Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Hue?
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 Hue or Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hue and Phnom Penh 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: Hue or Phnom Penh?
Hue
Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city in the country of Cambodia. It is located at the edge of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers and is the nation's center of economics and industry. The metropolitan area has a population of about 2.2 million.
Phnom Penh was once called the "Pearl of Asia." In the 1920s it was one of the most impressive French built cities in the region and was an important tourist destination. During the Vietnam War, refugees fled to the city and by 1975 the city's population was between 2 and 3 million, most of them being refugees. The city fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and they cut off supplies to the population for over a year. Journalists reported torture and mutilation of the trapped civilians and the Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated the city in what is known as the death march. The Khmer Rouge was driven from the city by the Vietnamese in 1979 and reconstruction began.
Today, tourism continues to grow in the city and those who visit are greeted by a welcoming and friendly population, a rich culture, and truly rewarding travel experience.
Phnom Penh has a tropical wet and dry climate. It is hot year around with very little temperature variation. Lows are usually in the low 70s Fahrenheit and highs are in the mid to high 90s Fahrenheit. The southwest monsoon brings rains between May and October and the northeast monsoon brings the dry season from November to March.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Hue Prices
Vietnam PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHue $56Phnom Penh $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Hue is $56, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $50. 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 Hue and Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHue $22Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHue $44Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Hue and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Hue or Phnom Penh? 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: Hue Hotel Prices and Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hue $12Phnom Penh $7.87
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:
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Cyclo$0.45
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Short Taxi Ride$0.83
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Taxi Ride to Tombs$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:
- Bus Transfer From Hue to Phong Nha 1 Way: $19
- Bus Transfer From Hue - Phong Nha: $16
- Da Nang Airport: Private Transfer to/from Hue City: $94
- Deluxe Transfer Hue to Hoi An by Amazing way: $25
- From Hue : Transfer Hue To Hoi An with Sightseeing Stops: $16
- From Hue to Golden Bridge - Ba Na Via Hai Van Pass (Private Roundtrip Transfer): $85
- From Bus Transfer to Hoi An with Sightseeing Stops: $15
- From Hoi An Bus Transfer with 4 Sightseeing Stops: $13
- From Hoi An Bus Transfer with Hai Van Pass & Marble …: $15
- From Hoi An Bus Transfer with Hai Van Pass & Marble …: $16
- From One-Way Shared Bus Transfer to Da Nang: $12
- From Private Car Transfer to Da Nang: $45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- PNH Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $7.00
- Techo Airport (KTI) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $16
- Private Phnom Penh Airport Transfers to your hotel in town: $20
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $20
- Phnom Penh Airport Private Taxi Transfer - Hotels: $21
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $21
- Private Airport ↔ City Center Transfer: $24
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Hotels: $24
- Techo International Airport Private Transfer: $25
- PrivateTransfer: PhnomPenh Airport(PNH/KTI) to Hotel in PhnomPenh: $27
- Private Transfer: PhnomPenh's Hotel to PhnomPenh Airport(PNH/KTI): $27
- Techo International Airport Transfer to Hotel or vice versa: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Hue or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Hue 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 dayHue $25Phnom Penh $23
Typical Food Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:
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River Night Market Dinner (for Two)$7.58
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Two Sugarcane Drinks$0.76
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Quick Lunch (for Two)$2.08
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$4.17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.
- Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $21
- Walking Street Food tour in Hue: $26
- Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
- Hue City: Cyclo, Market Tour & Cooking Class at Madam Thu: $27
- Eat Like a Local with a Local Hue Food Tour : $30
- Home Cooking Class and Dinner with Local Chef in Hue City: $31
- HUE : NIGHT WALKING AND STREET FOOD TOUR: $31
- Hue : Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
- Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
- Hue : Night Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
- Guided Local Food Tour with Tastings: $33
Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:
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Dinner for Two$10
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Breakfast for Two$4.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $9.90
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with English Speaking Guide: $10
- Buffet Dinner Cruise Experience with Live Music: $12
- Nightlife three hours food tours: $27
- Evening City Tour by Tuk Tuk with 1 Dinner: $29
- Cooking Class in Phnom Penh: $31
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
- Phnom Penh Morning Market & Food Tour by Tuktuk - Includes All Food & Drinks!: $45
- Half Day - Phnom Penh Food Tour: $45
- Evening Food Tour with Drinks & Tuk Tuk Included: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hue $11Phnom Penh $7.65
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:
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Boat Ride$7.39
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$1.06
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Imperial Citadel Entrance$3.03
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Massage at Institute for the Blind$1.52
Tours and Activities in Hue
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:
- Eat like a local with a local - Walking Tour: $2.00
- Hue Imperial Ancient City Walking Tour: $2.00
- Traditional Singing on Huong River Ticket: $4.03
- Private City Tour By Car - English Speaking Driver: $4.72
- Vietnam Song Lab Digital Art Center Entry Ticket: $7.66
- Hue Imperial City 3 Hour Walking Tour for Budget Travelers: $8.00
- City Tour with Driver - Customized Your Own Itinerary: $8.66
- Experience Paper Flower Making in Hue for a Cause: $10
- Private City Tour by Car with English-Speaking Driver: $10
- Imperial City Walk, Motorbike Tour & Private Car Options: $10
- Hue Royal Tombs Tour Visit 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13
- Royal Tombs Private Tour with 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Riverside Walking Tour with Snack, Drinks & Local Ferry Ride: $7.20
- Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.92
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Sunset Cruise-Freeflow Beers,Soft Drinks & BBQ Buffet: $9.00
- NEW Sunset Cruise! "Your cruise U Choose "-Unlimited BBQ & Drinks: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with freeflow beers & BBQ buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer &Fruit platter: $9.35
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket Free Mekong Cruise: $12
- Audio Guide Tour by Tuk-Tuk to Killing Field and Genocide Museum : $12
- Killing Fields and Prison S21 Bus Tour: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHue $5.49Phnom Penh $4.33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:
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Beer$0.95
Sample the Local Flavors in Phnom Penh
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Phnom Penh:
- Phnom Penh Pub Crawl with Free Mad Monkey Singlet: $12
When comparing the travel costs between Hue and Phnom Penh, we can see that Hue 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 Hue Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hue or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Hue. When comparing the sizes of Hue and Phnom Penh, 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.