Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Phnom Penh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phnom Penh or La Paz?
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 La Paz. 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 La Paz?
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.
La Paz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.
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 Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $41La Paz $44
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $41, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $44. 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 La Paz in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12La Paz $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and La Paz
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or La Paz? 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 La Paz Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.81La Paz $9.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Vip Taxi Transfer from Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk: $450
- Vip Taxi Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $450
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Phnom Penh APT-HTL (PNH): $16
- Transfer Stop Sightseeing Phnom Penh - Siem Reap, English Speaking Driver: $107
- Transfer Private Car Siemreap to Phnom Penh/PHN to Province.: $110
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville city: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Kompot or Kep: $145
- Private taxi transfer Phnom Penh to Pursat or Battambang: $155
- Private intercity transfer ! From Phnom Penh to any cities in Cambodia (One Way): $55
- Private Transfers from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $116
Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz
Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$0.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz
Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer In_ Day: $25
- Airport Transfer In_night: $47
- Bus Station Transfer Out_day: $25
- Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
- Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $21
- One-Way Private Transfer from La Paz Hotels to Airport : $27
- Private Departure Transfer: La Paz Hotels to El Alto International Airport: $37
- Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in La Paz City: $60
- Private Transfer From Bus Station to Hotel in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Bus Station to your Hotel in La Paz City : $54
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Airport in La Paz City : $68
- Private Transfer From Hotel to Bus Station in La Paz City : $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or La Paz?
Prices for flights to both La Paz 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 $13La Paz $17
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
Typical Food Prices in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Fruit$0.72
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz
For La Paz, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.59La Paz $16
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Killing field and Toul Sleng genocide museum Tour: $20
- Phnom Penh Full Day Private Tours: $155
- 10 Tastings of Phnom Penh Foodie Tour: $39
- 2 Day-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
- 2 Days of Phnom Penh City Tour: $199
- 3 Hours Private Morning Market and Art Tour in Phnom Penh: $45
- 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
- 9 Days Cambodia Highlights Guided Motorcycle Tour: $1,964
- A 10-day ethical animals tour of Cambodia: $1,699
- A Half Day Tour in Phnom Penh City: $59
- Alternative Tour to Silk Farm, SilverSmith Village and Udong: $150
Tours and Activities in La Paz
For La Paz, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Walking city tour La Paz: $2.69
- La Paz Half-Day Walking Tour: $3.00
- City Walking Tour in La Paz: $8.00
- City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
- Live Virtual City Tour - La Paz : $10
- City Highlights Walking Tour with Cable Car Ride: $10
- La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
- Gastronomic Tour Vivencial Tour de las Caseras: $13
- Private Cable Car City Tour: $18
- Cable Car, Cemetery, Shaman, and El Alto Tour: $20
- City Tour Essential: $22
- La Paz, Tiahuanaco tour compartido visita guiada: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.30La Paz $11
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 La Paz
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:
- Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50
When comparing the travel costs between Phnom Penh and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Phnom Penh is in Asia and La Paz is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 La Paz Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or La Paz?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 94% larger than the population of La Paz. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and La Paz, 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.