A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Siem Reap vs. Taupo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Siem Reap or Taupo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Siem Reap or Taupo, 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: Siem Reap or Taupo?

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.

Taupo

Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap, The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.


Which place is cheaper, Taupo or Siem Reap?

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 Siem Reap is $94, while the average daily cost in Taupo is $128. 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 Siem Reap and Taupo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Siem Reap $51
    Taupo $62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Siem Reap $102
    Taupo $124
Compare Hotels in Siem Reap and Taupo

Looking for a hotel in Siem Reap or Taupo? 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 Siem Reap


Hotels in Taupo


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: Siem Reap Hotel Prices and Taupo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Siem Reap $8.79
    Taupo $25
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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taupo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Taupo:

  • Tongariro Crossing : 2 Day PRIVATE TRANSFER Leaving AUCKLAND: $1,101

Is it cheaper to fly into Siem Reap or Taupo?

Prices for flights to both Taupo and Siem Reap 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
    Siem Reap $28
    Taupo $41
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:


  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Siem Reap $30
    Taupo $34
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:


  • 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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo

Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Bungy Jumping
    $151
  • Jet Boating
    $56

Tours and Activities in Taupo

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

  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $22
  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Candy Cottage: $22
  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Cursed Cabin: $22
  • Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $22
  • Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave Entry Ticket: $28
  • Lake Taupō Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise aboard Ernest Kemp: $30
  • Self-Guided Geothermal Tour in Orakei Korako: $30
  • Lake Maori Rock Carvings 10.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $34
  • Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $34
  • Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $34
  • Maori Rock Carvings - Taupo Sailing Adventures - Kindred Spirit: $35
  • Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Siem Reap $11
    Taupo $13

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

Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:


  • Wine
    $5.03


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Siem Reap and Taupo, we can see that Taupo is more expensive. And not only is Siem Reap much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Siem Reap is in Asia and Taupo is in Pacific, 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo 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 Siem Reap Expensive? and Is Taupo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Siem Reap or Taupo?

Siem Reap has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Siem Reap and Taupo, 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.