Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Istanbul or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul 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: Istanbul or Sihanoukville?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
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 Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
-
Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $161Sihanoukville $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $161, 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 Istanbul and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $75Sihanoukville $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $150Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $35Sihanoukville $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
-
Metro Cards$4.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Airport Transfer: $63
- Airport Transfer 1 to 6 Passengers: $59
- Airport Transfer Hotel Transfer Istanbul Transfer: $71
- Airport Transfer to Istanbul City with Minivan: $70
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Business Car: $71
- Airport Transfer: Istanbul to New Airport IST by Luxury Van: $77
- Airport Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Business Car: $71
- Airport Transfer: Sabiha Airport SAW to Istanbul by Business Car: $70
- Airport transfer Istanbul: $59
- Arrival Transfer: New Airport IST to Istanbul by Business Car: $70
- Best Istanbul Sultanahmet Old City Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $47
- Bosphorus Sunset Luxury Yacht Cruise with Guide and Transfers: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20
- Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
- Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
- Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
- Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
- Private Transfer : Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanouk Ville: $105
- Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
- Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by VIP Alphard: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $59Sihanoukville $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $24
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $24
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Turkish Dance Shows with Private Table: $28
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Night Cruise: Dinner, Drinks & Hotel Pickup: $30
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $30
- Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show with Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show in Istanbul: $31
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $31
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $32
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $32
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise Dinner, Drinks & Show with Pickup: $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.Istanbul $39Sihanoukville $5.39
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.53
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $6.31
- Istanbul Highlights Self guided scavenger hunt and Walking Tour: $8.27
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tour with Audio Guide: $8.29
- Istanbul Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone: $12
- Constantinople Siege 1453 GPS App Walking Tour Mobile Game: $12
- Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul: $12
- Bosphorus Cruise 2-3 Hour Cruises with Optional Asia Stop & Meal: $12
- 2-Hour Scenic Bosphorus Cruise in Istanbul Throughout the Day: $12
- Enjoy Istanbul’s Bosphorus:2-Hour Daytime, Sunset & Night Cruises: $12
- Bosphorus Night Lights: Guided Cruise With Tea and Cookies: $12
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
- Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $24
- Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
- La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $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
- Private Bokor Mountain Discovery Tour: $55
- Private Kampot Countryside Tour & Pepper farm, Kep/Crab Market: $55
- Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
- Sihanoukville Small-Group City Tour for Cruise Passengers: $59
- Exploring Shore Excursions from Cruise Ports: $59
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $11Sihanoukville $4.43
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Famous Istanbul Pub Crawl #1 Nightlife Experience: $28
- Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $31
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Sihanoukville, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Sihanoukville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul is in Europe 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul 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 Istanbul Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Sihanoukville?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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.