Which place is cheaper, Kobe or Sihanoukville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sihanoukville or Kobe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sihanoukville or Kobe? 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 Kobe?
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.
Kobe
Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is a port city in Japan also considered to be one of the country's most attractive. Though it was devastated by a historic earthquake in 1995, known locally as the Great Hanshin Earthquake, Kobe has fully recovered to its cosmopolitan splendor with plenty for visitors to see and do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySihanoukville $51Kobe $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Sihanoukville is $51, while the average daily cost in Kobe is $103. 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 Kobe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSihanoukville $23Kobe $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSihanoukville $46Kobe $120
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Kobe
Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Kobe? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kobe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sihanoukville $14Kobe $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi transfer from Sihanoukvile to Battambang City: $145
- Private Taxi Transfer From Sihanoukville To Koh Kong : $73
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57
- Private Transfer between Sihanoukville Airport and Hotels or Port: $25
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kobe
Also for Kobe, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arima Onsen Resorts to Osaka Airport (ITM) Departure Transfer: $55
- Arima-Onsen Resort to Osaka Kansai Airport KIX-Departure Transfer: $133
- Arrival Private Transfers from Kobe Airport UKB to Kobe City in Business Van: $163
- Departure Private Transfers from Kobe City to Kobe Airport UKB in Business Car: $132
- Itami Airport (ITM): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kobe: $183
- Kansai Airport (KIX): Private One-Way Transfer to/from Kobe: $240
- Kobe Airport (UKB) to Kobe hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $39
- Kobe Airport (UKB) to Kobe hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Kobe Airport Transfers : Kobe City to Kobe Airport UKB in Business Van: $163
- Osaka (Itami) Airport to/from Kobe City Private Transfer: $107
- Osaka Kansai Airport to/from Kobe City Private Transfer: $164
- Private Arrival Transfer From Kobe Airport to Kobe City: $63
Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Kobe?
Prices for flights to both Kobe 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
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Food Meals for one daySihanoukville $18Kobe $30
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kobe
For Kobe, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Eat Like a Local Private & Personalized Food Tour: $207
- One day in Kobe with beef dinner =standard=: $272
- One day in Kobe with beef dinner =premium=: $297
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sihanoukville $5.37Kobe $23
Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville
Here are a few actual costs in Sihanoukville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Afternoon tours: Pepper Farm , Secret Lake & Salt fields: $18
- 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
- Bokor Mountain Hill Station Tour: $75
- 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 Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
- Full-Day Kampot & Kep with a local Tuk Tuk Tours : $65
Tours and Activities in Kobe
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kobe.
- Kobe Urban Aquarium AQUARIUM×ART átoa Admission Ticket: $16
- Mt Rokko night view & Arima Onsen & Sanda Outlet Tour: $57
- Private Tour - Excursion to Osaka / Kyoto possible: $70
- Kobe : Private Custom Tour (Excursion to Osaka / Kyoto possible): $71
- Private tour - Experience Kobe's Best Gems with a local host: $78
- KOBE Sake Walking Tour in Japan's Top Sake Breweries: $83
- Sake Tour and Tasting in Kobe: $84
- Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $90
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour: $92
- Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Kobe City: $94
- Private Walking Tour with Local Guide: $94
- KOBE, SHIOYA, a quaint fishing town walking tour : $97
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySihanoukville $4.42Kobe $8.56
Sample the Local Flavors in Kobe
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kobe:
- 3-hour KOBE Sake brewery & tasting walking tour with guide: $83
- Sake Brewery and Japanese Life Experience Tour in Kobe: $85
- Nada Sake Brewery District Private Walking Tour: $133
- 5-Hour Nadagogo Sake Brewery Private Guided Experience: $174
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sihanoukville and Kobe, we can see that Kobe 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 Kobe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kobe 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 Kobe Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Kobe?
Kobe has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Kobe, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.