer Denver Airport DEN to Denver City by SUV: $223
- Arrival Private Transfer: Denver Airport DEN to Denver in Luxury Van: $139
- Avon/Vail Valley to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer: $141
- Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Arrival Private Transfer: $141
- Denver Airport (DEN) to Avon/Vail Valley - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $282
- Denver Airport (DEN) to Keystone resort - Arrival Private Transfer: $141
- Denver Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $32
- Denver Airport to Vail Transfer Group in Sprinter Van 6-14: $1,200
- Denver International Airport Private Transfer Pick up: $130
- Denver hotel or address to Denver Airport (DEN) - Departure Private Transfer: $120
- DEN Airport Private Transfer to/from Denver Downtown: $30
- Departure Private Transfer: Denver to Denver Airport DEN in Luxury SUV: $139
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Denver?
Prices for flights to both Denver 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 $23Denver $85
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$4.84
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
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $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 Denver
Some typical examples of dining costs in Denver are as follows:
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Sushi Dinner (for 2)$61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Denver
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Denver.
- Morning Downtown 16th St. Food Tour with Local Guide: $69
- RiNo Arts District Walking Food Tour: $79
- Denver RiNo Arts District Food Tour: $85
- Downtown Denver Food Tour: $85
- The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Show - Denver, CO: $89
- Denver Food Tour with Food Tastings in Historic Lower Downtown: $98
- Denver Food Tour with Tastings in Historic Lower Downtown: $110
- Taste of the City Food Tour by Bike: $125
- Downtown Dinner Food and Drink Tour: $135
- Food Tour of Golden by Ebike: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.65Denver $47
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
- Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.97
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Phnom Penh Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer & BBQ Buffet: $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
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket Free Mekong Cruise: $12
- Phnom Penh Shooting Range Experience: $12
- Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour Killing Field and Tuol Sleng: $15
- Road Tour Phnom Penh Battambang Bamboo Train Bat Cave->Siem Reap: $15
Tours and Activities in Denver
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Denver are as follows:
- Denver Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.52
- Denver Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $4.50
- Denver Audio Guided Walking Tour 2 hours and 20 audio reviews: $6.94
- Gold Beer and the Rockies: Audio Walking Tour of Golden's Past: $7.99
- Denver's Heart A Self Guided Tour of the State Capitol and Beyond: $8.99
- Winding Pathways of Denver's City Park A Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Fun Royal Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Arvada, CO: $10
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Denver by Operation City Quest: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure on Your Phone: $10
- General Admission Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms Ticket: $14
- Colorado Rockies Baseball Game Rooftop Experience Ticket: $15
- Colorado Rockies Baseball Game Ticket at Coors Field: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.33Denver $5.31
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 Denver
Also in Denver, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Stranahan's Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience: $22
- California Vs. Colorado Wine Tasting: $30
- Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Denver Haunted Pub Crawl Spirits and Stories in LoDo: $35
- Saturday Guided Distillery Tour and Whiskey Tasting: $38
- Denver Street Art & Murals Tour + Brewery Visit/Beer Tasting: $39
- Golden Ghosts & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $45
- Downtown Denver Pub Crawl - Food & Drinks Included!: $50
- Neighborhood Bar Crawl in RiNo Arts District (Denver): $50
- Make Your Own Candle at a Local Brewery in Denver: $55
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience: $55
- DIY Candle Making Class at a Local Brewery: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Denver, we can see that Denver 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 Denver 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 Denver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Denver 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 Denver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Denver?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Denver. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Denver, 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.