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

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Tromso?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Tromso? 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 Tromso?

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.

Tromso

The city of Tromso, in northern Norway, is named after the island of Tromsoya, on which it stands. Tromso is located 350 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle and is the largest city in Northern Norway. From September to March many people come to Tromso to see the northern lights. From 20 May to 20 July the midnight sun makes it possible to do as the locals and participate in various activities around the clock. In general, Tromso has a mild climate for such a northerly destination because of its seaside location and the warming effect of the Gulf stream. The area has a modern mix of outdoor activities, a vibrant nightlife, and places to eat local food.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Norway, and The Best Adventure Tours to Norway.


Which place is cheaper, Tromso 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 Tromso is $87. 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 Tromso in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sihanoukville $23
    Tromso $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sihanoukville $46
    Tromso $68
Compare Hotels in Sihanoukville and Tromso

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Tromso? 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 Tromso


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: Sihanoukville Hotel Prices and Tromso Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sihanoukville $14
    Tromso $11

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 Transfer : Phnom Penh ↔ Sihanouk Ville: $105
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $70
  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Kampot Kep To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini Van Car: $49
  • 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 Tromso

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

  • Highway to Heaven - Aurora Cable Car Transfer in Tromsø: $128
  • Private Airport and City Transfer in Tromso: $111
  • Private Transfer Tromso Airport TOS to Tromso City: $82

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Tromso?

Prices for flights to both Tromso 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
    Tromso $45

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
  • Kampot Cooking Class by Eco Lotus Kampot: $33
  • Sihanoukville - Khmer Traditional Cooking Class: $110

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tromso

For Tromso, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Tromso Aurora Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $213
  • Night Reindeer Sledding with Camp Dinner and Chance of Northern Lights: $224
  • Small Group Tromsø: Northern Lights Chase with Photos and Dinner: $236

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sihanoukville $5.37
    Tromso $6.92

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 Tromso

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

  • Discover Tromsø: A Self-Guided Tour: $1.15
  • A Tromsø Introduction: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.99
  • Tromsø Walking Tour - Sightseeing By Foots with Boukersen Heim: $59
  • Tromso Walking Tour with Treasure Hunt and Arctic Cathedral Visit: $69
  • Evening tour: Sledding, mini skiing, lasso and reindeer hides: $75
  • Tromsø: Northern Lights Adventure with Expert Guides and Photos: $95
  • 1 Hour Photo & History Cruise: $95
  • Wilderness Daytime Experience at Camp Tamok: $102
  • Tromsø: Big Bus Fjord Tour with free photos and wildlife: $106
  • Northern Lights Guided Bus Tour with Free Photos: $106
  • Arctic Nature Tour from Tromsø: $116
  • Tromsø: Evening Aurora Cruise: $118

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.42
    Tromso $5.74


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


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Tromso?

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