Which place is cheaper, Malaga or Phnom Penh?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phnom Penh or Malaga?
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 Malaga. 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 Malaga?
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.
Malaga
Malaga is a port city in the southern part of Spain. It is the 6th largest city in Spain and the southernmost large city in Europe. Malaga lies on the Mediterranean on the Costa del Sol, only 62 miles east of the Strait of Gibraltar, and 80 miles north of Africa. Malaga's history dates back about 2,800 years, which makes it one of the oldest cities in the world. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabic and Christian eras make the historic center of the city an "open museum", displaying its history of more than 3,000 years. Because of its important cultural infrastructure and the artistic heritage, Malaga has been nominated for the European Capital of Culture. Malaga's most important economic contributors include tourism, technology, and construction, but transportation and logistics are becoming increasingly important factors as well.
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 Budget Tours to Spain, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Spain.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $41Malaga $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $41, while the average daily cost in Malaga is $150. 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 Malaga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Malaga $80
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Malaga $160
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Malaga
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Malaga? 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 Malaga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.81Malaga $33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Private Phnom Penh Airport Transfers to your hotel in town: $10
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Phnom Penh APT-HTL (PNH): $16
- Private Transfer: Phnom Penh's Hotel to Phnom Penh Airport: $18
- Phnom Penh Airport Transfers: $19
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH): $22
- Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $23
- Phnom Penh International Airport Transfer (PNH): $23
- Phnom Penh Airport Pickup/Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer to International Airport: $25
- Private Transfer From Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer: Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) to Hotel : $25
- Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malaga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malaga:
- Malaga Airport (AGP) to Marbella - Arrival Private Transfer: $44
- Airport Transfer: Malaga Airport AGP to Malaga by Luxury Van: $57
- Airport Transfer: Malaga to Malaga Airport AGP by Business Car: $51
- Airport Transfer: Malaga to Malaga Airport AGP by Luxury Van: $54
- Arrival Transfer from Malaga airport AGP to Malaga City by Sedan: $46
- Departure Transfer: Malaga to Malaga Airport AGP by Business Car: $51
- Departure Transfer: Malaga to Malaga Airport AGP by Luxury Van: $57
- Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) to Malaga Port - Arrival private Transfer: $19
- Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) to Malaga Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $37
- Malaga Airport (AGP) to Granada - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $99
- Malaga Airport (AGP) to Malaga - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $72
- Malaga Airport (AGP) to Marbella - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Malaga?
Prices for flights to both Malaga 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 $13Malaga $37
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 Malaga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Malaga are as follows:
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Dinner for 2$32
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Dinner for 2$47
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Breakfast for 2$8.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malaga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Malaga.
- Horse and Flamenco Show in Malaga with Dinner: $77
- Paella Cooking Class in Malaga: $84
- Malaga Tapas Cooking Class: $89
- Andalucia by Sunset - half day tour including dinner and Ronda pickup: $93
- Sardines On Skewers Show Cooking in Malaga beach: $148
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.59Malaga $33
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 Malaga
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Malaga are as follows:
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Entrance to Castillos$7.61
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Concert$33
Tours and Activities in Malaga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Malaga are as follows:
- Skip the Line: Picasso's Birthplace Museum Entrance Ticket: $4.37
- Guided Walking Tour of the Old Town of Frigiliana: $5.48
- Malaga Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.57
- Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Malaga: $7.11
- Ronda Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $9.00
- Malaga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Guided tour of Castillo Colomares: $9.83
- Alcazaba Malaga Guided Tour: $11
- Mythological and Historical Tour of Almuñecar: $11
- Skip the Line: Malaga Automobile and Fashion Museum Entrance Ticket: $13
- Guided tour in Ronda: $13
- Andalucia's City Of Dreams: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Ronda: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.30Malaga $24
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 Malaga
Also in Malaga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Malaga Nightlife Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks and Clubs Entry: $18
- Guided Cellar Tour and wine tasting: $35
- Winederlust Wine Tasting: $66
- Sun and Wine Route - Small group, wine tasting and lunch included: $76
- Malaga City Wine Tour: $95
- Flamenco, Tapas and Wine Tour: Best of Málaga in one Evening: $104
- Traditional Malaga Tapas and Wine Tour: $119
- Malaga Tapas and Wine Tour: $137
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Malaga, we can see that Malaga 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 Malaga 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 Malaga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malaga 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 Malaga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Malaga?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Malaga. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Malaga, 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.