Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Mombasa?
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 Mombasa or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mombasa and Sihanoukville. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Mombasa or Sihanoukville?
Mombasa
Mombasa is a beautiful, large city on the eastern coast of Kenya, bordering the Indian Ocean. The city is famous for its stunning beaches, friendly locals, and diverse marine life. Mombasa experiences a tropical climate year round, meaning temperatures rarely drop below 70° Fahrenheit. The rainiest months of the year are April and May and the driest months are January and February. Temperatures tend to be more mild from May through October, usually in the 70's and 80's. Temperatures get much warmer from November through April, with daily averages reaching the high 90's.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Kenya, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kenya, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Mombasa Prices
Kenya PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMombasa $81Sihanoukville $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Mombasa is $81, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is $64. 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 Mombasa and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMombasa $26Sihanoukville $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMombasa $52Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Mombasa and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Mombasa 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: Mombasa Hotel Prices and Sihanoukville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mombasa $18Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mombasa
Also for Mombasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfers to Watamu and Malindi: $75
- Diani Airport – Kenya Coast Beach Hotel Transfers: $131
- Diani Mombasa Moi Int Airport Transfer: $160
- From Mombasa Airport Diani Transfer in a Minivan 5 Pax: $75
- Mombasa Airport (MBA) to Mombasa - Roundtrip Private Transfer: $74
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To Nyali/bamburi/shanzu: $37
- Mombasa Airport Private Transfer To South Coast Diani Hotels: $81
- Mombasa Airport Transfers: $129
- Mombasa Airport Transfers to Mtwapa: $130
- Mombasa Kenya Minivan Airport Transfer: $100
- Mombasa to Mombasa Airport (MBA) - Departure Private Transfer: $37
- Private Arrival Transfer in Mombasa: $60
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 VIP Alphard: $180
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
- Private Transfer : Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanouk Ville: $105
- Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into Mombasa or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Mombasa 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 dayMombasa $41Sihanoukville $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Special African Dinner: $46
- Mombasa Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Swahili Street Food Tour: $55
- Swahili Cooking Class Experience with a Local Chef: $65
- Diani Beach Sunset Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $71
- Tamarind Dhow Dinner Cruise & Nightlife: $138
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.Mombasa $18Sihanoukville $5.35
Tours and Activities in Mombasa
For Mombasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Mombasa City Tour with Dido: $25
- Mombasa Guided City Tour Experience: $25
- Sunset Canoe Tour on a River within the Mangroves: $28
- Mombasa walking tour: $30
- Mombasa city tour: $30
- Private Historical Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest Tour with Guide: $31
- Kongo River Sunset Experience in Canoe: $32
- Diani Giriama Cultural Dance Show and Local Village Tour: $35
- Fort Jesus & Mombasa Old Town Walking CityTour: $38
- Private Mombasa Food & Sightseeing Tour: $39
- Mombasa City Tour: $40
- Half day city tour of mombasa: $40
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 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 Passengers: $189
- 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
- Full Day City Tour with A Boat Trip to 2 Islands: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMombasa $8.83Sihanoukville $4.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mombasa and Sihanoukville, we can see that Mombasa is more expensive. And not only is Sihanoukville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mombasa is in Africa and Sihanoukville is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Mombasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mombasa 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 Mombasa Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mombasa or Sihanoukville?
Mombasa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Mombasa 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.