Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Sihanoukville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sihanoukville or Benxi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sihanoukville or Benxi? 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 Benxi?
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.
Benxi
Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySihanoukville $51Benxi $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Sihanoukville is $51, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $94. 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 Benxi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSihanoukville $23Benxi $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSihanoukville $46Benxi $94
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Benxi
Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Benxi? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sihanoukville $14Benxi $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $24
- Private Transfer between Sihanoukville Airport and Hotels or Port: $25
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57
- Private Taxi Transfer From Sihanoukville To Koh Kong : $73
- 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 Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Benxi?
Prices for flights to both Benxi 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
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Food Meals for one daySihanoukville $18Benxi $30
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.Sihanoukville $5.37Benxi $7.29
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Afternoon tours: Pepper Farm , Secret Lake & Salt fields: $18
- La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
- Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
- Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $25
- Koh Rong: Round-Trip Speed Ferry Tickets: $25
- Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $25
- Koh Rong Island Speed Ferry Round-Trip Ticket: $25
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
- Private Tour in Kampot by Tuk Tuk: $35
- Private Bokor tours by locals including lunch : $44
- Kampot-day tours, Countryside, Pepper farm and Kayaking : $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySihanoukville $4.42Benxi $7.69
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sihanoukville and Benxi, we can see that Benxi 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi 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 Benxi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Benxi?
Benxi has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Benxi, 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.