A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lipe vs. Kampong Cham for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Kampong Cham?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Kampong Cham can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Kampong Cham?

Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.

Kampong Cham

Kampong Cham is the sixth largest city in the country, located in the east of Cambodia. Just two and a half hours away from Phnom Penh is a surprisingly large province by the same name. Kampong Cham is the capital of this province, a quiet town on the west side of the Mekong River. While the town does not cater to tourists like other large cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the charm of Kampong Cham lies in the beauty and simplicity of local life. Visitors will also get a glimpse into agricultural life on the plantations of rubber trees, tobacco and cashews.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Kampong Cham or Koh Lipe?

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 Koh Lipe is $120, while the average daily cost in Kampong Cham is $36. 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 Koh Lipe and Kampong Cham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lipe $50
    Kampong Cham $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lipe $100
    Kampong Cham $40
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Kampong Cham

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Kampong Cham? 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.

Hotels in Koh Lipe


Hotels in Kampong Cham


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: Koh Lipe Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Lipe $21
    Kampong Cham $7.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:

  • Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Kampong Cham?

Prices for flights to both Kampong Cham and Koh Lipe 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
    Koh Lipe $52
    Kampong Cham $11

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lipe $27
    Kampong Cham $5.76

Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe

Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $127
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $25
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $29
  • Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $27
  • Koh Lipe Beginner Scuba Diving Half Day Tour with Lunch: $131
  • Private Experience with Fishing, Barbeque, Sashimi and Snorkeling: $78

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lipe $9.42
    Kampong Cham $5.47


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Kampong Cham, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Kampong Cham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampong Cham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampong Cham 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 Koh Lipe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lipe than you might in Kampong Cham.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Kampong Cham Expensive?.