Which place is cheaper, Busan (Pusan) or Sihanoukville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Sihanoukville or Busan (Pusan)? 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.
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.
An important port city in South Korea, Busan is known for its beaches, mountains, and temples. With a thriving harbor, the city's main revenue comes from international shipping, although the area is quite popular with tourists from all over the globe, too. The place is bustling with sailors from around the world as well as tourists who come to enjoy the culture of this modern and dynamic city.
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 South Korea, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sihanoukville is $51, while the average daily cost in Busan (Pusan) is $86. 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 Busan (Pusan) in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Busan (Pusan)? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Busan (Pusan):
Prices for flights to both Busan (Pusan) 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sihanoukville.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Busan (Pusan).
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Busan (Pusan) are as follows:
Also in Busan (Pusan), these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sihanoukville and Busan (Pusan), we can see that Busan (Pusan) 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 Busan (Pusan) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Busan (Pusan) 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 Busan (Pusan) Expensive?.
Busan (Pusan) has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Busan (Pusan), 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.