Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Pattaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pattaya or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pattaya and Sihanoukville can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Pattaya or Sihanoukville?
Pattaya
Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.
Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPattaya $66Sihanoukville $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Pattaya is $66, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is $51. 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 Pattaya and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPattaya $24Sihanoukville $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPattaya $48Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Pattaya and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Pattaya 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: Pattaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pattaya $12Sihanoukville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers): $11
- Private Hotel in Pattaya to U-Tapao Airport Transfer: $38
- Admission Ticket to Underwater World Pattaya with Return Transfer: $37
- Bangkok Hotel Transfer: to/from Pattaya Hotel Transfer: $96
- Bangkok Private Transfer from Pattaya city to Bangkok (BKK) Airport: $141
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya Transfer: $39
- Bus transfer between Pattaya and Bangkok: $3.67
- DMK Airport to Pattaya Hotel Transfer (Private): $68
- Frost Magical Ice Of Siam at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $33
- Frost Magical Ice Of Siam in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $24
- Frost Magical Ice of Siam Pattaya Admission Ticket with Transfer: $32
- Mini Siam Miniature World Admission with Roundtrip Transfer from Pattaya: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi Transfer From Sihanoukville To Koh Kong : $73
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
- Private Transfer between Sihanoukville Airport and Hotels or Port: $25
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Pattaya or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Pattaya 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 dayPattaya $22Sihanoukville $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya
For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- All Star Dinner Cruise with Cabaret Show: $32
- Thai Cooking Class in Pattaya: $67
- 3 Islands Catamaran Tour with Dinner Buffet: $70
- Islands Hopping Tour by Catamaran with Dinner Buffet in Chon Buri: $98
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
- Cooking Class at La Plantation: $35
- Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pattaya $21Sihanoukville $5.37
Tours and Activities in Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
- Floating Market Entry Ticket: $3.18
- Pattaya sheep Farm Entrance Tickets: $3.60
- FlowerLand Pattaya Admission Ticket (Optional Activities): $5.02
- Fairy Sweet Village Pattaya Entry ticket: $5.46
- Art in Paradise Pattaya Admission Ticket: $6.00
- Mini Siam Entry Ticket: $6.69
- LAZGAM Laser Game at Pattaya Admission Ticket: $7.15
- Entry Ticket for Art in Paradise 3D Art Museum in Pattaya: $7.25
- Pattaya : Coral Island Tour by Speedboat with Indian Lunch & Pick Up from Hotel: $7.67
- Adventure Coral Island Koh Larn Pattaya with Indian Lunch: $7.97
- Underwater World Pattaya (Ticket Only): $8.09
- Pattaya Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours guided tour: Pepper farm, Secret Lake, Salt fields : $17
- Best Sihanoukville Day Tours from Cruise Port or Hotel: $79
- Best of Sihanoukville City Tour from Cruise Port: $79
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Bokor Mountain Hill Station Tour: $75
- Countryside tours by locals: Cave exploration, Salt and Pepper : $45
- Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $45
- Explore Sihanoukville Dirt Bike Tour: $140
- Exploring Bokor National Park Full-Day Tour from Sihanoukville: $99
- Exploring Kampot: A Memorable Tour from Sihanoukville: $63
- Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
- Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPattaya $8.18Sihanoukville $4.42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pattaya and Sihanoukville, we can see that Pattaya 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 Pattaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pattaya 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 Pattaya Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Pattaya or Sihanoukville?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Pattaya. When comparing the sizes of Pattaya 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.