Which place is cheaper, Tromso 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 Tromso?
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 Tromso. 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 Tromso?
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.
Tromso
The city of Tromso, in northern Norway, is named after the island of Tromsoya, on which it stands. Tromso is located 350 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle and is the largest city in Northern Norway. From September to March many people come to Tromso to see the northern lights. From 20 May to 20 July the midnight sun makes it possible to do as the locals and participate in various activities around the clock. In general, Tromso has a mild climate for such a northerly destination because of its seaside location and the warming effect of the Gulf stream. The area has a modern mix of outdoor activities, a vibrant nightlife, and places to eat local food.
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 Coach Bus Tours in Norway, and The Best Adventure Tours to Norway.
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Phnom Penh Prices
Cambodia PricesTromso Prices
Norway Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhnom Penh $51Tromso $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Phnom Penh is $51, while the average daily cost in Tromso is $85. 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 Tromso in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhnom Penh $12Tromso $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhnom Penh $24Tromso $66
Compare Hotels in Phnom Penh and Tromso
Looking for a hotel in Phnom Penh or Tromso? 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 Tromso Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phnom Penh $7.90Tromso $11
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
- Private Taxi Transfer Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville: $160
- Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
- Phnom Penh To Mondulkiri Private Transfer Mini Van And Car: $151
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville city: $145
- Private Taxi Transfer from/to Phnom Penh - Sihanoukville: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tromso
Also for Tromso, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Highway to Heaven - Aurora Cable Car Transfer in Tromsø: $124
- Private Transfer Tromso Airport TOS to Tromso City: $82
Is it cheaper to fly into Phnom Penh or Tromso?
Prices for flights to both Tromso 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 $23Tromso $44
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$4.86
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Sunset & Evening Dinner Cruise With One Way Free Pick Up: $9.90
- Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $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
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $35
- Street Art and Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tromso
For Tromso, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tromso Aurora Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $207
- Night Reindeer Sledding with Camp Dinner and Chance of Northern Lights: $217
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phnom Penh $7.68Tromso $6.77
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
- 2 Day-Phnom Penh by Private Tours: $155
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Siem Reap Private Tour, Cambodia Road Tour: $25
- 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 & More: $35
- A day Trip Sightseeing Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Private English Speaking Driver: $105
- Adventure Cambodia: A 12-Day Guided Tour off the Beaten Path: $1,525
- All Inclusive Half Day Phnom Penh Discovery Tour: $55
Tours and Activities in Tromso
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tromso.
- Discover Tromsø: A Self-Guided Tour: $3.46
- A Tromsø Introduction: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Tromso Walking Tour with Treasure Hunt and Arctic Cathedral Visit: $67
- Evening tour: Sledding, mini skiing, lasso and reindeer hides: $73
- 1 Hour Photo & History Cruise: $93
- Wilderness Daytime Experience at Camp Tamok: $99
- Northern Lights Guided Bus Tour with Free Photos: $103
- Guided Tromsdalen Snowshoe Adventure Starts Here: $104
- Northern Lights Cruise from Tromsø – Witness the Aurora Borealis: $113
- Tromsø: Exclusive Fjord Adventure by Bus: $114
- Tromsø Guided Hiking Adventure with Artic Picnic: $114
- Tromsø Sledding and Bonfire Experience with Snacks: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhnom Penh $4.35Tromso $5.62
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phnom Penh and Tromso, we can see that Tromso 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 Tromso 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 Tromso would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tromso 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 Tromso Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phnom Penh or Tromso?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tromso. When comparing the sizes of Phnom Penh and Tromso, 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.