Which place is cheaper, Taupo or Sihanoukville?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Sihanoukville or Taupo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Sihanoukville or Taupo? 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 Taupo?
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.
Taupo
Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland.
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Sihanoukville Prices
Cambodia PricesTaupo Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySihanoukville $65Taupo $128
The average daily cost (per person) in Sihanoukville is $65, while the average daily cost in Taupo is $128. 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 Taupo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSihanoukville $23Taupo $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSihanoukville $46Taupo $124
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Taupo
Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Taupo? 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: Taupo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sihanoukville $14Taupo $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:
- Convenient Taxi Transfers from Sihanoukville to Kampot: $36
- Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57
- Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
- Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
- Private Transfer From Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh: $35
- Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
- Private Transfer to/from Battambang - Sihanoukville: $115
- Private taxi transfer from Sihanoukville to Battambang: $290
- Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
- Sihanoukville International Airport Transfers: $23
- Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
- Private Taxi Transfer to Kampot: $224
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taupo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Taupo:
- Tongariro Crossing : 2 Day PRIVATE TRANSFER Leaving AUCKLAND: $1,101
Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Taupo?
Prices for flights to both Taupo 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 $32Taupo $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
- Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sihanoukville $5.37Taupo $34
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 Taupo
Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Bungy Jumping$151
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Jet Boating$56
Tours and Activities in Taupo
Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Candy Cottage: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Cursed Cabin: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $22
- Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave Entry Ticket: $28
- Lake Taupō Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise aboard Ernest Kemp: $30
- Self-Guided Geothermal Tour in Orakei Korako: $30
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 10.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $34
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $34
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $34
- Maori Rock Carvings - Taupo Sailing Adventures - Kindred Spirit: $35
- Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySihanoukville $4.42Taupo $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:
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Wine$5.03
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sihanoukville and Taupo, we can see that Taupo 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 Taupo 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo 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 Taupo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Taupo?
Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Taupo, 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.