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

Should you visit Mandalay or Sihanoukville?

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

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

Mandalay

Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.

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 Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Mandalay?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, 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 Mandalay and Sihanoukville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandalay $8.65
    Sihanoukville $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandalay $17
    Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Sihanoukville

Looking for a hotel in Mandalay 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 Mandalay


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandalay -
    Sihanoukville $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:

  • 2 Days in Mandalay Region, 3 Night in Monywa and 4 Days to transfer Bagan: $260
  • Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
  • Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
  • From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $200
  • Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
  • Mandalay Airport Private Transfer : $55
  • Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
  • Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
  • Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
  • Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150

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 From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Sihanoukville?

Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Mandalay 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
    Mandalay $10
    Sihanoukville $32

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.

  • Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
  • Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
  • Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandalay -
    Sihanoukville $5.37

Tours and Activities in Mandalay

Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
  • Private Full-Day Mandalay Heritage Charter Car Tour: $45
  • Mandalay Half-Day Tour: $45
  • Mandalay Bike 'n Bite Tour: $46
  • Mandalay Half-Day Sightseeing: $53
  • Mandalay Full-Day Tour: $60
  • Full day Adventure Trip in Mandalay & Amarapura : $61
  • Adventure to Dee Dote Waterfalls from Mandalay: $63
  • Mandalay Fullday Sightseeing: $65
  • Day Tour Of Mingun/Sagaing/Amarapura: $75
  • Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $75
  • Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing : $75

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Tuktuk Countryside tour: Pepper farm, Salt field & Secret lake: $18
  • La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
  • Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $21
  • Half day tour with countryside include Pepper farm Kampot : $22
  • Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $25
  • Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
  • SUP Tour in Mangrove Forest of Koh Rong Sanloem: $28
  • Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $30
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
  • Kampot Countryside & Kayak Tour, Pepper Farm include lunch : $46

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandalay -
    Sihanoukville $4.42


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Sihanoukville, we can see that Sihanoukville is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Sihanoukville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sihanoukville than you might in Mandalay.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandalay Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Sihanoukville?

Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay 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.