A Travel Price Comparison for Cambodia Sihanoukville vs. Kampong Cham for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham?

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.

Kampong Cham

Kampong Cham is the sixth largest city in the country, located in the east of Cambodia. Just two and a half hours away from Phnom Penh is a surprisingly large province by the same name. Kampong Cham is the capital of this province, a quiet town on the west side of the Mekong River. While the town does not cater to tourists like other large cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the charm of Kampong Cham lies in the beauty and simplicity of local life. Visitors will also get a glimpse into agricultural life on the plantations of rubber trees, tobacco and cashews.

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


Which place is cheaper, Kampong Cham or Sihanoukville?

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 Kampong Cham is $31. 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 Kampong Cham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sihanoukville $23
    Kampong Cham $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sihanoukville $46
    Kampong Cham $38
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Kampong Cham

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham


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
    Kampong Cham $7.61

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

  • Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20
  • Sihanouk Ville Airport (KOS) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $29
  • Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
  • Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Transfer between Sihanoukville Airport and Hotels or Port: $25
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $25
  • Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $116
  • Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
  • Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
  • Private Taxi Transfer Siem Reap From/To Sihanoukville: $239
  • Private Taxi Transfer Kampot - Sihanoukville: $75

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham?

Prices for flights to both Kampong Cham 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 $18
    Kampong Cham $6.41

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sihanoukville $5.33
    Kampong Cham $5.72

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 or Hotel: $79
  • Best of Sihanoukville City Tour from Cruise Port: $79
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Day trip from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh for Cruise Ship: $159
  • Discovery Tour: Caving, Climbing, Via Ferrata and Abseiling in Kampot: $45
  • Explore Sihanoukville Dirt Bike Tour: $140
  • Exploring Bokor National Park Full-Day Tour from Sihanoukville: $99
  • Exploring Kampot: A Memorable Tour from Sihanoukville: $63
  • Exploring the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
  • Full Day City Tour with Private Boat Trip to 2 Islands: $110
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
  • Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $26

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.38
    Kampong Cham $5.42


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sihanoukville and Kampong Cham, we can see that Sihanoukville is more expensive. And not only is Kampong Cham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampong Cham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampong Cham 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 Sihanoukville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sihanoukville than you might in Kampong Cham.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sihanoukville Expensive? and Is Kampong Cham Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Kampong Cham?

Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kampong Cham. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Kampong Cham, 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.