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

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Lima?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Lima? 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 Lima?

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.

Lima

Lima, the capital city of Peru, is likely to be your point of entry for the country. Lima was founded in 1535 and was the seat of the Spanish rule for 300 years. It's a surprisingly modern city despite its rich history, but many beautiful churches and colonial architecture remain today. There are also large slum areas that highlight the poverty that exists in the city. The city and its surrounding metropolitan area have a population of about 8.5 million people, many of whom came from the Andes Mountains in search of work. Unfortunately the work opportunities are limited and the poverty is obvious as you arrive in Lima.

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 Peru, and The Best Adventure Tours to Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Lima 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 Lima is $95. 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 Lima in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sihanoukville $23
    Lima $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sihanoukville $46
    Lima $104
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Lima

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Lima? 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 Lima


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: Lima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sihanoukville $14
    Lima $6.06

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

  • Transfer: Between Airport and Shihanouk ville: $20
  • Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
  • Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
  • Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $5.73
  • Taxi Ride
    $5.73
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $4.30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lima

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lima:

  • Assistance - Transfer Cusco Airport to Hotel & Viceversa: $40
  • Deluxe Car Lima Transfer - Private Service: $29
  • Direct Private Transfer From Lima to Paracas, English Speaking Driver: $269
  • Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Arrival Private Transfer : $22
  • Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM) to Lima - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
  • LIMA AIRPORT SHUTTLE - Shared Transfer: $13
  • Larco Museum Complete Guided Tour with Transfers (Small Group): $55
  • Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
  • Lima Airport (LIM) to Miraflores city - Arrival Private Transfer: $24
  • Lima Airport Arrival Transfer: $25
  • Lima Airport Transfers by SUV/Van: $43
  • Lima Bus Station Arrival Transfer: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Lima?

Prices for flights to both Lima 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
    Lima $32

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

Typical Food Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of dining costs in Lima are as follows:


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.59
  • Ice cream
    $3.73
  • Coffee
    $3.15
  • Donut
    $1.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lima

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lima.

  • Lima Food Tour with Ceviche, Pisco, and Grilled Chicken: $32
  • Food Tour and Market Experience: 12 Peruvian Snacks: $40
  • Lima Food Tour - Prepare your Anticuchos and Pisco Sour : $48
  • #1 Reviewed Lima Cooking Class: $49
  • Dinner at the Huaca Pucllana Restaurant: $55
  • Private Guided Walking Street Food Tour in Lima: $55
  • Peru’s Most Beloved Recipes Cooking Class: $58
  • Lima Market Tour & Ceviche Cooking Class with Pisco Sour: $59
  • Lima Night: Cooking Experience with locals: $65
  • Peruvian Cooking Class, Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting: $65
  • Vegan Peruvian Food Cooking Class | Ceviche + Pisco Sour: $69
  • 4 iconic restaurants of Lima / 3-hour guided food tour: $69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sihanoukville $5.37
    Lima $9.15

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

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

  • Tuktuk Countryside tour: Pepper farm, Salt field & Secret lake: $18
  • Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $21
  • La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
  • Half day tour with countryside include Pepper farm Kampot : $22
  • Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
  • Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $25
  • SUP Tour in Mangrove Forest of Koh Rong Sanloem: $28
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $29
  • Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
  • Half-Day Adventure to the Pepper Farm by Scooter: $30
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45
  • Kampot Countryside & Kayak Tour, Pepper Farm include lunch : $46

Typical Entertainment Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lima are as follows:


  • Entrance to Museo Larco (for 2)
    $17
  • Movie Tickets
    $2.44

Tours and Activities in Lima

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lima are as follows:

  • Beach tour and surfboards for rent in Lima, Peru: $14
  • Lima City Tour with Baby Alpaca Class and Pisco Tasting: $16
  • Skip the Line: Larco Museum Admission Ticket: $18
  • Miraflores and Barranco Private Bike Tour: $19
  • Private Bike Tour in Lima: $19
  • Bike Tour Lima: $19
  • Water Magic Circuit Lima Night Tour by Panoramic Bus: $20
  • Tour in Lima with Visit to the Catacombs of San Francisco: $20
  • Bohemian and artistic ravine walking tour: $22
  • Lima Half-Day City Walking Tour (Small Groups): $24
  • Pisco Sour experience with mini causitas at República del Pisco: $25
  • Guided Walking Tour in Barranco: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.42
    Lima $5.95

Typical Alcohol Prices in Lima

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Lima are as follows:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $7.71
  • Beer
    $4.30
  • Cocktail
    $3.44

Sample the Local Flavors in Lima

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Lima:

  • Lima Pub Crawl - Party tour: Friday Barranco/Saturday miraflores: $19
  • Bar Crawl Night Tour in Miraflores: $30
  • Local Wine Tour : $55
  • From Paracas & Huacachina & Wine Tasting: $135
  • Full Day Paracas, Huacachina and Wine Tasting from Lima : $138


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


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Lima?

Lima has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Sihanoukville. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Lima, 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.