Which place is cheaper, Datong or Siem Reap?
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 Siem Reap or Datong?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Siem Reap or Datong, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Siem Reap or Datong?
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.
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Siem Reap Prices
Cambodia PricesDatong Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySiem Reap $94Datong $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Siem Reap is $94, while the average daily cost in Datong is $71. 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 Siem Reap and Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSiem Reap $51Datong $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSiem Reap $102Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Siem Reap and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Siem Reap or Datong? 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: Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Siem Reap $8.79Datong $13
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
- Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988
- Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Siem Reap or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong and Siem Reap 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 daySiem Reap $28Datong $35
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.Siem Reap $30Datong $25
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:
- 3 Days Tour(Small Circuit+Grand Circuit & Banteay Srei+Beng Mealea & Koh Ker): $296
- Kulen National Park Ticket: $19
- Phnom Kulen National Park Tours and Tickets: $65
- Phnom Kulen Waterfall 1000 Linga National Park Tour: $95
- Private Kulen 1000 Shiva Lingas waterfall Private Tour: $103
- Private Tour Kampong Pluk village and boat cruise on Tonle Sap: $99
- Tours and Tickets to Experience Phnom Kulen National Park: $65
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- Yungang Grottoes Ticket Booking: $21
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket with Optional Tour Services: $24
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket Only: $33
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $35
- Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Area Pass Ticket Only: $36
- YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- Private day tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong: $100
- Private Guided Tour of Yungang Grottoes&Huayan Monastery : $148
- Yungang Grottoes and Jinhua Palace 2-Day Tour: $168
- Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes Private Tour: $174
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySiem Reap $11Datong $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Siem Reap and Datong, we can see that Siem Reap is more expensive. And not only is Datong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Datong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Datong 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 Datong.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Siem Reap Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Siem Reap or Datong?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Siem Reap and Datong, 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.