Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Siem Reap?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Siem Reap or Sihanoukville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Siem Reap 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: Siem Reap or Sihanoukville?
Siem Reap
Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.
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 Phnom Penh, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Cambodia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Cambodia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySiem Reap $81Sihanoukville $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Siem Reap is $81, 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 Siem Reap and Sihanoukville in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSiem Reap $51Sihanoukville $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSiem Reap $102Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville
Looking for a hotel in Siem Reap 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: Siem Reap Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Siem Reap $8.72Sihanoukville $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride$13
-
Bike Rentals$1.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:
- Airport pick up and Transfer (SIA): $35
- Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium with Private Transfer: $45
- Border Transfer (Siem Reap to Laos / Laos to Siem Reap ): $250
- Kulen Elephant Forest & Tonlesap Lake Include boat /Transfer: $115
- Phnom Penh Transfer to/from Shihanouk Ville by Private Car: $65
- Phnom Penh: Private Taxi Transfer to Siem Reap: $121
- Private Airport Transfer: $25
- Private Angkor Wat Tour with Free Airport Pickup or Transfer: $53
- Private One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $30
- Private Round Trip Siem Reap Airport Transfer In AC Minivan: $80
- Private Taxi Transfer Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $121
- Private Taxi transfer from Bangkok to Siem Reap: $299
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 Kampot - Sihanoukville: $75
- Private Taxi Transfer Siem Reap From/To Sihanoukville: $239
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $116
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $25
- Private Transfer between Sihanoukville Airport and Hotels or Port: $25
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Siem Reap or Sihanoukville?
Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Siem Reap 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 daySiem Reap $16Sihanoukville $18
Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:
-
Breakfast for Two$5.55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.
- Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $12
- Creative Insect-Based Dinner: $14
- Apsara Dinner Show with Hotel Transfer: $15
- Dinner Show Apsara Dance Round Pick-up included: $17
- Apsara show Including Buffet Dinner/Hotel Pick up: $18
- Apsara Show and Dinner with Free Shared Round Trip Transfer: $19
- Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $19
- Buffet Dinner Apsara Show with hotel transfers: $22
- Apsara Dinner Performance with Buffet Dinner: $25
- Apsara Dance Show & Dinner with Tuk-Tuk Transfers: $26
- Dinner Show Apsara Dance, Pickup round trip included: $27
- Cooking Class and Market Shopping: $29
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Siem Reap $30Sihanoukville $5.33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap
Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Angkor Tour Guide$8.18
Tours and Activities in Siem Reap
Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Angkor Wat Imaginary Experience: $3.35
- App self-guided: Tour Angkor Thom - Cambodia: $4.47
- Unique Guided Tour at Lotus Silk Farm: $5.00
- City Walking Tour: $6.00
- Angkor Wat Big Circuit a Self-Guided Audio Tour in English: $8.22
- War Museum included Ticket and Pickup Drop Off: $9.00
- Angkor Wat Tour by Tuk-Tuk with English Speaking Driver: $9.00
- Siem Reap Motorbike Rental - Temple and City Tours own drive: $12
- Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Small Tour with Tours Guide: $12
- Angkor Eye Standard Ride Ticket: $12
- Angkor Wat: Highlights Sunrise Group Tour in Angkor complex: $12
- Angkor Wat Sunrise Main Temple Guided Tour: $13
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half day tour with countryside include Pepper farm Kampot : $21
- La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
- Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
- Koh Rong Island Speed Ferry Round-Trip Ticket: $25
- Koh Rong: Round-Trip Speed Ferry Tickets: $25
- Pepper Farm guided tour, Salt field, Kep and Crab Market : $25
- Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $25
- Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $25
- Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $26
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
- Kampot countryside, Pepper farm and Kayak tour including lunch : $44
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySiem Reap $11Sihanoukville $4.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:
- Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, we can see that Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Siem Reap 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 Siem Reap Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Siem Reap or Sihanoukville?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Siem Reap 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.