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

Should you visit Phnom Penh or Hamburg?

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 Hamburg. 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 Hamburg?

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.

Hamburg

Hamburg is most noted for its port, which is the largest in Germany and the second busiest in Europe. Despite it's size, it is actually located about 100 kilometers from the North Sea on the River Elbe. The popularity of this port has given Hamburg the nickname as Germany's Gateway to the World. The city itself is the second largest in Germany and the metropolitan area has a population of over 4 million people.

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 10-Day Tours from Berlin, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Berlin.


Which place is cheaper, Hamburg or Phnom Penh?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $41, while the average daily cost in Hamburg is $125. 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 Hamburg in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Phnom Penh $12
    Hamburg $58
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Phnom Penh $24
    Hamburg $116
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Hamburg

Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Hamburg? 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 Hamburg


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 Hamburg Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Phnom Penh $7.81
    Hamburg $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:

  • Daily Transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $115
  • From Private Transfer to Siem Reap: $61
  • Fully Private Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $30
  • Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
  • Intercity Transfer Siem Reap-Phnom Penh/Phnom Penh-Siem Reap: $110
  • Overland Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville : $59
  • Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $23
  • Phnom Penh Airport Pickup/Transfer: $25
  • Phnom Penh Airport Transfers: $19
  • Phnom Penh Airport or Hotel Private Transfer: $28
  • Phnom Penh International Airport Transfer (PNH): $23
  • Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $26

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hamburg

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hamburg:


  • Short Distance Ubahn Ticket
    $1.82

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hamburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hamburg:

  • Hamburg hotels to Ostseekai Kiel Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $118
  • Airport Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg by Business Car: $82
  • Airport Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg by Luxury Car: $134
  • Airport Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg by Luxury Van: $92
  • Airport Transfer: Hamburg to Hamburg Airport HAM by Business Car: $82
  • Airport Transfer: Hamburg to Hamburg Airport HAM by Luxury Van: $92
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg: $42
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport XFW to Hamburg City: $77
  • Arrival Private Transfers from Hamburg Airport XFW to Hamburg City: $92
  • Arrival Transfer: Airport HAM to Hamburg by Business Car: $82
  • Arrival Transfer: Hamburg Airport HAM to Hamburg by Luxury Van: $98
  • Departure Private Transfers from Hamburg City to Hamburg Airport XFW: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Hamburg?

Prices for flights to both Hamburg 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 $13
    Hamburg $37
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
    $4.80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.

  • Sunset Dinner Cruises w/Live Music, 5&7pm; Free Pickup Avail: $9.90
  • Sunset Dinner Cruises w/Live Music, 5&7pm; Free Pickup Available: $9.90
  • Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
  • Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour Drinks & Tuk Tuk included: $36
  • Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive over 10 Local Tastings: $44
  • Phnom Penh Morning Market & Food Tour by Tuktuk - Includes All Food & Drinks!: $45
  • Half Day - Phnom Penh Food Tour: $45
  • Phnom Penh Local Market & Morning Food Tour Include Drinks: $49
  • Evening Cambodian Food Tour: $60
  • Ultimate PP Food Tour by Tuk Tuk - 20 tastings & drinks included: $69
  • Phnom Penh Authentic Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
  • Phnom Penh's Ultimate Street Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: $69

Typical Food Prices in Hamburg

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hamburg:


  • Pink Thai Soup Dinner and Spring Rolls
    $16
  • Currywurst and Pommes Frites
    $5.36
  • Donner Kebab and Coke
    $6.43
  • Traditional Hamburg Dinner w/ Beer
    $16
  • Donner Kebab Lunch
    $4.29
  • Sandwich and Coffee Break
    $6.43
  • Fish Sandwich from Fish Market
    $3.75
  • Coffee and Donut
    $4.29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hamburg

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hamburg.

  • St George's Culinary Food Tour: $48
  • St. Pauli kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
  • Elphi Plaza und HafenCity kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $59
  • Original Musical Dinner Cruise 2024: $117
  • Hamburg Private Food Tours with a Local: 100% Personalized : $186
  • St. Pauli: Guided Food Tour with 5 Tastings: $484
  • Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $592
  • Elbphilharmonie Plaza and HafenCity Food Tour: $592

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Phnom Penh $7.59
    Hamburg $42

Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh

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

  • Mad Monkey Phnom Penh Riverside Walking Tour: $6.00
  • One Hour City Light Cruise-Foods & Drinks available for purchase: $8.00
  • Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
  • Private Phnom Penh Day Tour : Explore All Highlights Sites: $9.00
  • Sunset River Cruise with Drink and BBQ Options: $12
  • Sunset Cruise in Phnom Penh - One and a Half Hours: $12
  • Phnom Penh Killing Fields and Prison S21 Join Tour: $15
  • The killing field and Toul Sleng Genocide museum (S21) Tour: $15
  • From Killing Fields and Prison S21 Tour: $15
  • Sunset Cruise with unlimited beer & soft drinks -English speaking guide on board: $16
  • killing field and Toul Sleng genocide museum Tour: $16
  • Mekong River Sunset Cruise Tour: $17

Typical Entertainment Prices in Hamburg

Here are a few typical costs in Hamburg for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Tower at St. Michael's Church
    $3.75

Tours and Activities in Hamburg

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

  • The Historic Treasure: 'Speicherstadt' "FREE TOURS'" Hamburg: $2.58
  • Selfguided Audiotour "Speicherstadt and HafenCity": $3.22
  • Selfguided Audiotour "Old Town and City Center": $3.22
  • English Harbor&St.Pauli Pay-What-You-Want Walking Tour: $3.23
  • City Exploration Game and Tour: $3.23
  • Harbor&St. Pauli Pay-What-You-Want 2-Hour Walking Tour: $3.23
  • English Hamburg City Center Pay-What-You-Want Walking Tour: $3.23
  • Deutsche Hafen & St.Pauli Bezahl-Was-ihr-wollt Tour zu Fuß: $3.23
  • German Hamburg Historic City Center Pay-What-You-Want Tour: $3.23
  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
  • The Local Tour of Hamburg Historic Centre: $3.28
  • Germany eSIM Tourist Roaming Data Plan: $4.31

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Phnom Penh $4.30
    Hamburg $19

Sample the Local Flavors in Phnom Penh

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Phnom Penh:

  • Mad Monkey Phnom Penh Pub Crawl: $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Hamburg

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

  • Night Pub Crawl through The Repperbahn: $22
  • Weekend Night Pub Crawl through the Reeperbahn: $34
  • Pub Crawl - Ultimate party pub crawl incl. One-hour drinks flat rate: $44
  • Hamburg Pub Crawl including 1 hour flatrate for beer: $51
  • Bachelor(ette) Premium Party with Pub Crawl: $404
  • Private Pub Crawl Tour: $404
  • Private Premium Pub Crawl: $517


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


Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Hamburg?

Hamburg has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Hamburg, 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.