Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Phuket?
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 Phuket or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket 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: Phuket or Sihanoukville?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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 in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesSihanoukville Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $133Sihanoukville $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $133, 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 Phuket and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $61Sihanoukville $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $122Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Phuket 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: Phuket Hotel Prices and Sihanoukville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $12Sihanoukville $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$9.01
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- (Privet)Phuket Transfer: $17
- ATV Bike 1 hr + Zipline Adventure 35 platforms with meal and Free Transfer: $153
- ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer: $152
- ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $128
- Airport Transfer BKK - DMK - UTP - HKT - USM - KBV: $43
- Airport Transfer: Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket by Business Car: $115
- Airport Transfer: Phuket to Phuket Airport HKT by Business Car: $115
- Andamanda Phuket Water Park Ticket Include Transfers: $81
- Andamanda Phuket Water Park Tickets with Transfers: $109
- Andamanda Water Park Phuket Entry Ticket with Hotel Transfers: $75
- Arrival Private Transfers from Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket City: $126
- Arrival Transfer Phuket Airport HKT to Talang, Kathu, Muang: $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
- Kampot Kep To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini Van Car: $49
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
- 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 Phuket or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $41Sihanoukville $32
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$8.68
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.11
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.70
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Bananas$0.75
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Pizza (for Two)$9.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- One Day Experience Cooking at Phuket Patong Thailand: $27
- Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour Option in Bang Tao Phuket: $47
- Phuket City Tour with Sunset and Thai Cooking: $47
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $51
- Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes: $52
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa: $55
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Discounted Ticket to Phuket Siam Niramit Show with Dinner: $57
- Phuket Coral Island and Sunset Dinner by Luxury Catamaran: $57
- Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Baba Tastes Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
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
- Kampot Cooking Class by Eco Lotus Kampot: $33
- Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $47Sihanoukville $5.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$27
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$75
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Thai Oil Massage$19
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Surfboard Rental$9.01
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Self Guided Island Tour: $1.14
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Oto Indoor Play Park Entrance Ticket in Phuket: $7.58
- Phuket Circus : The Adrenaline Rush Show Tickets (Aqua Circus): $16
- Ultimate Virtual Reality Gaming Park Ticket at VAR Live in Phuket: $17
- Phuket Bird Park Admission Ticket: $18
- Half Day Phuket City tour + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $18
- Phuket Highlights: Half Day City Tour with Landmark & Viewpoint: $20
- Rock Beach Swing Ticket with Karon Viewpoint in Phuket: $20
- Simon Cabaret Show Phuket Admission E-Ticket: $20
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $20
- Aquaria Phuket Ticket: $21
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
- 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
- Sihanoukville Small-Group City Tour for Cruise Passengers: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $7.00Sihanoukville $4.42
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$6.01
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Beer$2.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $21
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $29
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $52
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $85
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple: $172
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Sihanoukville, we can see that Phuket 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket 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 Phuket Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Sihanoukville?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 76% larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket 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.