Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Aqaba?
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 Aqaba or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Sihanoukville, 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: Aqaba or Sihanoukville?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
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 Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Sihanoukville $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is $64. 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 Aqaba and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Sihanoukville $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Sihanoukville $44
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Sihanoukville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Aqaba Airport (AQJ) to Petra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $137
- Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Aqaba: $35
- Aqaba Airport Transfer to Petra: $90
- Aqaba Private Transfer from/to Amman, Airport, Dead Sea or K.H.B: $125
- Aqaba or Aqaba Airport Private Transfer To Petra: $105
- Aqaba to Aqaba Hussein Airport (AQJ) - Departure Private Transfer: $30
- Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Aqaba Port to Wadi Rum: $85
- Exclusive, Comfort & Reliable Door-to-Door Transfer Petra ⇆ Aqaba: $115
- From Transfer to Amman Hotels or Amman Airport: $113
- Private Petra Day Trip from Aqaba Port with Return Transfer: $190
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Hotels: $27
- Private Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Dead Sea Hotels: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by VIP Alphard: $180
- Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
- Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
- Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
- Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224
- Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $73Sihanoukville $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Traditional Bedouin Cooking Experience in the Desert: $50
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $80
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $80
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $106
- Half Day Sunset Tour + Dinner & overnight stay in luxury tents: $243
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.Aqaba $54Sihanoukville $5.30
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Sea Breeze 3 Hours Snorkeling or 2 Hours Sunset Cruise: $24
- Aqaba Local Tour: $28
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $30
- Private Walking Tour in Aqaba City with Free Meal: $30
- Glass-Bottom Boat 2-hours Tour and Coral-Reef Viewing from Aqaba: $30
- Stargazing Adventure in Jordan: $30
- Aqaba Walking Tour : History ,Culture & Food: $30
- Aqaba Local Food, Market & Culture Walking Tour: $30
- Wadi Rum Half-day Jeep Tour incl. sandboard, water & Bedouin tea: $30
- Half-Day Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum with Sandboarding & Sunset: $33
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- Wadi Rum 3 hours sunset Jeep 4x4 Tour: $35
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kampot Pepper Tour, Salt Field, Cave Temple, Secret Lake: $20
- Kampot & Kep: Full-Day Countryside Tour of 10+ Top Attractions: $24
- Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
- La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $27
- Kampot Waterfall Adventure with Nature Hiking Jungle and Swimming: $27
- Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $53
- Bokor Mountain: Historic & Scenic Tour with Rickshaw/SUV: $55
- Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
- Private Kampot Countryside Tour & Pepper farm, Kep/Crab Market: $55
- Exploring Shore Excursions from Cruise Ports: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Sihanoukville $4.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Sihanoukville, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Sihanoukville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Sihanoukville 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 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba 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 Aqaba Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Sihanoukville?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 65% larger than the population of Aqaba. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba 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.