Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
Compare cities โบ Phnom Penh vs Siem Reap
Phnom Penh vs Siem Reap cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated September 2026
๐ฐ๐ญ Phnom Penh
๐ฐ๐ญ Siem ReapSiem Reap is 7% cheaper than Phnom Penh
Living on $1,629 a month in Phnom Penh feels like about $1,554 in Siem Reap โ same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$67.6 vs $61.2
Per month
$1,629 vs $1,554
Local meal
$ 3 vs $ 3
$3 vs $3
Taxi 5 km
$ 3 vs $ 2.5
$3 vs $2.5
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafรฉs & drinkssimilar
TransportSiem Reap 6% cheaper
StaySiem Reap 17% cheaper
FunPhnom Penh 9% cheaper
- Where Siem Reap is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (20%โ), Taxi (17%โ)
Item by item
| Item | Phnom Penh | Siem Reap | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 3$3 | $ 3$3 | similar |
| Street food1 item | $ 1.4$1.4 | $ 1.4$1.4 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 10$10 | $ 10$10 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 2.5$2.5 | $ 2.5$2.5 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | $ 1.5$1.5 | $ 1.5$1.5 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 3.9$3.9 | $ 3.9$3.9 | similar |
| Bottled water | $ 0.5$0.5 | $ 0.5$0.5 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 1.3$1.3 | $ 1.3$1.3 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 3$3 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Siem Reap โ17% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 1.5$1.5 | $ 1.5$1.5 | similar |
| Transitone ride | $ 0.5$0.5 | $ 0.5$0.5 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 7$7 | $ 8$8 | Phnom Penh โ12% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 35$35 | $ 30$30 | Siem Reap โ14% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 500$500 | $ 400$400 | Siem Reap โ20% |
| Laundry | $ 1$1 | $ 1$1 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 5$5 | $ 5$5 | similar |
| Haircutcut | $ 2.8$2.8 | $ 3.1$3.1 | Phnom Penh โ10% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 8$8 | $ 9$9 | Phnom Penh โ11% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 25$25 | $ 29$29 | Phnom Penh โ14% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 10$10 | $ 10$10 | similar |
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, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?
Siem Reap is 7% cheaper than Phnom Penh. Daily budget $67.6 vs $61.2; a month $1,629 vs $1,554.
How do monthly costs compare between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Phnom Penh is about $1,629 and Siem Reap about $1,554 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.