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

Should you visit El Nido or Sihanoukville?

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

Should I visit El Nido 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: El Nido or Sihanoukville?

El Nido

El Nido is a coastal destination on the Philippine island of Palawan. It consists of about 45 islands and islets all with beautiful beachfront scenery and plenty of opportunities for experiencing nature above and below the water. Some of the island's best features include limestone karst cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, coves, and waterfalls.

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 2-Week Tours in Philippines, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or El Nido?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in El Nido is $39, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is $51. 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 El Nido and Sihanoukville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    El Nido $14
    Sihanoukville $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    El Nido $28
    Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in El Nido and Sihanoukville

Looking for a hotel in El Nido 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 El Nido


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: El Nido Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    El Nido $19
    Sihanoukville $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido

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

  • El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
  • El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $11
  • Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $37
  • Private Transfer From El Nido Lio Airport To El Nido Hotels: $20
  • Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $140

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

  • Private Transfer in South Cambodia: $60
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57

Is it cheaper to fly into El Nido or Sihanoukville?

Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and El Nido 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
    El Nido $12
    Sihanoukville $18

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
  • Cooking Class at La Plantation: $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    El Nido $5.40
    Sihanoukville $5.37

Tours and Activities in El Nido

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

  • Island Hopping Tour A with lunch BEST PRICE!: $22
  • Shared El Nido Tour A: $23
  • Big Lagoon and Shimizu Island Tour with Kayaking: $23
  • Island Hopping Tour A Lagoons and Beaches: $23
  • Hidden Beaches and Lagoons Boat Hopping Tour D: $24
  • Island Hopping Tour B Cudognong Cave & More: $26
  • El Nido Tour D Full Day w/ Beach Lunch: $28
  • El Nido Tour A: $28
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour A: $28
  • Island Hopping Tour C (Shared tour) BEST PRICE!: $29
  • El Nido Island Hopping Tour C: Hidden Beaches & Shrine: $29
  • El Nido Island Tour B w/ Fees included (No Hidden Charges): $30

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

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

  • 4 hours guided tour: Pepper farm, Secret Lake, Salt fields : $17
  • Best Sihanoukville Day Tours from Cruise Port or Hotel: $79
  • Best of Sihanoukville City Tour from Cruise Port: $79
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Bokor Mountain Hill Station Tour: $75
  • Bokor Mountain Hill Station Tour Inclusive Lunch: $78
  • Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $45
  • Explore Sihanoukville Dirt Bike Tour: $140
  • Exploring Bokor National Park Full-Day Tour from Sihanoukville: $99
  • Exploring Kampot: A Memorable Tour from Sihanoukville: $63
  • Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    El Nido $8.39
    Sihanoukville $4.42


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between El Nido and Sihanoukville, we can see that Sihanoukville is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Nido would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Nido 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 El Nido.

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


Which is Bigger, El Nido or Sihanoukville?

Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of El Nido 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.