Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Ao Nang?
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 Ao Nang or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Sihanoukville? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ao Nang or Sihanoukville?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville, also known by locals as Kompong Som, was named after King Sihanouk. Also Cambodia's youngest city, construction started in 1955 to build Cambodia's first and only deep water port so that ships would no longer have to go through the Mekong Delta in order to trade with Cambodia. Today, many visit Sihanoukville as a hub to visit Cambodia's islands.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Ao Nang Prices
Thailand PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $129Sihanoukville $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $129, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is $65. 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 Ao Nang and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $49Sihanoukville $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $98Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Sihanoukville? 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices and Sihanoukville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $61Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $34
- Ferry Transfer from Aonang To Phuket (Rassada Pier): $39
- Ferry Transfer from Koh PhiPhi to Ao Nang: $28
- From Ao Nang (Krabi): Private To Phuket (Phuket) Transfer: $86
- From Kayaking at Klong Rud with Hotel Transfers: $27
- From Krabi: Private Taxi Transfer to Phuket: $120
- Klong Rud Kayaking with Hotel Transfer: $29
- Koh Lanta :Speedboat Transfer from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi: $30
- Krabi : Muay Thai Live Fight Experience with Transfer: $55
- Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $31
- Krabi ATV Jungle Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $37
- Krabi: 4 Islands Speed Catamaran Tour with Lunch/Transfers: $75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20
- Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224
- Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
- Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
- Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
- Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by VIP Alphard: $180
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
- Kampot Kep To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini Van Car: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $46Sihanoukville $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Local Chef: $37
- Authentic Thai Local Cooking Class: $38
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class Krabi Province: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Dinner & Snorkeling: $40
- Krabi: 7 Islands Sunset Tour by Longtail Boat & BBQ Dinner: $43
- Krabi: Hong Island Cruise with Thai Buffet Dinner: $45
- From Ao Nang Hong Island Longtail Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $49
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $51
- Krabi: Romantic Beachfront Sunset Dinner: $64
- Krabi: Ao Thalane Sunset Kayaking & BBQ Dinner: $110
- Local Krabi: Cooking Demo, Market Walk, Bamboo Raft & Fruit: $133
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sihanoukville
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sihanoukville.
- Cooking class in Kampot: $20
- Kampot Cooking Class by Eco Lotus Kampot: $33
- Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Sihanoukville $5.37
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Phi Phi : Splash & Explore – Half-Day Tour By longtail: $17
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $17
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $21
- Krabi: On The Hill Off-Road ATV Adventure 30 Minute: $22
- Krabi: 4 Island Snorkeling Tour: $24
- From Krabi: Blue Dragon Cabaret Ticket Dazzling Night: $24
- Krabi: 4 Islands One-Day Premium Speedboat Tour lunch: $25
- FERRY TICKET PHUKET - AONANG - PHIPHI: $25
- Krabi: Iconic 4 Islands Day Tour by Longtail Boat with Lunch: $27
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Krabi: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $27
- Krabi: Jurassic Trails ATV Ride & Kayaking Tour: $27
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Best Sihanoukville Day Tours from Cruise Port: $79
- Best of Kep, Kampot from Sihanoukville Cruise Port: $259
- Best of Sihanoukville City Tour from Cruise Port: $75
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Day Trip from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh for Cruise Passengers: $189
- Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $53
- Exploring Bokor National Park Full-Day Tour from Sihanoukville: $99
- Exploring Kampot: A Memorable Tour from Sihanoukville: $63
- Exploring Shore Excursions from Cruise Ports: $59
- Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
- From Phnom Penh Day Trip for Cruise Ship Guests: $189
- Full Day City Tour with A Boat Trip to 2 Islands: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $16Sihanoukville $4.42
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- K-Bunk Pub Crawl - The Best Bars in Ao Nang in One Night!: $1.20
- Krabi: Summer Club Pub Crawl with Fire Show: $15
- Krabi Pub Crawl - Join Nomads For The Best Night in Ao Nang!: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Sihanoukville, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Sihanoukville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sihanoukville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sihanoukville 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 Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Sihanoukville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Sihanoukville?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Sihanoukville, 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.