Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Khao Lak?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak 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: Khao Lak or Sihanoukville?
Khao Lak
Resiliency and relaxation. Those are the two words used to describe one of Thailand's most breathtaking cities. Khao Lak is located in southern Thailand, and when the tsunami of 2004 hit, this area saw the most damage. With more than 4,000 fatalities, 3,000 still unaccounted for and enormous structural damages, many thought Khao Lak would not be able to bounce back. They have proved everyone wrong with a strong and impressive recovery. Now it has returned to its status of vacation hotspot. Unlike neighboring Phuket, though, the resorts in Khao Lak are designed for families and some peace and quiet.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKhao Lak $112Sihanoukville $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Khao Lak is $112, 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 Khao Lak and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKhao Lak $51Sihanoukville $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKhao Lak $102Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Khao Lak and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Khao Lak 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: Khao Lak Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Khao Lak $52Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- 2-Hour Guided Eco-Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $56
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $42
- From Carnival Magic Phuket Ticket with Transfer: $106
- Kata Lux Transfers, Tour and Travel: $39
- Khao Lak To Khao Sok Private Minivan & Car Transfer: $57
- Khao Lak any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $92
- Khao Lak/Bang Sak: 1-Way Private Transfer to Phuket Airport: $41
- Krabi Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khaolak: $111
- Phuket Airport (HKT) Departure Transfer from Khao Lak (Shared or Private): $39
- Phuket: Private One-Way Transfer to/from Khao Lak by Car: $30
- Premium Similan Island Day Trip with lunch and transfer pick up: $97
- Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Phuket (HKT) Airport: $100
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57
- Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $24
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Khao Lak or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Khao Lak 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 dayKhao Lak $31Sihanoukville $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Market Tour by Pakinnaka School: $56
- Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $57
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour.: $60
- Thai Cooking Class in a Garden with Transfer: $60
- Thai Cooking Class in Khaolak: $61
- 3 hours Khao Lak Cooking Class and Market Visit: $68
- Half-Day Cooking Class and Ingredient Hunt: $68
- Khaolak Finger Food Tour with Cabaret Show: $83
- Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $89
- Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary, Cooking Class and Waterfall Tour: $97
- ATV Quad Bike Excursion to Stunning Waterfalls with Dinner: $97
- Khaolak Thai Culinary Cooking Class and Natural waterfall Escape: $97
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
- Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Khao Lak $19Sihanoukville $5.37
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guided Walk & Feed Elephant Experience with Pickup: $35
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $37
- Guide Tour to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary in Small Group: $45
- Takuapa Cultural History Half-Day Tour From Khao Lak: $48
- Elephant Sanctuary Guided Tour: $52
- Khaolak: Begin the Day with Elephants - Walk and Feed Tour: $52
- Elephant Bathing and Feeding Tour: $52
- 30-Minutes ATV Quads and Waterfall Experience in Khaolak : $56
- Little Amazon Canoe Ride & Tam Nang Waterfall Tour: $56
- Sok River Canoeing | Half-Day Tour: $58
- Historical And Cultural Day Tour To Takuapa Old Town From Khao Lak: $61
- Khaosok Night Safari Experience (From Khaolak): $65
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
- La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
- Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
- Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $25
- Koh Rong: Round-Trip Speed Ferry Tickets: $25
- Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $25
- Koh Rong Island Speed Ferry Round-Trip Ticket: $25
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
- Private Tour in Kampot by Tuk Tuk: $35
- Private Bokor tours by locals including lunch : $44
- Countryside tours by locals: Cave exploration, Salt and Pepper : $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKhao Lak $13Sihanoukville $4.42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Khao Lak and Sihanoukville, we can see that Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Khao Lak or Sihanoukville?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Khao Lak. When comparing the sizes of Khao Lak 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.