Which place is cheaper, San Diego 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 San Diego?
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 San Diego. 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 San Diego?
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.
San Diego
For many visitors and locals alike, San Diego is a paradise. Located in southern California, not far from Los Angeles, it has the perfect climate, wonderful beaches, and a culturally rich environment. It's surrounded by beautiful landscape and has a strong focus on wildlife conservation and eco-friendly living. Home to about 1.3 million residents, it is California's second largest city. It also has many universities, a large tech industry, and a thriving economy. Despite its size, many people perceive San Diego as a slower, more relaxed city with a pleasant vibe away from the chaos of a large city.
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 G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesSan Diego Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $50San Diego $251
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in San Diego is $251. 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 San Diego in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12San Diego $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24San Diego $248
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and San Diego
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or San Diego? 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 San Diego Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.78San Diego $23
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 Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $160
- Techo International Airport to Siem Reap Private Transfer: $160
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
- Private Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Mondulkiri City: $147
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Kompot or Kep: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville city: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Diego
Also for San Diego, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Private Transfer: San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego in Business Car: $107
- Arrival Private Transfer: San Diego Airport SAN to San Diego in Luxury SUV: $120
- Carlsbad to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- Departure Private Transfer: San Diego to San Diego Airport SAN in Business Car: $107
- Departure Transfer San Diego City to San Diego Airport SAN: $124
- Departure Transfer: San Diego to Airport SAN by Luxury SUV: $120
- Hot Springs/Ocotillo, CA to San Diego Airport (SAN) - Departure Private Transfer: $63
- Private Arrival Transfer from San Diego Airport SAN: $48
- Private Transfer Airport Tijuana/Valle de Guadalupe (Ensenada) or back.: $160
- Private Transfer from San Diego (SAN) Airport to San Diego City: $83
- Private Transfer from San Diego Port to San Diego Airport (SAN): $67
- Private Transfer from Tijuana to Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe: $136
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or San Diego?
Prices for flights to both San Diego 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 $22San Diego $84
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$4.78
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 Cruise with BBQ Buffet Dinner, Unlimited Beer & Tour Guide: $9.90
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with English Speaking Guide: $10
- Nightlife three hours food tours: $27
- Evening City Tour by Tuk Tuk with 1 Dinner: $29
- Cooking Class in Phnom Penh: $31
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Penh Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $36
- Street Art and Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $39
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
Typical Food Prices in San Diego
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to San Diego:
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Mexican Lunch for Two$27
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Breakfast at Starbucks$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ocean Beach Walking Food Tour in San Diego: $60
- San Diego Gaslamp Food Tour with 6 Modern Californian Tastings: $78
- San Diego Holiday Sweet Treats, Donuts & Pastries Food Tour: $85
- Vegan Food Tour: $89
- Pizza and Ice Cream Walking Tour: $89
- Old Town Tequila and Tacos Walking Food Tour: $94
- San Diego Vegan Food Tour: $94
- Little Italy Food and Drink Walking Tour: Pizza, Pasta & Piazzas: $96
- Gaslamp District Food Tour with 6 Local Dishes: $96
- Gaslamp Quarter Downtown San Diego Food Tour: $99
- City Cruises Buffet Dinner Cruise with Drinks: $108
- San Diego Walking Food Tour and Ferry to Coronado Island: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.56San Diego $57
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 10 Stop Phnom Penh Tour by Tuk-Tuk, includes S21 & Killing Fields: $33
- 2-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Phu Quoc to Phnom Penh via Chau Doc: $488
- 2hours Private Sunset Cruise with unlimited beer, soft drinks and Tour guide: $66
- 3 Day Cambodia Private Tours: $80
- 3 Days Local Life Experience, Nature view, Waterfall: $199
- 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
- A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace S21 Killing Fields and More: $35
- A day Trip Sightseeing Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Private English Speaking Driver: $105
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Diego
For San Diego, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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San Diego Zoo$15
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Sea World Parking$12
Tours and Activities in San Diego
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Diego.
- Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self-Guided San Diego Walking or Bicycle Tour App: $5.00
- San Diego Balboa Park: Mystery Puzzle Adventure: $6.37
- Podcast Tour San Diego The 1915 Dreamscape: $6.83
- Podcast Tour San Diego The Scandalous Rise of the Gaslamp Quarter: $6.83
- San Diego Historic Gaslamp Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Tijuana Downtown Self Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego’s Scenic Waterfront: $9.99
- Gaslamp Quarter Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.99
- San Diego Harbor Self-Guided Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- San Diego Natural History Museum Nighttime Entry Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.28San Diego $21
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
Sample the Local Flavors in San Diego
Also in San Diego, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Downtown Bar Crawl Party Pass: $20
- San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
- San Diego Haunted Pub Crawl: True Crime & Ghost Stories: $35
- Hillcrest: LGBTQ+ Pub Crawl with Local Drag Queen: $35
- Hillcrest Drag Queen 5 Bar Crawl with Shots: $45
- Pasta Making Class at a Trendy Local Brewery in San Diego: $75
- Brewery Tour with Tastings and Food Pairings: $85
- Vino! Vino! Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Little Italy Wine Tasting Walking Tour: $125
- Cruise & Booze Brewery tours: $149
- Baja Tour Guide wine tour: $169
- Private Deluxe Wine Tour to Valle de Guadalupe by Luxury Vehicle: $209
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and San Diego, we can see that San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego 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 San Diego Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or San Diego?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 29% larger than the population of San Diego. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and San Diego, 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.