A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tiger Leaping Gorge vs. Phnom Penh for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tiger Leaping Gorge or Phnom Penh?

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 Tiger Leaping Gorge and Phnom Penh. 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: Tiger Leaping Gorge or Phnom Penh?

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Tiger Leaping Gorge Prices
    China Prices
    Phnom Penh Prices
    Cambodia Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $54
    Phnom Penh $50

The average daily cost (per person) in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $54, 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge and Phnom Penh in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
    Phnom Penh $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
    Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge and Phnom Penh

Looking for a hotel in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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.

Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


Hotels in Phnom Penh


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17
    Phnom Penh $7.87

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:

  • A day trip transfer sightseeing Phnom Penh Siem Reap: $99
  • Airport Transfer Techo International Airport (KTI) to/from Hotel: $30
  • Fully Private Phnom Penh International Airport Transfers: $30
  • Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
  • Ground Transfer/SUV/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $110
  • Phnom Penh Airport Private Taxi Transfer - Hotels: $21
  • Phnom Penh To Battambang Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Phnom Penh To Kratie Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $93
  • Phnom Penh To Siem Reap Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Private Car Transfer: $65
  • Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville Taxi - Safe & Private Car Transfer: $62
  • Private Airport ↔ City Center Transfer: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Tiger Leaping Gorge or Phnom Penh?

Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Tiger Leaping Gorge 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
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $28
    Phnom Penh $23

Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:


  • Dinner for Two
    $10
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15
    Phnom Penh $7.65

Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh

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

  • Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.92
  • Sunset Cruise-Freeflow Beers,Soft Drinks & BBQ Buffet: $9.00
  • NEW Sunset Cruise! "Your cruise U Choose "-Unlimited BBQ & Drinks: $9.00
  • Audio Guide Tour by Tuk-Tuk to Killing Field and Genocide Museum : $12
  • Killing Fields and Prison S21 Bus Tour: $15
  • Phnom Penh Full Day Private Tour By Tuk Tuk or Taxi Car: $15
  • Private Guided Full-Day Tour in Phnom Penh: $15
  • Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour Killing Field and Tuol Sleng: $15
  • Road Tour Phnom Penh Battambang Bamboo Train Bat Cave->Siem Reap: $15
  • 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour : $15
  • Phnom Penh City Tour & Cambodia Fire Range, Video Services: $15
  • Cambodia Tour, Phnom Penh Shooting Club: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.46
    Phnom Penh $4.33


When comparing the travel costs between Tiger Leaping Gorge and Phnom Penh, we can see that Tiger Leaping Gorge 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.