A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Siem Reap vs. Ghent for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Siem Reap or Ghent?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Siem Reap or Ghent, 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 Ghent?

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.

Ghent

Ghent is a large city in the northern part of Belgium (the Flanders region) with a population of about 250,000. This city was one of the most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, which is portrayed today, mostly through architecture. There is a large university in Ghent with over 60,000 students, and a large portion of the population are young students. However, among the natives and students, there are also many foreigners and artists that you will find walking the streets of the city. Ghent is also Belgium's second largest port city.

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 Tours for Seniors to Belgium, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Belgium.


Which place is cheaper, Ghent 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Siem Reap is $94, while the average daily cost in Ghent is $167. 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 Ghent in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Siem Reap $52
    Ghent $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Siem Reap $104
    Ghent $166
Compare Hotels in Siem Reap and Ghent

Looking for a hotel in Siem Reap or Ghent? 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 Siem Reap


Hotels in Ghent


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 and Ghent Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Siem Reap $8.82
    Ghent $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $13
  • Bike Rentals
    $1.94

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:

  • Angkor International Airport (SAI) Private/Shared Transfers: $9.00
  • Share One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $10
  • Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers :Siem Reap: $10
  • Siem Reap International Airport Transfer (SIA): $12
  • Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $14
  • Siem Reap Airport (SAI): Transfer to/from Siem Reap Hotel: $15
  • Airport (SAI) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $18
  • Kompong Phluk Floating Village with Transfers: $20
  • Private Transfers Siem Reap City to Airport: $20
  • Angkor National Museum Ticket with Transfer: $24
  • Siem Reap Airport Transfer to/from Siem Reap by Private Car: $25
  • Siem Reap Angkor International Airport private transfer: $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ghent

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ghent:

  • Transfer Ghent Luxembourg (1 to 8 places): $252

Is it cheaper to fly into Siem Reap or Ghent?

Prices for flights to both Ghent 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Siem Reap $28
    Ghent $70
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:


  • Breakfast for Two
    $5.61

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.

  • A Spectacular Show with Optional Dinner: $18
  • Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $19
  • Apsara Performance with Dinner include Pick up & Drop off: $22
  • Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $22
  • Buffet Dinner Apsara Show with hotel transfers: $22
  • Apsara Dance Show and Dinner with Hotel Pickup: $22
  • Apsara Show Including Dinner & Hotel Pickup: $23
  • Dinner and Traditional Show with Hotel Transfer: $24
  • Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner & Tuk-Tuk...: $26
  • A Night To Remember: Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner: $27
  • Dinner Show Apsara Dance, Pickup round trip included: $27
  • Apsara Theatre Performance include Dinner & hotel pick up: $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ghent

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ghent.

  • Walking Food Tour in Ghent: $96
  • Walking food tour: Introduction to Ghent through food: $111

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Siem Reap $30
    Ghent $10
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:


  • Angkor Tour Guide
    $8.27

Tours and Activities in Siem Reap

Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • FREE Market & Local Temple Tour: $1.00
  • Satcha: Workshop Tour Guide incl. Free Soft Drink: $5.50
  • City Walking Tour: $6.00
  • Siem Reap Motorbike Rental - Temple and City Tours own drive: $9.00
  • Angkor Wat: Full-Day Guided Sunset Tour: $10
  • Siem Reap Lotus Silk Farm Tour with Pick Up downtown: $10
  • Small-Group Full Day Angkor wat Guide tour with Sun set: $11
  • Angkor Wat Sunrise for Group or Private Tours: $12
  • Angkor Wat 1 Day with Sunrise Combined tour with (Tuk Tuk): $12
  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Small Tour with Tours Guide: $12
  • Angkor Wat Sunrise and Full-Day Sightseeing Tour: $13
  • Angkor Wat: Small-Group Sunrise Tour: $13

Tours and Activities in Ghent

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ghent are as follows:

  • Evening Tour of the Dark Side of Gent: $3.53
  • Historical Walking Tour: Legends of Gent: $3.53
  • Gastronomic Walking Tour of Gent - Tasters included: $3.53
  • Guided tour of the medieval secrets of Ghent: $3.54
  • Ghent Highlights Walking Tour with Smartphone App: $5.00
  • Ghent Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self Guided Walking Tour: $5.90
  • TOP Ghent : Private Guided Tour with your mobile: $5.90
  • Ghent Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
  • Hidden A Self-Guided Audio Tour Of The Flemish City: $12
  • 40-Minute Historical Boat Tour of City Center: $13
  • 40 Minute Medieval Center Guided Boat Tour: $13
  • Pub Trail Kortrijk: an adventure full of surprises: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Siem Reap $11
    Ghent $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:

  • Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Ghent

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Ghent:

  • Brewery Visit in Ostend- Two 33cl Beers Included: $21
  • Brewery Visit in Ostend- 3 Beers & Breughel Plate Experience: $41
  • NEW Ghent Brewery Visit, Beer Tasting Tour & Chocolate Pairing: $88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Siem Reap and Ghent, we can see that Ghent is more expensive. And not only is Siem Reap much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Siem Reap is in Asia and Ghent 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 Siem Reap would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Siem Reap 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 Ghent would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ghent than you might in Siem Reap.

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 Ghent Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Siem Reap or Ghent?

Ghent has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Siem Reap and Ghent, 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.