Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Siem Reap?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Siem Reap or Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Siem Reap or Lake Tekapo, 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
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 New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySiem Reap $81Lake Tekapo $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Siem Reap is $81, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSiem Reap $51Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSiem Reap $102Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Siem Reap and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Siem Reap or Lake Tekapo? 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 and Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Siem Reap $8.79Lake Tekapo -
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 Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium with Private Transfer: $45
- Border Transfer (Siem Reap to Laos or Laos to Siem Reap ): $400
- Intercity Transfer(Siem Reap-Sihanouk/Sihanouk-Siem Reap): $300
- Phnom Penh: Private Taxi Transfer to Siem Reap: $121
- Private One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $30
- Private Round Trip Siem Reap Airport Transfer In AC Minivan: $76
- Private Siem Reap Angkor Airport Transfers: $37
- Private Taxi Transfer Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $121
- Private Taxi transfer from Bangkok to Siem Reap: $299
- Private Taxi transfer from Koh Chang to Siem Reap: $368
- Private Taxi transfer from Pattaya to Siem Reap: $330
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Bangkok: $258
Is it cheaper to fly into Siem Reap or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $16Lake Tekapo $13
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- Pupulars Apsara show Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $15
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $17
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $19
- Apsara Dinner Show with Hotel Transfer: $20
- Apsara Dance Show & Dinner with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $26
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $26
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $27
- Cooking Class and Market Shopping: $29
- Khmer Cooking Class at a Local's Home: $29
- Morning Cooking Class & Market Tour: $29
- Half-Day Cambodian Cooking Class: $32
- Cambodian Cooking Class from Siem Reap: $32
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Siem Reap $30Lake Tekapo -
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:
- City Walking Tour: $6.00
- Angkor Wat Tour by Tuk-Tuk with English Speaking Driver: $9.00
- Angkor Temples Sunrise Tour with tours guide at only 9$/pax: $12
- Angkor Eye Standard Ride Ticket: $12
- Angkor Temples Tour - Shared Tours tours guide: $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Small Tour: $13
- Small Tour Group + Sun Rise 12$ / 1pax: $13
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Small-Groups with Guide tour: $13
- Sunset Small Groups with Massive Temples & Guide tour: $14
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Small-Group Guided Day Tour: $15
- Angkor Eye Cocktail Experience: $15
- Angkor Sunrise Temple Tour with Angkor Wat, Bayon & Ta Prohm: $15
Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $30
- Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
- Dark Sky Virtual Stargazing Experience: $41
- 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
- High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
- Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
- 中文观星团 Chinese tour: $65
- Stargazing Experience: $65
- Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
- From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
- Summit Experience - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySiem Reap $11Lake Tekapo -
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: $10
When comparing the travel costs between Siem Reap and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Siem Reap is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Siem Reap is in Asia and Lake Tekapo is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Siem Reap or Lake Tekapo?
Siem Reap has a larger population, and is about 260 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Siem Reap and Lake Tekapo, 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.