Which place is cheaper, Paris 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 Paris?
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 Paris. 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 Paris?
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.
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
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 Historical Tours in France, and The Best 10-Day Tours in France.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesParis Prices
France Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $50Paris $302
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in Paris is $302. 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 Paris in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Paris $175
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Paris $350
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Paris
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Paris? 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 Paris Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.87Paris $25
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
- Techo International Airport to Siem Reap Private Transfer: $160
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- Private Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Mondulkiri City: $147
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $145
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro$7.30
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Train from Airport$10
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Metro tickets$7.75
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Train$23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 2-Way Transfer to Disneyland from Paris: $172
- Airport Transfer Paris - Disneyland - Minivan 1-8 Passengers: $141
- Airport Transfer at Paris (Mercedes E), From/to Paris-CDG: $211
- Airport Transfer: Paris Airport CDG to Paris City by Business Car: $108
- Airport Transfer: Paris City to Paris Airport CDG by Business Car: $110
- Airport transfer from Paris to Disneyland Paris/Parc Asterix (8pax): $233
- Airport transfer of Charles de Gaulle or Orly to or from Disney: $61
- Airport transfer station visit Paris: $170
- Arrival Private Transfer Paris Airport CDG to Paris by Sedan: $108
- Arrival Transfer from CDG Airport to Disneyland París by Van: $154
- Arrival Transfer from Paris Airport CDG to Paris in Private Car: $108
- Arrival Transfer from Paris Airport CDG to Paris in Private Van: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Paris?
Prices for flights to both Paris 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 $23Paris $82
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$4.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $9.90
- Sunset & Evening Dinner Cruise With One Way Free Pick Up: $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
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
Typical Food Prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream$9.12
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Breakfast$7.98
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Breakfast for 2$34
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Dinner on River Cruise$98
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Dinner$65
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Cheese$15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Paris Marais Walking Food Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- Paris Capitaine Fracasse 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $67
- Paris Seine River dinner cruise from Alexandre III bridge: $69
- Seine River Cruise and Dinner at Traditional Parisian Restaurant: $75
- Paris Vegan Street Food Tour: $76
- Paris en Scene 3 Course Seine River Dinner Cruise: $76
- Authentic Indian Dinner in Paris: $76
- Paris Food Tour: $81
- Seine River Sightseeing Cruise and Dinner at Le Bistro Parisien: $84
- Award Winning Local Paris Food Tour with Cheeses, Wines & Secrets: $88
- 2 Hour Express Paris Centre Food Tour with 4 Tastings & Fine Wine: $88
- Paris Guided Food Tour by Bike - Ile de la Cité and Marais: $93
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.65Paris $87
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-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Siem Reap Private Tour, Cambodia Road Tour: $25
- 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
- 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 Hiking Adventure to Chonlos Waterfalls: $189
- A Day Trip Sightseeing of Phnom Penh With Private Tour Guide: $65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two$21
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Admission to Pantheon$5.70
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Catacombs (2)$26
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Paris Montmartre Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour: $2.45
- Paris City Center Free Walking Tour (Tip-Based): $2.80
- Free Perfume Museum & Opera District Tour in English: $2.80
- Paris Montmartre Self-Guided Walking Tour and Scavenger Hunt: $2.82
- Paris Le Marais Self Guided Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $2.82
- Paris - Latin Quarter Free Tour in English (Tip-Based): $3.28
- Paris Hidden Gems: Self Guided Secret Spots Tour: $3.51
- Paris Notre-Dame Tour with Scheduled Group Access: $3.52
- Free Tour of the Historic Center of Paris in Spanish: $3.52
- Rude Bastards Tour of Paris: $4.68
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Paris: $4.68
- Paris Time Machine: Hidden Gems Walking Tour (Tips-Based): $4.69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.33Paris $28
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine$16
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- The Original Pub Crawl + Free Shots + VIP Club Entry: $20
- Paris International Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Fun Games: $29
- Paris Montmartre Cheese Charcuterie Wine Tasting with Audio Tour: $29
- Paris Guided Pub Crawl with Bars Shots and Club Entry: $32
- Visit and tasting at the distillery L'Alambic Parisien: $33
- Paris Gin Craft Distillery Tour and Tasting: $35
- Guided Tour of Montmartre with Cheese and Wine Tasting: $38
- Vineyard tour and wine tasting in Davron: $41
- Wine tasting Paris Saint Germain des Pres: $55
- Paris Wine Tasting & French Cheese Pairing with Sommelier: $70
- Cheese & Wine Tasting in Montmartre with a Local Cheesemonger: $81
- Paris Art of Pairing Cheese and Wine Tasting in a Cheese Cellar: $82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Paris, we can see that Paris 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 Paris 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 Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris 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 Paris Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Paris?
Paris has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Paris, 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.