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

Should you visit Bangkok 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 Bangkok 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: Bangkok or Sihanoukville?

Bangkok

Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.

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 Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Bangkok?

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 Bangkok is $105, 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 Bangkok and Sihanoukville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangkok $50
    Sihanoukville $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangkok $100
    Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Sihanoukville

Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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 Bangkok


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: Bangkok Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangkok $6.57
    Sihanoukville $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk to bus station
    $2.51
  • Skytrain Ticket
    $5.02
  • Chao Phraya River Express Ticket
    $1.00
  • Ferry Ride
    $0.82
  • Taxi From Airport
    $7.85
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.83
  • Boat Taxi
    $1.57
  • Trains to airport
    $5.02

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:

  • Affordable Bangkok Airport Transfer: $22
  • Airport Private Transfers from Suvarnabhumi BKK to Bangkok City: $33
  • Airport Transfer Camry/Fortuner or Similar : $45
  • Airport Transfer Luxury Sedan Mercedes E Class BMW 5 Series: $98
  • Airport Transfer to​ or from Hotel in Bangkok (Private Transport): $58
  • Airport Transfer: Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok by Luxury Van: $107
  • Airport transfer to Bangkok downtown: $26
  • Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Trat/ Koh Chang: $135
  • Arrival Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK to Bangkok City by Sedan: $71
  • Arrival Transfer from BKK Airport to Bangkok Hotel: $15
  • Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok with Hotel Transfers: $85
  • Ayutthaya Floating Market Admission Ticket with Transfer: $40

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: $57
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $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
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224

Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Sihanoukville?

Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Bangkok 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
    Bangkok $36
    Sihanoukville $32
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok

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


  • Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)
    $28
  • Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)
    $6.28
  • 2 Rotis (Bread)
    $1.41
  • Mango & Sticky Rice
    $0.94
  • Lunch at KFC (for Two)
    $6.28
  • Pad Thai
    $2.20
  • Airport Lunch for 2
    $17
  • Lunch for 2
    $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.

  • Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner : $22
  • Meridian Dinner and Sunset Cruise in Bangkok: $23
  • Royal Princess Dinner Cruise in Bangkok: $25
  • Chao Phraya Princess Sunset and Dinner Cruise: $27
  • Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: $29
  • Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $29
  • Baiyoke Sky Dinner Experience with Observation Deck Access: $29
  • Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck With Buffet Dinner or Lunch: $29
  • Bangkok Amazing Chaophraya River Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $32
  • Nopparat’s Traditional Thai Dinner & Dance: $32
  • Chao Phraya River Serenade: VIVA Alangka Dinner Cruise, Bangkok: $32
  • Riverside Bangkok Dinner Cruise with Buffet and City Views: $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.
    Bangkok $18
    Sihanoukville $5.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok

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


  • Movie Ticket
    $5.02
  • Grand Palace Entrance Ticket
    $11
  • Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket
    $1.57
  • Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)
    $6.28
  • Club Cover Charge
    $12
  • Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)
    $75
  • Fish Pedicure
    $4.71
  • Wat Pho entrance ticket
    $3.14
  • Siriraj Museum (2)
    $13

Tours and Activities in Bangkok

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

  • Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics: $5.00
  • Bangkok Noi Canal: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Bangkok's Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Bangkok City Session Walking Tour: $8.18
  • Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour (entry not incl.): $9.00
  • Space and Time Cube Tickets in Bangkok: $9.66
  • Ancient City Bangkok and Erawan Museum Tickets: $10
  • Erawan Museum Ticket (NON THAI): $10
  • Half Day Coral Island Tour from Pattaya With Lunch: $11
  • Erawan Museum at Bangkok Admission Ticket: $13
  • Explore Brilliant Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $14
  • Bangkok Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Tour: $14

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

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

  • Tuktuk Countryside tour: Pepper farm, Salt field & Secret lake: $18
  • Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $21
  • La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
  • Half day tour with countryside include Pepper farm Kampot : $22
  • Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
  • Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $25
  • SUP Tour in Mangrove Forest of Koh Rong Sanloem: $28
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
  • Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $30
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
  • Kampot Countryside & Kayak Tour, Pepper Farm include lunch : $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangkok $5.65
    Sihanoukville $4.42
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.26

Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:

  • Bangkok Pub Crawl: $17
  • The Original Bangkok Pub Crawl: $32


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, we can see that Bangkok 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 Bangkok would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangkok 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 Bangkok Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Sihanoukville?

Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok 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.