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

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Karlovy Vary?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Karlovy Vary? 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 Karlovy Vary?

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.

Karlovy Vary

Founded in 1370, Karlovy Vary translates to "Charles' Bath" for its founder Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, as well as its famous hot springs. It is located in Bohemia in the western Czech Republic and is also known as Karlsbad (German) or Carlsbad (English). Another highlight is the International Film Festival in July with draws celebrities and other film enthusiasts worldwide.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best Cultural Tours in Czech Republic, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Czech Republic.


Which place is cheaper, Karlovy Vary 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 Karlovy Vary is $114. 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 Karlovy Vary in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sihanoukville $23
    Karlovy Vary $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sihanoukville $46
    Karlovy Vary $88
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Karlovy Vary

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Karlovy Vary? 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 Karlovy Vary


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: Karlovy Vary Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sihanoukville $14
    Karlovy Vary $30

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 Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • 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
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Karlovy Vary

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

  • Karlovy Vary to Prague Airport (PRG) - Departure Private Transfer: $165
  • Private Transfer from Karlovy Vary to Prague, English-speaking driver: $130
  • Transfer from Karlovy Vary to Prague: Private daytrip with 2h for sightseeing: $139

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Karlovy Vary?

Prices for flights to both Karlovy Vary 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
    Karlovy Vary $52

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
  • Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sihanoukville $5.39
    Karlovy Vary $13

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
  • 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
  • Full Day City Tour with A Boat Trip to 2 Islands: $110

Tours and Activities in Karlovy Vary

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

  • Tourist Cinema Experience: $5.78
  • Home of Becherovka Visitor Center Guided Tour: $14
  • Moser Glassworks Tour with Museum Entry: $17
  • Karlovy Vary Hot Springs Tasting Tour: $46
  • Mineral Hot Springs Tasting and Walking Tour: $47
  • Touristic highlights of Karlovy Vary on a Private half day tour with a local: $181
  • A day in the life of Karlovy Vary - Private tour with a local: $242
  • Best of Karlovy Vary Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $270
  • Karlovy Vary Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $270
  • Private Walking Tour: $279
  • Elegant Private Walking Tour With Local Guide: $305

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.43
    Karlovy Vary $7.48


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


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Karlovy Vary?

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