Should you visit Krabi or Sihanoukville?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Sihanoukville can help you decide which place is right for you.
Krabi
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi. Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $46, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is $41. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Krabi and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $58 in Krabi For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $18. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Sihanoukville the cost is $36 on average.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Krabi cost around $11 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.40.
The price of a meal in Sihanoukville can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $15 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $6.00 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Krabi $11
Sihanoukville $15
Typical Food prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Gourmet Thai Cooking Class in Krabi:
$42
Local Transportation
To get around in Krabi, the average visitor spends $4.12 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $11 per day to get around in Sihanoukville.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$9.23
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
$3.08
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2 Bottles of Gasoline
$2.46
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Longboat Taxi from Town
$6.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ferry & Bus Transfers between Koh Samui and Krabi:
$26
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Ferry & Bus Transfers between Krabi and Koh Samui:
$26
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Ferry Transfers between Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi:
$18
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Ferry Transfers between Krabi and Koh Phi Phi:
$16
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Koh Lanta to Koh Phangan High Speed Transfers:
$40
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Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi High Speed Transfers:
$18
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Koh Lanta to Koh Samui High Speed Transfers:
$36
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Koh Lanta to Koh Tao High Speed Transfers:
$49
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Koh Lanta to Railay Beach High Speed Transfers:
$23
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Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan and Koh Mook Boat Transfers:
$16
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Koh Phangan to Krabi High-Speed Transfers:
$34
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Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta High Speed Transfers:
$18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
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Sihanoukville Airport Transfer (Airport - Hotel - Airport):
$20
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Private Transfer from airport or hotel to hotel or airport in Shinaouk Ville:
$19
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Private Transfer One Way Sihanouk to Phnom Penh | Phnom Penh to Sihanouk:
$80
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Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh:
$43
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Overland transfer from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh:
$48
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Krabi 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.
Entertainment
In Krabi, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $9.17 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $4.26 per person, per day in Sihanoukville. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser:
$17
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Full-Day 4 Islands Long-Tail Boat Tour in Krabi:
$24
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Hong Island Kayaking Tour in a Long-Tail Boat:
$27
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Koh Phangan to Krabi Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$30
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Krabi to Koh Phangan Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$30
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Half Day Rock Climbing Tours in Railay Beach:
$31
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Lanta: 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat with Emerald Cave:
$32
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Krabi to Koh Tao Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$36
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Jungle Tour to Tiger Temple, Hot Springs & Crystal Pool:
$36
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Koh Tao to Krabi Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$38
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James Bond Island Longtail Boat Tour & Kayak Option:
$42
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From Lanta: Snorkel Tour to Koh Ngai & Kayak on Koh Talabeng:
$47
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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2 Days Koh Rong Adventure Tour:
$365
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2 Days Sihanoukville Free and Easy Private Tour:
$295
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2 Days Sihanoukville Highlights Private Tour:
$263
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2 Days Sihanoukville and Kampot Experience Private Tour:
$377
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3 Days Koh Rong Quad Bike and Ocean Adventure Tour:
$505
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3 Days Sihanoukville Adventure Private Tour:
$489
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3 Days Sihanoukville Lover and Exploring Island Holiday Private Tour:
$625
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3-4 Hours City Tour of Sihanouk Ville:
$69
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Best City tour of Sihanouk Ville in 01 Day:
$70
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Best Sihanoukville Day Tours From Cruise Port or Hotel:
$59
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Best of Sihanoukville City Tour from Cruise Port or Hotel:
$78
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Explore Sihanoukville Dirt Bike Tour:
$140
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Krabi spend on average $3.92 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Sihanoukville may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $3.51 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer
$2.77
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Cocktails (for Two)
$9.23
When comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Sihanoukville, we can see that Krabi 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.
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