A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saaremaa vs. Phnom Penh for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saaremaa or Phnom Penh?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Phnom Penh, 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: Saaremaa or Phnom Penh?

Saaremaa

Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.

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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh or Saaremaa?

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 Saaremaa is €128, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is €43. 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 Saaremaa and Phnom Penh in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Saaremaa 36
    Phnom Penh 11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Saaremaa 72
    Phnom Penh 22
Compare Hotels in Saaremaa and Phnom Penh

Looking for a hotel in Saaremaa 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.

Hotels in Saaremaa


Hotels in Phnom Penh


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: Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Saaremaa 47
    Phnom Penh 6.76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saaremaa

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Saaremaa:


  • Rental Car and Gas for a Day
    34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:

  • Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh City to Can Tho City: $375
  • Siem Reap: Private Transfer to or from Phnom Penh: $239
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Phnom Penh HTL-APT (PNH): $200
  • Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by VIP Alphard 2010: $190
  • Private Transfer/ Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville by VIP Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by VIP Alphard 2005: $165
  • Siem Reap or Private One-Way Transfer: $158
  • Ground Transfer/ Minivan/ Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $150
  • Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
  • Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh city: $145
  • Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $145
  • Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $145

Is it cheaper to fly into Saaremaa or Phnom Penh?

Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh and Saaremaa 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
    Saaremaa 63
    Phnom Penh 19
Typical Food Prices in Saaremaa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Saaremaa:


  • Salmon
    1.28

Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:


  • Dinner for Two
    8.73
  • Breakfast for Two
    4.15

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Saaremaa 21
    Phnom Penh 6.57

Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh

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

  • Killing field and Toul Sleng genocide museum Tour: $19
  • Phnom Penh Full Day Private Tours: $155
  • Phnom Penh Private Tour with Luggage Storage: $7.92
  • ( Free eSim) Classic Phnom Penh Full Day Tour : $45
  • 2 Day SUV and Minivan Tour Phnom Penh and Siem Reap: $145
  • 2 Days Phnom Penh Cyclo and Cycling Tour: $128
  • 2 Days Private Guide Tour Phnom Penh Heritage: $282
  • 5-Hour Biking Tour in Mekong Island: $49
  • 6-8 Hours Phnom Penh Private Guided Tour : $15
  • A Day Trip Sightseeing of Phnom Penh With Private Tour Guide : $65
  • A Full Day Tour for Royal Palace, S21, Killing Fields & More : $35
  • A day Trip Sightseeing Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Private English Speaking Driver : $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Saaremaa 11
    Phnom Penh 3.72

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Saaremaa Expensive? and Is Phnom Penh Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Phnom Penh?

Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa 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.