Popular cities
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 October 2026
๐ฐ๐ญ Phnom Penh
๐ฐ๐ญ Siem Reap
At a glance
- Where Siem Reap is clearly cheaper: Beer (38%โ), Cocktail & wine (30%โ), Studio rent (month) (30%โ)
- Where Phnom Penh is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (73%โ), Transit (20%โ), Half-day tour (20%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Biggest gap: getting around โ Phnom Penh 2 vs Siem Reap 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Phnom Penh | Siem Reap | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 3.5$3.5 | $ 3.5$3.5 | similar |
| Street food1 item | $ 2$2 | $ 1.75$1.75 | Siem Reap โ12% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 12$12 | $ 10$10 | Siem Reap โ17% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 2.8$2.8 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Siem Reap โ11% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 2$2 | $ 1.25$1.25 | Siem Reap โ38% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 5$5 | $ 3.5$3.5 | Siem Reap โ30% |
| Bottled water | $ 0.5$0.5 | $ 0.5$0.5 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 1$1 | $ 1$1 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 2.5$2.5 | $ 2.5$2.5 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 1.25$1.25 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Phnom Penh โ17% |
| Transitone ride | $ 0.4$0.4 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Phnom Penh โ20% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 8$8 | $ 9$9 | Phnom Penh โ11% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 45$45 | $ 35$35 | Siem Reap โ22% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 500$500 | $ 350$350 | Siem Reap โ30% |
| Laundry | $ 1.25$1.25 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Phnom Penh โ17% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 6$6 | $ 6$6 | similar |
| Haircutcut | $ 3$3 | $ 3$3 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | $ 10$10 | $ 8$8 | Siem Reap โ20% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 20$20 | $ 25$25 | Phnom Penh โ20% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 10$10 | $ 37$37 | Phnom Penh โ73% |
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 15% cheaper than Phnom Penh. Daily budget $80.9 vs $67.6; a month $1,689 vs $1,451.
Which is easier to travel, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?
About the same: Phnom Penh 3.0/5, Siem Reap 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Phnom Penh is about $1,689 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.