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

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Alesund?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Alesund? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Sihanoukville or Alesund?

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.

Alesund

Alesund is a port town on the west coast of Norway, at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord. It could be the backdrop for a Nordic fairytale – with a modern plot twist. It's known for the art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after a fire in 1904, as documented at the Jugendstilsenteret museum. And it's no coincidence that Alesund and the surrounding areas are among the most visited sites for tourists in Norway. Many use The Art Nouveau town as a starting point to explore the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Geirangerfjord, the bird sanctuary island of Runde, or the spectacular snow-capped summits of the Hjorundfjord and the Sunnmorsalpene. There are panoramic views of Alesund's architecture, the surrounding archipelago and fjords from the Mount Aksla lookout. The town of Alesund has a beautiful setting across several islands stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean and you find unspoilt and beautiful nature the whole year round.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, and The Best Contiki Tours to Norway.


Which place is cheaper, Alesund or Sihanoukville?

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 Sihanoukville is $65, while the average daily cost in Alesund is $143. 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 Sihanoukville and Alesund in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sihanoukville $23
    Alesund $62
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sihanoukville $46
    Alesund $124
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Alesund

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Alesund? 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 Sihanoukville


Hotels in Alesund


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.
    Sihanoukville $14
    Alesund $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

  • Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20
  • Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
  • Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
  • Private Transfer : Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanouk Ville: $105
  • Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by VIP Alphard: $180

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alesund

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alesund:

  • Private Transfer from Alesund Vigra Airport (AES) to Alesund Port: $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Alesund?

Prices for flights to both Alesund and Sihanoukville 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
    Sihanoukville $32
    Alesund $61

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.
    Sihanoukville $5.39
    Alesund $19

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...: $24
  • 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
  • Bokor Mountain : Scenic Tour with Sunset: $33
  • Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $53
  • Private Kampot Countryside Tour & Pepper farm, Kep/Crab Market: $55
  • Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
  • Sihanoukville Small-Group City Tour for Cruise Passengers: $59
  • Exploring Shore Excursions from Cruise Ports: $59

Tours and Activities in Alesund

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alesund are as follows:

  • The Essence of Ålesund Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
  • Geiranger Fjord Tour (Hellesylt-Geiranger one way): $44
  • Ålesund Two Hour Walking City Tour: $49
  • Alesund Walking Tour Art Nouveau and Postcard Views: $76
  • Hellesylt Panorama Tour in Ljoen Viewpoint and Oye Village: $77
  • Molde and Atlantic Ocean Road Audio Tour: $87
  • Hellesylt Sightseeing Boat Geirangerfjord: $98
  • Ålesund Sightseeing and Viking Saga Islands: $120
  • Hjørundfjord Fjord Tour Roundtrip from Ålesund: $121
  • Guided Adventure on Fjord Kayaking in Hellesylt, Norway: $132
  • Alesund Shore Excursion: The Ultimate Sightseeing Tour: $141
  • Alnes Lighthouse, Sunnmøre Museum, Aksla and City Sightseeing: $142

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.43
    Alesund $14


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


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Alesund?

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