A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phnom Penh vs. Split for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Phnom Penh or Split?

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 Split. 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 Split?

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.

Split

Split is a historic city in Central Dalmatia with many opportunities to glimpse its fascinating past in its historic city center. Centuries ago the city grew up around a Diocletian palace that was used as refuge by the locals.

Today, as you wander around the historic center, you can see the remains of the Roman walls, temples, and squares. Despite it's appeal to tourists, Split is much more than just a tourist destination. It is larger than you might initially realize and it spreads well beyond the historic center. There is a population of about 300,000 in the larger area and it is an economic center for the region.

Split has a beautiful climate with mild winters, countless sunny days, and a generally pleasant temperature. As such, there are many opportunities to enjoy yourself outdoors, whether by participating in sports or walking around the city's quaint streets. Winters in Split are also quite mild, but there may be one snowy day, on average, every year. This rare snowfall can cause a significant disruption in the flow of traffic.

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 Walking Tours in Croatia, and The Best Luxury Tours to Croatia.


Which place is cheaper, Split 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $50, while the average daily cost in Split is $224. 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 Split in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Phnom Penh $12
    Split $96
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Phnom Penh $24
    Split $192
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Split

Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Split? 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.

Hotels in Phnom Penh


Hotels in Split


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 Split Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Phnom Penh $7.87
    Split $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:

  • Transfer Phnom Penh to Battambang, Private Taxi Driver: $125
  • Techo Phnom Penh Airport KTI to Kampot Private Transfer: $75
  • Techo International Airport to Siem Reap Private Transfer: $160
  • Techo International Airport Transfer to Phnom Penh Hotel: $30
  • Techo International Airport Transfer to Hotel or vice versa: $30
  • Techo International Airport Transfer: $15
  • Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh To Siem Reap, Friendly Taxi Driver: $135
  • Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $90
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer to or from Phnom Penh: $239
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer to Phnom Penh: $115
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer From/to Siem Reap - Phnom Penh: $71
  • Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split

Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Airport Private Transfer from Split: $46
  • Airport Private Transfer to Split: $46
  • Airport Transfer from Split: $45
  • Airport Transfer to Split: $45
  • Airport transfers - round trip: $158
  • CO2-Offset Arrival Transfer Split Airport to Split City: $62
  • Cetina River Rafting Tour with Transfer from Split: $76
  • Cruise Port of Split to Split Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $41
  • Direct Transfer In Private Car From Split To Dubrovnik: $258
  • From Split or Trogir: Cetina River Rafting with Transfer: $93
  • From Split or Trogir: Cetina River Rafting with Transfer: $94
  • From Private 1-Way Transfer to Dubrovnik: $491

Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Split?

Prices for flights to both Split 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Phnom Penh $23
    Split $106
Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:


  • Dinner for Two
    $10
  • 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Split

For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Omiš: Sunset Boat Trip to Pučišća Brač island with Dinner: $59
  • Split’s Ultimate Walking Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks: $67
  • Small Group Food Tour with Private Option: $104
  • Split Food Tour Local Dishes and City Stories: $116
  • Split’s Ultimate Walking Food Tour by Do Eat Better: $124
  • Split Old Town Authentic Food Tour with 9 Dishes & Local Wines: $128
  • Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite at a Time: $140
  • Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite At A Time: $141
  • Private VIP Split Food Tour with Seafood, Wine and Local Bites: $182
  • Split Cooking Class - Afternoon Edition Shared Activity: $205
  • Split Cooking Class: $206
  • Vegan Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Split: $206

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Phnom Penh $7.65
    Split $13

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

Tours and Activities in Split

For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Split Quest Experience: Discover the City: $4.99
  • Split self guided walking tour through history: $5.88
  • Split Audio Guided Walking Tour 1h and 17 audio reviews: $6.94
  • Split Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $9.99
  • Discover Split Guided Walking Tour: $12
  • TOP Split : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $12
  • Split Walking Tour Adria Aura Guide: $12
  • Split's Old Town and Marjan Hill: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Entry Ticket to Selfie Experience Museum: $13
  • Klis Fortress Sunset Tour & Game of Thrones Views: $13
  • Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $14
  • Klis Fortress & Olive Museum Tour with GOT Sites: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Phnom Penh $4.33
    Split $20

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 Split

Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Split Pub Crawl: Nightlife, Shots & Club Entry: $14
  • Diocletian's Palace Walking and Wine Tasting Tour: $18
  • Tower Pub Crawl in Split: $32
  • Ziggy Star's Nightlife Pub Crawl Experience in Split: $47
  • Wine Tasting at Seafront Tasting Room in Kastela: $49
  • From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $53
  • Dalmatian wine tasting by Bottiglia wine & deli: $53
  • From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $53
  • From Krka Waterfalls day tour & wine tasting: $55
  • Split/Trogir: Krka National Park Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $55
  • Krka National Park Tour with tour Guide & Wine tasting from Split & Trogir: $55
  • Olive Oil and Wine Tasting with Snacks: $57


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Split, we can see that Split 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 Split 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 Split would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Split 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 Split Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Split?

Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Split. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Split, 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.