Which place is cheaper, Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza?
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 Fortaleza. 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 Fortaleza?
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.
Fortaleza
A major city on Brazil's northeastern coast and the capital city of Ceara state, Fortaleza is best characterized by its city landscape lined with beaches and palm trees. It also features some great seafood as well as long-standing folk traditions in culture and dance.
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 Luxury Tours to Brazil, and The Best Budget Tours to Brazil.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesFortaleza Prices
Brazil Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $51Fortaleza $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $51, while the average daily cost in Fortaleza is $88. 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 Fortaleza in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Fortaleza $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Fortaleza $60
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Fortaleza
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Fortaleza? 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 Fortaleza Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.90Fortaleza $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
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
- Phnom Penh To Mondulkiri Private Transfer Mini Van And Car: $151
- Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville Taxi - Safe & Private Car Transfer: $150
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- 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/to Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: $145
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Fortaleza
Also for Fortaleza, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer from Fortaleza Airport FOR to Fortaleza by Sedan: $72
- Cumbuco Private Transfer From Fortaleza: $78
- Cumbuco Shared Transfer From Fortaleza: $46
- Fortaleza AirPort Executive Transfer with Meet & Greet Service: $20
- Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza - Arrival Private Transfer: $33
- Fortaleza Airport (FOR) to Fortaleza Round-Trip Private Transfer: $66
- Fortaleza Airport Private Transfer: $53
- Fortaleza Airport Shared Transfer: $39
- Fortaleza Airport to Cumbuco–Way Transfer: $47
- Fortaleza Round-Trip Airport Transfers: $52
- Fortaleza Roundtrip Airport Transfers: $40
- Fortaleza to Fortaleza Airport (FOR) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Fortaleza?
Prices for flights to both Fortaleza 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 $23Fortaleza $42
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$4.86
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.68Fortaleza $15
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 Day-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Siem Reap Private Tour, Cambodia Road Tour: $25
- 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
- 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 Trip Sightseeing of Phnom Penh With Private Tour Guide: $65
- A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More: $35
- Adventure Cambodia: A 12-Day Guided Tour off the Beaten Path: $1,525
Tours and Activities in Fortaleza
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Fortaleza.
- Cumbuco Beach Tour: $11
- 3 Beaches in 1 Day Tour Leaving Fortaleza: $13
- Full Day Tour to Cumbuco From Fortaleza: $13
- Águas Belas Tour: $15
- Lagoinha Beach Tour: $17
- Tour 3 beaches in 1 day: $20
- Canoa Quebrada Beach Tour with Nettour: $20
- Panoramic City Tour with Cumbuco Beach - ForYou Receptive: $24
- Canoe Quebrada Full Day Tour - Departure from Fortaleza by Vitorino Turismo: $24
- Tour 3 Beaches in 1 day (Morro Branco, Praia das Fontes and Canoa Quebrada): $24
- Fortaleza Panoramic City Tour with visit to Cumbuco Beach: $24
- Jericoacoara Tour in a Full Day - Leaving Fortaleza by Girafatur: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.35Fortaleza $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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Fortaleza, we can see that Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza is in South 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 Fortaleza would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Fortaleza?
Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 53% larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Fortaleza, 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.