Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Arusha?
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 Arusha or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Sihanoukville can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Arusha or Sihanoukville?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
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 G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $189Sihanoukville $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, 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 Arusha and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $126Sihanoukville $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $252Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Arusha 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: Arusha Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
- Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
- Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport Transfers with Private Day Tours: $60
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130
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 Transfer : Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanouk Ville: $105
- Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Arusha 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 dayArusha $40Sihanoukville $32
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
- Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $195
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
- Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Sihanoukville $5.39
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Guided Arusha town tour with market visit,shopping, and city walk: $17
- Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets& Hidden Gems: $19
- Arusha's Soul: A Guided Walking & Drive City Tour. Learn & Live.: $21
- Arusha Waterfalls,Coffee farm Tour & Swing(all inclusive): $30
- Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
- Street Food and Community Walking Tour: $30
- Sunset Tour in Arusha with Scenic Views of Mountain: $35
- Private Local Market Tour in Tengeru: $35
- Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
- Mountain Bike Tour of the Foothills of Mount Meru: $40
- Full-Day Sightseeing Tour in Arusha: $50
- 4 Hours Cycling Tour in Shimo La Mungu Crater: $50
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 dayArusha $10Sihanoukville $4.43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Sihanoukville, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Sihanoukville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa 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 Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha 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 Arusha Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Sihanoukville?
Arusha has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Arusha 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.