A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bandung vs. Sihanoukville for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bandung or Sihanoukville?

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

Should I visit Bandung 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: Bandung or Sihanoukville?

Bandung

Bandung is the capital city of West Java, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back in colonial times, Bandung also earned another nickname as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City since Bandung used to have a lot of flowers. Nowadays, Bandung has become a very popular weekend escape for Jakartans, who crowd the city on weekends and national holidays. It's known for colonial and art deco architecture, a lively, university-town feel and relatively cool tropical weather. Bandung is also a shopping destination, with fashion outlets clustered along Jalan Setiabudi and Jalan Riau in the Dago district. The city also make a good base for day trips to the surrounding countryside - high volcanic peaks, hot springs, and tea plantations are all within reach.

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 Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Bandung?

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 Bandung is $48, 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 Bandung and Sihanoukville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $20
    Sihanoukville $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $40
    Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Sihanoukville

Looking for a hotel in Bandung 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.

Hotels in Bandung


Hotels in Sihanoukville


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: Bandung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bandung $5.54
    Sihanoukville $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Bandung Private Transfer to Jakarta (all area ) : $80
  • Bandung or Lembang to Jakarta Airport CGK Departure Transfer: $72
  • Cipanas to Jakarta Airport (CGK) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • Private Rental Cars Bandung 10 Pax Free Airport Transfer: $139
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to 40294 Arcamanik, Bandung City: $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Ciater: $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Ciburial: $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Hegarmanah: $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271: $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kec. Batununggal Kel. Samoja 40273: $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kel. Samoja: $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kertajati Intl. Airport Cirebon (KJT): $221

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 Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
  • Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Sihanoukville?

Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Bandung 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
    Bandung $24
    Sihanoukville $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung

For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Indonesian Cooking Class with Welcoming Exotic Fruits: $32

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.45
    Sihanoukville $5.37

Tours and Activities in Bandung

For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Indonesia: Dago Dreampark Bandung Tickets: $9.93
  • The heart of Bandung and Grand Mosque Guided Walking Tour: $15
  • Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
  • Tangkuban Parahu Volcano & Surrounding Areas Tour: $44
  • Private Guided to The White Crater & Surrounding Areas Tour: $45
  • Private Guide Bandung Tour Car Charter: $49
  • Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
  • Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
  • Private Tour to Bandung Volcano Hot Springs and Mud bathing: $55
  • Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $57
  • Private: Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $58
  • Kawah Putih Day Tours: $59

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

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

  • Small Group Sihanoukville City Tour: $59
  • 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 Ship: $180
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.32
    Sihanoukville $4.42


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

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


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Sihanoukville?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Bandung 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.