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Siargao 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
๐ต๐ญ Siargao
๐ฐ๐ญ Siem Reap
At a glance
- Where Siem Reap is clearly cheaper: SIM card (32%โ), Beer (29%โ), Taxi (29%โ)
- Where Siargao is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (95%โ), Scooter rental (22%โ), Laundry (18%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Siem Reap is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Siargao 3 vs Siem Reap 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Siargao | Siem Reap | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฑ 200$3.51 | $ 3.5$3.5 | similar |
| Street food1 item | โฑ 100$1.75 | $ 1.75$1.75 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฑ 600$10.5 | $ 10$10 | Siem Reap โ5% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฑ 150$2.63 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Siem Reap โ5% |
| Beerone bottle | โฑ 100$1.75 | $ 1.25$1.25 | Siem Reap โ29% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฑ 250$4.39 | $ 3.5$3.5 | Siem Reap โ20% |
| Bottled water | โฑ 25$0.44 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Siargao โ12% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฑ 50$0.88 | $ 1$1 | Siargao โ12% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฑ 200$3.51 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Siem Reap โ29% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฑ 100$1.75 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Siem Reap โ14% |
| Transitone ride | โฑ 30$0.53 | $ 0.5$0.5 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฑ 400$7.02 | $ 9$9 | Siargao โ22% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฑ 2,500$43.9 | $ 35$35 | Siem Reap โ20% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฑ 20,000$351 | $ 350$350 | similar |
| Laundry | โฑ 70$1.23 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Siargao โ18% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฑ 500$8.77 | $ 6$6 | Siem Reap โ32% |
| Haircutcut | โฑ 150$2.63 | $ 3$3 | Siargao โ12% |
| Massage1 hour | โฑ 500$8.77 | $ 8$8 | Siem Reap โ9% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฑ 1,500$26.3 | $ 25$25 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฑ 100$1.75 | $ 37$37 | Siargao โ95% |
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, Siargao or Siem Reap?
Siem Reap is 10% cheaper than Siargao. Daily budget $80.2 vs $67.6; a month $1,511 vs $1,451.
Which is easier to travel, Siargao or Siem Reap?
Siem Reap is easier: Siem Reap 3.0/5 vs Siargao 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Siargao and Siem Reap?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Siargao is about $1,511 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.