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

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Cozumel?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Cozumel? 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 Cozumel?

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.

Cozumel

Cozumel is a Caribbean island just off the Yucatan Peninsula. It'as a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. With crystal clear waters and vibrant colored coral, Cozumel is one of the most popular dive destinations in the area. The island's economy is centered around tourism, and as such, you'll find plenty of amenities for visitors. The prices are comparable to other coastal towns in the area and there is no shortage of activities or attractions nearby.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Cozumel 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 $64, while the average daily cost in Cozumel is $124. 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 Cozumel in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sihanoukville $23
    Cozumel $64
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sihanoukville $46
    Cozumel $128
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Cozumel

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Cozumel? 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 Cozumel


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: Sihanoukville Hotel Prices and Cozumel Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sihanoukville $14
    Cozumel $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

  • Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
  • Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by VIP Alphard: $180
  • Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
  • Private Transfer : Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanouk Ville: $105
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
  • Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
  • Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cozumel

Also for Cozumel, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $96
  • Cozumel Airport (CZM) to Cozumel Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
  • Cozumel Airport Private Round-Trip Transfer: $106
  • Cozumel Airport Private Transfer by Car: $24
  • Cozumel Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $47
  • Cozumel Airport To Hotel Private Transfer by Minivan: $53
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Cozumel Island Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
  • Cozumel Cruise Port to Mexico Cozumel Airport (CZM) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
  • Cozumel Jungle ATV Tour Adventure and Caverns with transfer: $65
  • Cozumel Mayan Experience And Beach Getaway with Transfer: $55
  • Atv Jungle Ride sin transfer: $49
  • KUZÁ Beach Escape with Cancun & Riviera Maya Transfer: $141

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Cozumel?

Prices for flights to both Cozumel 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
    Cozumel $38

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
  • Kampot Cooking Class by Eco Lotus Kampot: $33
  • Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cozumel

For Cozumel, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Authentic Mayan Cooking Class in Cozumel: $61
  • Private Mexican Trompitos Cooking Class in Cozumel: $82
  • Kuza Beach & Flavors Experience-Mexican cooking Class & Beach Day: $89
  • Cozumel Food Tour: $90
  • Cozumel Food Tour: Street Tacos and Local Market: $109
  • Romantic Gourmet Dinner Experience at Pirate Ship in Cozumel: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sihanoukville $5.35
    Cozumel $41

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

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

  • Best Sihanoukville Day Tours from Cruise Port: $79
  • Best of Kep, Kampot from Sihanoukville Cruise Port: $259
  • Best of Sihanoukville City Tour from Cruise Port: $75
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Bokor Mountain: Historic & Scenic Tour with Rickshaw/SUV: $55
  • Day Trip from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh for Cruise Passengers: $189
  • Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $53
  • Exploring Bokor National Park Full-Day Tour from Sihanoukville: $99
  • Exploring Kampot: A Memorable Tour from Sihanoukville: $63
  • Exploring Shore Excursions from Cruise Ports: $59
  • Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
  • From Phnom Penh Day Trip for Cruise Ship Guests: $189

Tours and Activities in Cozumel

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Cozumel.

  • Cozumel Historic Waterfront Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $9.75
  • Cozumel Tequila and Chocolate Tour with VIP Mexican Drink: $10
  • Cozumel!! Guacamole And Margarita Fiesta!!! ( Virtual Experience): $12
  • Skip the Line: Admission Ticket to El Cedral Town and Mayan Temple: $16
  • Cozumel Transparent Boat Tour With Snorkel Stop: $19
  • Tequila History and Tasting Experience and Unlimited Beach Break: $25
  • Chankanaab Experience from Snack Bar Lindas: $27
  • El Cielo Snorkeling Adventure in Cozumel: $28
  • Clear Boat Adventure and Snorkeling Tour Underwater World: $28
  • Cozumel's Reefs in El Cielo, Palancar and Columbia Guided Tour: $29
  • Cozumel El Cielo Snorkeling Reef and Marine Experience: $29
  • Snorkel into Heaven Palancar Columbia and El Cielo Experience: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.40
    Cozumel $10

Sample the Local Flavors in Cozumel

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cozumel:

  • Chocolate Seaside Workshop & Wine Tasting: $51
  • Downtown Cozumel & Brewery: $79
  • Cozumel's First Distillery: Exclusive Craft Rum & Gin Tasting: $99
  • Cozumel 5-Hour Private Bar Crawl Tour: $110


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


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Cozumel?

Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cozumel. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Cozumel, 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.