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

Should you visit Koh Samet or Sihanoukville?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Samet 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: Koh Samet or Sihanoukville?

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Koh Samet?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samet is $97, 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 Koh Samet and Sihanoukville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Samet $32
    Sihanoukville $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Samet $64
    Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Koh Samet and Sihanoukville

Looking for a hotel in Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet


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: Koh Samet Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Samet $69
    Sihanoukville $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Samet or Sihanoukville?

Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Koh Samet 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
    Koh Samet $28
    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.
    Koh Samet $9.06
    Sihanoukville $5.37

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
  • Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $25
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
  • Private Tour in Kampot by Tuk Tuk: $35
  • Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $45
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
  • Kampot Countryside tour: Seasalt, Lympstone cave, Pepper farm : $45
  • Kampot-day tours, Countryside, Pepper farm and Kayaking : $47

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Samet $4.73
    Sihanoukville $4.42


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