Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Lhasa or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa 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: Lhasa or Sihanoukville?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $91Sihanoukville $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $91, 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 Lhasa and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $40Sihanoukville $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $80Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.60Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20
- Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224
- Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
- Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
- Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
- Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
- Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Lhasa 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 dayLhasa $46Sihanoukville $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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Sihanoukville $5.37
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Small Group Sihanoukville City Tour: $59
- Best Sihanoukville Day Tours from Cruise Port : $79
- Best of Kep, Kampot from Sihanoukville Cruise Port: $259
- Best of Sihanoukville City Tour from Cruise Port: $75
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Day trip from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh for Cruise Ship: $180
- Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $53
- Exploring Bokor National Park Full-Day Tour from Sihanoukville: $99
- Exploring Kampot: A Memorable Tour from Sihanoukville: $63
- Exploring Shore Excursions from Cruise Ports: $59
- Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
- From Phnom Penh Day Trip for Cruise Ship Guests: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.01Sihanoukville $4.42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Sihanoukville, we can see that Lhasa 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 Lhasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lhasa 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 Lhasa Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Sihanoukville?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa 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.