Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap?
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 Siem Reap. 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 Siem Reap?
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.
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
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 Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesSiem Reap Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $50Siem Reap $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in Siem Reap is $94. 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 Siem Reap in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Siem Reap $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Siem Reap $102
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap? 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 Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.87Siem Reap $8.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- A day trip transfer sightseeing Phnom Penh Siem Reap: $99
- Airport Transfer Techo International Airport (KTI) to/from Hotel: $30
- Fully Private Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $30
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
- Phnom Penh Airport Private Taxi Transfer - Hotels: $21
- Phnom Penh To Battambang Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
- Phnom Penh To Kratie Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $93
- Phnom Penh To Siem Reap Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
- Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Private Car Transfer: $65
- Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville Taxi - Safe & Private Car Transfer: $62
- Private Airport ↔ City Center Transfer: $24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$13
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Bike Rentals$1.93
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?
Prices for flights to both Siem Reap 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 $23Siem Reap $28
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.
- Buffet Dinner Cruise Experience with Live Music: $12
- Cooking Class in Phnom Penh: $31
- 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
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $49
- Evening Food Tour By Tuk-Tuk in Phnom Penh: $59
- Phnom Penh Food Tour By Night With Hotel Pickup: $59
- Evening Cambodian Food Tour: $60
- Phnom Penh Authentic Evening Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
- Ultimate Phnom Penh Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: 20 Tastings and Drinks: $69
- Cambodia Food Tour: $79
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
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Breakfast for Two$5.59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.65Siem Reap $30
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.92
- Sunset Cruise-Freeflow Beers,Soft Drinks & BBQ Buffet: $9.00
- NEW Sunset Cruise! "Your cruise U Choose "-Unlimited BBQ & Drinks: $9.00
- Audio Guide Tour by Tuk-Tuk to Killing Field and Genocide Museum : $12
- Killing Fields and Prison S21 Bus Tour: $15
- Phnom Penh Full Day Private Tour By Tuk Tuk or Taxi Car: $15
- Private Guided Full-Day Tour in Phnom Penh: $15
- Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour Killing Field and Tuol Sleng: $15
- Road Tour Phnom Penh Battambang Bamboo Train Bat Cave->Siem Reap: $15
- 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour : $15
- Phnom Penh City Tour & Cambodia Fire Range, Video Services: $15
- Cambodia Tour, Phnom Penh Shooting Club: $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Angkor Tour Guide$8.24
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kulen National Park Ticket: $19
- Tours and Tickets to Experience Phnom Kulen National Park: $65
- Phnom Kulen National Park Tours and Tickets: $65
- Phnom Kulen Waterfall 1000 Linga National Park Tour: $95
- Private Tour Kampong Pluk village and boat cruise on Tonle Sap: $99
- Private Kulen 1000 Shiva Lingas waterfall Private Tour: $103
- 3 Days Tour(Small Circuit+Grand Circuit & Banteay Srei+Beng Mealea & Koh Ker): $296
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.33Siem Reap $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, we can see that Siem Reap is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Siem Reap would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, 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.