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

Should you visit Paphos or Sihanoukville?

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

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

Paphos

Located on the southwestern tip of Cyprus, Paphos has many different archaeological sights and it is renowned as the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. The town is situated between the coast and the Troodos Mountains and it has grown in recent years as a tourist destination. As such, the local government has made efforts to improve the quality of the tourism infrastructure including investing in hotels, restaurants and transportation. There is also a commercial center to the city as well as a newly built "promenade" that travels from the marina along a long coastal path. This route offers excellent views, especially during the morning or evening hours when the sun is low.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Cyprus, The Best Tours for Seniors to Cyprus, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Paphos?

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 Paphos is €125, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is €56. 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 Paphos and Sihanoukville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Paphos 48
    Sihanoukville 20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Paphos 96
    Sihanoukville 40
Compare Hotels in Paphos and Sihanoukville

Looking for a hotel in Paphos 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 Paphos


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.
    Paphos 12
    Sihanoukville 12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paphos

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paphos:

  • Adonis Baths Waterfall Morning Transfer: $45
  • Blue Lagoon Boat Adventure with Bus Transfer from Paphos: $36
  • Blue Lagoon cruise: giant slide & Paphos hotel transfers: $34
  • Blue Lagoon: 3 Hours Afternoon Cruise with transfer from Paphos: $45
  • CO2-Offset Private Transfer Paphos Airport PFO to Nicosia City: $201
  • CO2-Offset Transfer from Paphos Airport to Limassol City by Van: $131
  • From Nicosia Sightseeing Tour with Hotel Transfer: $70
  • Ocean Vision: Show & Dance Night with buffet, open bar & transfer: $92
  • Paphos Airport (PFO) to Paphos city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $83
  • Paphos Blue Lagoon Cruise: Slide, Music & Hotel Transfer: $34
  • Paphos to Paphos Int Airport (PFO) - Departure Private Transfer: $42
  • Blue Lagoon Boat Cruise with Bus Transfer: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

  • Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Transfer : Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanouk Ville: $105
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by VIP Alphard: $180
  • Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
  • Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
  • Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65

Is it cheaper to fly into Paphos or Sihanoukville?

Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Paphos 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
    Paphos 65
    Sihanoukville 27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paphos

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

  • From Sunset Drink at Aphrodite's Rock & Folk Dinner: $62
  • Wave Dancer Fireworks, Buffet Dinner & Show Cruise: $73
  • Cyprus: Cooking Class-Mousaka, Tzatziki & Greek Salad: $88
  • Moussaka Cooking Class at a Wine Village Villa in Paphos: $219

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Paphos 12
    Sihanoukville 4.65

Tours and Activities in Paphos

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

  • Pafos Zoo Ticket: $21
  • The Yellow Glass-Bottom Boat Cruise Swim & Snorkel: $23
  • Nafsika II Half Day Cruise Swimming to blue lagoon water slide: $29
  • Blue Lagoon Cruise with Sightseeing from Latchi Harbour: $29
  • From Limassol Experience: $29
  • Swim Cruise with Turtle Watching, Drinks & Aperol Spritz: $41
  • Akamas, Baths of Aphrodite and Blue Lagoon Day Tour: $41
  • Turtle Watching Cruise,Snorkelling Adventure &Sunset: $41
  • Swim Cruise with Turtle Watching, Drinks & Aperol: $41
  • Sunset Cruise with BBQ, Swimming, and Kayaking: $41
  • Yellow Submarine Swim Cruise with Unlimited Drinks: $41
  • Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark Entrance Ticket: $42

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
  • Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $22
  • 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 Bokor Mountain Discovery Tour: $55
  • Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
  • Private Kampot Countryside Tour & Pepper farm, Kep/Crab Market: $55
  • Exploring Shore Excursions from Cruise Ports: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Paphos 9.98
    Sihanoukville 3.83

Sample the Local Flavors in Paphos

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paphos:

  • Wine tasting and winery tour at Fikardos Winery: $39
  • Scenic Troodos Mountains Tour with Wine Tasting from Paphos: $64
  • Paphos - Troodos Mountains 4x4 Tour with Free Wine Tasting: $70
  • Troodos Mountains Jeep Tour with Wine Tasting: $73
  • Wine tasting on-board the Demetris Chara BBQboat BlueLagoon tours: $87
  • Local Wineries Tour with Wine Tastings: $111
  • Troodos Mountains Vino Venture: All Inclusive Full Day Wine Tour: $137
  • Private Wine Tour with Tastings and Winery Visits: $762


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paphos and Sihanoukville, we can see that Paphos is more expensive. And not only is Sihanoukville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paphos is in Europe 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 Paphos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paphos 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 Paphos Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Paphos or Sihanoukville?

Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Paphos. When comparing the sizes of Paphos 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.