Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Kota Kinabalu?
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 Kota Kinabalu or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kota Kinabalu 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: Kota Kinabalu or Sihanoukville?
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
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 Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
-
Kota Kinabalu Prices
Malaysia PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKota Kinabalu $70Sihanoukville $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Kota Kinabalu is $70, 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 Kota Kinabalu and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKota Kinabalu $21Sihanoukville $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKota Kinabalu $42Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Kota Kinabalu 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: Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices and Sihanoukville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kota Kinabalu $26Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Kota Kinab Airport to Kota Kinabalu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) to Borneo - Arrival Private Transfer: $37
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Kota Kinabalu: $20
- Private Airport Transfer: BKI Airport ⇄ Kota Kinabalu City(Hotel): $14
- Private Departure Transfer : Kota Kinabalu International Airport: $27
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $30
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI to Kota Kinabalu Port: $24
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
- Kampot Kep To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini Van Car: $49
- Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
- Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by VIP Alphard: $180
- Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224
Is it cheaper to fly into Kota Kinabalu or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Kota Kinabalu 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 dayKota Kinabalu $31Sihanoukville $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Beringgis Mangove Fireflies, Sunset Tour & Dinner: $33
- Sabah Traditional Authentic Cuisine Cooking Class 3 Hours: $45
- Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies: $55
- Kawa Mangrove Cruise & Fireflies with Dinner: $67
- Kota Kinabalu Klias River Cruise with Dinner and Fireflies Tour: $72
- Traditional Sabah Cooking Class and Taste Local Flavors: $75
- Private Cooking Class with Market Visit: $93
- North Borneo Sunset Dinner Cruise: $121
- Kota Kinabalu Night Tour with Dinner & Cultural Dance Show: $142
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Dinner, Live Band & Hotel Pickup: $189
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
- Kampot Cooking Class by Eco Lotus Kampot: $33
- Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kota Kinabalu $6.65Sihanoukville $5.37
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Sabah Mali-Mali Garden Spa Massage Experience: $27
- Bongawan River Cruise, City Tour & Fireflies: $28
- Private Tour Kampung Gipsi Sabah Cultural Village Kota Kinabalu: $38
- Pulau Sapi & Manukan Sabah Shared Activity Adventure: $43
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Mangrove Kayaking Experience in Borneo: $47
- Bongawan: River Safari Cruise, Private or Shared Ticket: $48
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Bongawan River Cruise Proboscis Monkey, SkyMirror, Fireflies: $54
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $56
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
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
- 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
- Full Day Bokor National Park Tour with Lunch & Water Included: $43
- Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $53
- Private Kampot Countryside Tour & Pepper farm, Kep/Crab Market: $55
- Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
- Private Bokor Mountain Discovery Tour: $55
- Small Group Sihanoukville City Tour: $59
- Sihanoukville Small-Group City Tour for Cruise Passengers: $59
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKota Kinabalu $7.43Sihanoukville $4.42
When comparing the travel costs between Kota Kinabalu and Sihanoukville, we can see that Kota Kinabalu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kota Kinabalu Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kota Kinabalu or Sihanoukville?
Kota Kinabalu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Kota Kinabalu 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.