Should you visit Bangkok or Siem Reap?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Siem Reap can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bangkok or Siem Reap?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap.
Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $105, 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 Bangkok and Siem Reap in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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:
Bangkok Hotel Prices and
Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
-
Affordable Bangkok Airport Transfer:
$22
-
Airport Private Transfers from Suvarnabhumi BKK to Bangkok City:
$33
-
Airport Transfer Camry/Fortuner or Similar :
$45
-
Airport Transfer Luxury Sedan Mercedes E Class BMW 5 Series:
$98
-
Airport Transfer to or from Hotel in Bangkok (Private Transport):
$58
-
Airport Transfer: Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok by Luxury Van:
$107
-
Airport transfer to Bangkok downtown:
$26
-
Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Trat/ Koh Chang:
$135
-
Arrival Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok City by Sedan:
$71
-
Arrival Transfer from BKK Airport to Bangkok Hotel:
$15
-
Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok with Hotel Transfers:
$85
-
Ayutthaya Floating Market Admission Ticket with Transfer:
$40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride
$13
-
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 Bangkok or Siem Reap?
Prices for flights to both Siem Reap and Bangkok 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Bangkok $36
Siem Reap $28
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
-
Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner :
$22
-
Meridian Dinner and Sunset Cruise in Bangkok:
$23
-
Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok:
$25
-
Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise:
$27
-
Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok:
$29
-
Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner:
$29
-
Baiyoke Sky Dinner Experience with Observation Deck Access:
$29
-
Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck With Buffet Dinner or Lunch:
$29
-
Bangkok Amazing Chaophraya River Dinner Cruise with Live Music:
$32
-
Nopparat’s Traditional Thai Dinner & Dance:
$32
-
Chao Phraya River Serenade: VIVA Alangka Dinner Cruise, Bangkok:
$32
-
Riverside Bangkok Dinner Cruise with Buffet and City Views:
$32
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Movie Ticket
$5.02
-
Grand Palace Entrance Ticket
$11
-
Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket
$1.57
-
Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)
$6.28
-
Club Cover Charge
$12
-
Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)
$75
-
Fish Pedicure
$4.71
-
Wat Pho entrance ticket
$3.14
-
Siriraj Museum (2)
$13
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics:
$5.00
-
Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$5.20
-
Bangkok's Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$6.99
-
Bangkok City Session Walking Tour:
$8.18
-
Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour (entry not incl.):
$9.00
-
Space and Time Cube Tickets in Bangkok:
$9.66
-
Ancient City Bangkok and Erawan Museum Tickets:
$10
-
Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI):
$10
-
Half Day Coral Island Tour from Pattaya With Lunch:
$11
-
Erawan Museum at Bangkok Admission Ticket:
$13
-
Explore Brilliant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour:
$14
-
Bangkok Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Tour:
$14
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:
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
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
-
Bangkok Pub Crawl:
$17
-
The Original Bangkok Pub Crawl:
$32
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 comparing the travel costs between Bangkok and Siem Reap, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Siem Reap Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Siem Reap?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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.
Related Articles for Bangkok
Related Articles for Siem Reap