A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sihanoukville vs. Cheju (Jeju) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Cheju (Jeju)?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Cheju (Jeju)? 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 Cheju (Jeju)?

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.

Cheju (Jeju)

Cheju is an island located just off the southern coast of South Korea in the Korean Strait. It is known for its volcanic landscape full of craters and cave-like lava tubes, which many visitors venture to hike and explore. With the main industry invested in tourism, it is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners alike, and remains the top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best Cultural Tours in South Korea, and The Best Luxury Tours to South Korea.


Which place is cheaper, Cheju (Jeju) 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 Cheju (Jeju) is $84. 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 Cheju (Jeju) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sihanoukville $23
    Cheju (Jeju) $45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sihanoukville $46
    Cheju (Jeju) $90
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Cheju (Jeju)

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Cheju (Jeju)? 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 Cheju (Jeju)


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
    Cheju (Jeju) $10

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 Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cheju (Jeju)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cheju (Jeju):

  • Jeju Airport (CJU) Private Transfer to Jeju City Centre/Seogwipo: $27
  • Jeju Airport Transfer: $22
  • Private Jeju Airport Transfer : Jeju Airport to/from Jeju(~7 pax): $89
  • Private Sightseeing Tour to Jeju Island with Transfer Included: $190
  • Private Taxi Transfer from Jeju City to Jeju Airport(one way ): $90
  • Private Transfer From Airport to Downtown jeju city (One way ) : $45
  • Private Transfer From Jeju Airport To Seogwipo City: $150
  • Private Transfer From Seogwipo to Jeju Airport in jeju island: $75
  • jeju island Private Taxi Hallasan Hiking Trail Transfer - One way: $70

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Cheju (Jeju)?

Prices for flights to both Cheju (Jeju) 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
    Cheju (Jeju) $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

Typical Food Prices in Cheju (Jeju)

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cheju (Jeju):


  • Burger
    $4.44
  • Donkatsu (Charles Restaurant)
    $7.16

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cheju (Jeju)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cheju (Jeju).

  • JEJU Cooking Class _Class & Dinner at Jeju Seaside Sunset Terrace: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sihanoukville $5.37
    Cheju (Jeju) $5.43

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Tuktuk Countryside tour: Pepper farm, Salt field & Secret lake: $18
  • La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
  • Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $21
  • Half day tour with countryside include Pepper farm Kampot : $22
  • Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $25
  • Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
  • SUP Tour in Mangrove Forest of Koh Rong Sanloem: $28
  • Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $30
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
  • Kampot Countryside & Kayak Tour, Pepper Farm include lunch : $46

Tours and Activities in Cheju (Jeju)

Here are a few actual costs in Cheju (Jeju) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Jeju Customized Private Car Tour : $15
  • [Jeju] Hanbok Rental Experience/Korean Traditional Clothes Rental Shop: $25
  • Jeju island Eastern UNESCO site Full Day Guided Tour: $58
  • Jeju WEST&SOUTH One Day Tour with MT.halla & Aewol: $58
  • Jeju Eastern UNESCO Sites Day Tour with Haenyeo Show: $58
  • Jeju Southern UNESCO Full Day Tour with Mt.Halla: $58
  • Jeju island Southern Unesco Mt.halla ONE day Bus Tour: $58
  • Jeju island Southern UNESCO Day Tour With Hallasan MT: $58
  • Jeju Eastern Must visit Unesco Spots Join In Tour: $58
  • Jeju Western and Southern Routes Sightseeing Day Tour: $59
  • Jeju Eastern Cultural Exploration Day Tour: $59
  • Jeju Island SouthWest UNESCO Day Tour: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.42
    Cheju (Jeju) $7.04


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sihanoukville and Cheju (Jeju), we can see that Cheju (Jeju) 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 Cheju (Jeju) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cheju (Jeju) 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 Cheju (Jeju) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Cheju (Jeju)?

Cheju (Jeju) has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Cheju (Jeju), 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.