Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Tianjin?
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 Tianjin or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tianjin or Phnom Penh? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Tianjin or Phnom Penh?
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Tianjin Prices
China PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTianjin $92Phnom Penh $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Tianjin is $92, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $50. 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 Tianjin and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTianjin $35Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTianjin $70Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Tianjin and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Tianjin or Phnom Penh? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tianjin $37Phnom Penh $7.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beijing Airport Transfer from Tianjin International Cruise Port: $130
- Beijing Daxing or Capital Int’l Airport Private Departure Transfer from Tianjin : $128
- Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
- Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Hotels : $225
- Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $118
- Port Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotels: $100
- Private 1-Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port to Beijing: $138
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Port to Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu): $63
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN): $39
- Private One Way Tianjin Port Transfer to Beijing including Great Wall Sightseeing: $198
- Private One Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port and Beijing: $132
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- Private Taxi transfer from Can Tho City to Phnom Penh city: $375
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Phnom Penh HTL-APT (PNH): $200
- 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 Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by VIP Alphard 2005: $165
- Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
- Private taxi transfer Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $129
- Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
- A day trip transfer sightseeing Phnom Penh Siem Reap: $99
- Phnom Penh To Kratie Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $93
- Private Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Kratie City : $83
- Private Taxi Transfer From Phnom Penh - Koh Kong: $79
Is it cheaper to fly into Tianjin or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Tianjin 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 dayTianjin $36Phnom Penh $23
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$4.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Buffet Dinner Cruise Experience with Live Music: $12
- Cooking Class in Phnom Penh: $31
- Phnom Penh Morning Market & Food Tour by Tuktuk - Includes All Food & Drinks!: $45
- Half Day - Phnom Penh Food Tour: $45
- Phnom Penh Local Market & Morning Food Tour Include Drinks: $49
- Phnom Penh Evening Food Tour - Inclusive 5 stops local Tastings: $49
- Evening Food Tour By Tuk-Tuk in Phnom Penh: $59
- Phnom Penh Food Tour By Night With Hotel Pickup: $59
- Evening Cambodian Food Tour: $60
- Phnom Penh Authentic Evening Food Tour 100% By Local: $69
- Ultimate Phnom Penh Food Tour by Tuk Tuk: 20 Tastings and Drinks: $69
- Cambodia Food Tour: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tianjin $10Phnom Penh $7.65
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Tianjin International Cruise Home Port to Beijing Airport/City Tr: $119
- Guided Day Tour to Tianjin Downtown with Lunch: $148
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $176
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Tianjin Port-up To Beijing City Self-Guide Tour and Drop-off at Beijing Hotel: $192
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall Private Day Tour: $214
- Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $215
- Private Tianjin Shopping Tour: $218
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Killing field and Toul Sleng genocide museum Tour: $19
- Phnom Penh Full Day Private Tours: $155
- Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.92
- ( Free eSim) Classic Phnom Penh Full Day Tour : $45
- 2 Day SUV and Minivan Tour Phnom Penh and Siem Reap: $145
- 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
- 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
- 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
- 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour : $15
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTianjin $11Phnom Penh $4.33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tianjin and Phnom Penh, we can see that Tianjin is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Tianjin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tianjin 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 Tianjin Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tianjin or Phnom Penh?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Phnom Penh. When comparing the sizes of Tianjin and Phnom Penh, 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.