Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Sihanoukville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sihanoukville or Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sihanoukville or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySihanoukville $51Lake Tekapo $75
The average daily cost (per person) in Sihanoukville is $51, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSihanoukville $23Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSihanoukville $46Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Lake Tekapo? 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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sihanoukville $14Lake Tekapo -
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 Sihanoukville To Koh Kong : $73
- 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 Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $24
- Private Transfer between Sihanoukville Airport and Hotels or Port: $25
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $18Lake Tekapo $13
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sihanoukville $5.37Lake Tekapo -
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
- La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
- Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
- Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $25
- Koh Rong: Round-Trip Speed Ferry Tickets: $25
- Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $25
- Koh Rong Island Speed Ferry Round-Trip Ticket: $25
- Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
- Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
- Private Tour in Kampot by Tuk Tuk: $35
- Private Bokor tours by locals including lunch : $44
- Kampot-day tours, Countryside, Pepper farm and Kayaking : $44
Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $30
- Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
- Dark Sky Virtual Stargazing Experience: $41
- 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
- High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
- Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
- 中文观星团 Chinese tour: $65
- Stargazing Experience: $65
- Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
- From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
- Summit Experience - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory: $114
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySihanoukville $4.42Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sihanoukville and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo is in Pacific, 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Lake Tekapo?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 470 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Lake Tekapo, 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.