Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Aqaba or Siem Reap?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Siem Reap, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Aqaba or Siem Reap?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesSiem Reap Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Siem Reap $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Siem Reap is $94. 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 Aqaba and Siem Reap in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Siem Reap $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Siem Reap $102
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Siem Reap
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Siem Reap? 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.
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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Siem Reap $8.79
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Petra: $59
- Amman/Death Sea: 1-Way Transfer to/from Wadi Rum in Private: $266
- Aqaba : Private Transfer From the Airport or your Hotel: $88
- Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Aqaba : $35
- Aqaba Airport Transfer to Petra : $90
- Aqaba Border (Yitzhak Rabin Terminal) to Petra Private Transfer: $140
- Aqaba Private Transfer from/to Amman, Airport, Dead Sea or K.H.B: $125
- Aqaba or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Wadi Rum: $60
- Petra by Night Tour with Private Transfer: $198
- Private Beach, Pools, Snorkeling & Boat Trip,Transfer: $66
- Private Car Transfer with Wadi Rum Jeep Safari: $169
- Private Transfer to Petra with Wi-Fi and Water: $191
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$13
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Bike Rentals$1.93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Airport pick up and Transfer (SIA): $35
- Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers :Siem Reap: $10
- Angkor International Airport (SAI) Private/Shared Transfers: $9.00
- Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium with Private Transfer: $45
- From Siem Reap Airport: Tuk Tuk Transfer to Your Hotel: $38
- From Elephant Sanctuary Experience with Transfers: $99
- From Private Transfer to Mondulkiri: $395
- Kulen Elephant Forest & Tonlesap Lake Include boat /Transfer: $124
- Phnom Penh: Private Taxi Transfer to Siem Reap: $121
- Phnom Penh: To/From Siem Reap Private Transfer: $72
- Private One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $50
- Private Overland Transfer Siem Reap - Bangkok: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Siem Reap?
Prices for flights to both Siem Reap and Aqaba 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
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Food Meals for one dayAqaba $73Siem Reap $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks: $54
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- 4h Jeep Tour + Bedouin Night (Dinner & Breakfast): $61
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $84
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $111
- Wadi Rum New Year Eve Party (Jeep Tour + Dinner + Music + Fireworks + Overnight): $112
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
- Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
- Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
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Breakfast for Two$5.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- A Spectacular Show with Optional Dinner: $18
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $19
- Apsara Performance with Dinner include Pick up & Drop off: $22
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $22
- Buffet Dinner Apsara Show with hotel transfers: $22
- Apsara Dance Show and Dinner with Hotel Pickup: $22
- Apsara Show Including Dinner & Hotel Pickup: $23
- Dinner and Traditional Show with Hotel Transfer: $24
- Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner & Tuk-Tuk...: $26
- A Night To Remember: Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner: $27
- Dinner Show Apsara Dance, Pickup round trip included: $27
- Apsara Theatre Performance include Dinner & hotel pick up: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Siem Reap $30
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sightseeing Bike Rental in Aqaba: $7.00
- Turgut camp with tour: $15
- Aqaba : All Water Sports Adventure in the Red Sea: $22
- Wadi Rum Jeep Tours - Full Day Jeep Tour: $24
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour (Morning or Sunset) Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $30
- 4 Hour Jeep Tour Wadi Rum Nature Desert morning or sunset: $30
- Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba: $30
- Stargazing Adventure in Jordan: $30
- Wadi Rum 2-Hour Sunset Tour Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $30
- Saraya Aqaba Waterpark entrance tickets: $33
- Discover Aqaba in Style: A 3-h City Tour by Car with meal: $37
- Wadi Rum: Explorer Jeep Tour PASS + Local Food + Optional Stay: $38
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Angkor Tour Guide$8.24
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- FREE Market & Local Temple Tour: $1.00
- Satcha: Workshop Tour Guide incl. Free Soft Drink: $5.50
- City Walking Tour: $6.00
- Siem Reap Motorbike Rental - Temple and City Tours own drive: $9.00
- Siem Reap Lotus Silk Farm Tour with Pick Up downtown: $10
- Angkor Wat: Full-Day Guided Sunset Tour: $10
- Small-Group Full Day Angkor wat Guide tour with Sun set: $11
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Small Tour with Tours Guide: $12
- Angkor Wat 1 Day with Sunrise Combined tour with (Tuk Tuk): $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise for Group or Private Tours: $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise and Full-Day Sightseeing Tour: $13
- Angkor Wat Private Tour by Tuk Tuk: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Siem Reap $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Siem Reap, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Siem Reap much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Siem Reap is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Siem Reap would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Siem Reap and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Siem Reap.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Siem Reap Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Siem Reap?
Aqaba has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Siem Reap, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.