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Dalian vs Siem Reap cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐จ๐ณ Dalian
๐ฐ๐ญ Siem Reap
At a glance
- Where Siem Reap is clearly cheaper: SIM card (67%โ), Cocktail & wine (55%โ), Laundry (47%โ)
- Where Dalian is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (77%โ), Convenience store (44%โ), Transit (44%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Dalian is easier to travel (2.6 vs 3.0). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Dalian 2 vs Siem Reap 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Dalian | Siem Reap | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ยฅ 30$4.23 | $ 3.5$3.5 | Siem Reap โ17% |
| Street food1 item | ยฅ 12$1.69 | $ 1.75$1.75 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ยฅ 90$12.7 | $ 10$10 | Siem Reap โ21% |
| Coffeeone cup | ยฅ 25$3.52 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Siem Reap โ29% |
| Beerone bottle | ยฅ 15$2.11 | $ 1.25$1.25 | Siem Reap โ41% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ยฅ 55$7.75 | $ 3.5$3.5 | Siem Reap โ55% |
| Bottled water | ยฅ 3$0.42 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Dalian โ15% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ยฅ 4$0.56 | $ 1$1 | Dalian โ44% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ยฅ 15$2.11 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Dalian โ15% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ยฅ 10$1.41 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Dalian โ6% |
| Transitone ride | ยฅ 2$0.28 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Dalian โ44% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ยฅ 15$2.11 | $ 9$9 | Dalian โ77% |
| Hotel night3-star | ยฅ 280$39.4 | $ 35$35 | Siem Reap โ11% |
| Studio rent (month) | ยฅ 2,000$282 | $ 350$350 | Dalian โ20% |
| Laundry | ยฅ 20$2.82 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Siem Reap โ47% |
| SIM card1 week data | ยฅ 130$18.3 | $ 6$6 | Siem Reap โ67% |
| Haircutcut | ยฅ 35$4.93 | $ 3$3 | Siem Reap โ39% |
| Massage1 hour | ยฅ 100$14.1 | $ 8$8 | Siem Reap โ43% |
| Half-day tourper person | ยฅ 200$28.2 | $ 25$25 | Siem Reap โ11% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ยฅ 200$28.2 | $ 37$37 | Dalian โ24% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dalian or Siem Reap?
Dalian and Siem Reap cost about the same. Daily budget $77.8 vs $67.6; a month $1,326 vs $1,451.
Which is easier to travel, Dalian or Siem Reap?
Dalian is easier: Dalian 2.6/5 vs Siem Reap 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Dalian and Siem Reap?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Dalian is about $1,326 and Siem Reap about $1,451 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.