Which place is cheaper, Houston or Phnom Penh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phnom Penh or Houston?
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 Houston. 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 Houston?
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.
Houston
The largest city in Texas and the fourth largest in the United States, Houston is a sprawling urban center that has grown from its wealth in the oil industry. Visitors today are drawn to its cultural diversity which has additionally made Houston a foodie destination. Other attractions to Houston include its proximity to NASA's Space Center Houston on the Gulf coast, and its Downtown which features a vibrant museum and arts scene, shopping, and dining.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $41Houston $262
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $41, while the average daily cost in Houston is $262. 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 Houston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Houston $142
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Houston $284
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Houston
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Houston? 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 Houston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.81Houston $72
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Houston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
- William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Port of Galveston - Arrival Private Transfer: $168
- Arrival Private Transfer: George Bush Airport IAH to Houston in Business Car: $108
- Departure Private Transfer: Houston to George Bush Airport IAH in Business Car: $106
- Departure Private Transfer: Houston to George Bush Airport IAH in Luxury SUV: $109
- George Bush Airport (IAH) to Galveston Port - Arrival Transfer: $194
- Houston George Bush Airport (IAH) to Houston - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $162
- Houston George Bush Airport (IAH): Transfer to Houston: $349
- Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Houston - Arrival Private Transfer: $81
- Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Houston - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $162
- Houston to Houston William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) - Departure Private Transfer: $81
- Round-Trip Shuttle Transfer to NASA Space Center: $54
- Privat Transfer from Houston Airport (HOU) to Port of Galveston: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Houston?
Prices for flights to both Houston 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 $13Houston $35
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$4.80
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Houston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- Astroville Food Tour of Downtown Houston with Tunnel Access: $70
- Downtown Houston Food Tour: $76
- Houston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $85
- Houston Downtown: Secret Food Tours: $87
- Howdy H-Town EADO Food Tour: $90
- East Downtown Food Tour: $90
- Montrose Food Tour: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.59Houston $14
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
Tours and Activities in Houston
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sights of Downtown Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.31
- Houston Museum of Natural Sciences: Planetarium Ticket: $9.00
- Downtown In App Audio Walking Tour: $9.00
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Houston by Wacky Walks: $10
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Houston by Operation City Quest: $10
- Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern History Tour: $12
- Sightseeing Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $14
- Austin & Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Children's Museum Houston Entry Ticket: $17
- Experience the season with a scavenger hunt in Houston with Holly Jolly Hunt: $20
- Family Guy Experience - Houston: $25
- Museum of Natural Science General Admission Ticket: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.30Houston $13
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 Houston
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Brewery Pass with Beer Tastings: $50
- Private Houston Brewery Tour by Cart: $57
- 2-Hour Downtown Brewery Tour by Electric Cart: $70
- Downtown Houston Brewery Bike Tour : $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Houston, we can see that Houston 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 Houston 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston 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 Houston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Houston?
Houston has a larger population, and is about 29% larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Houston, 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.