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

Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Sihanoukville?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kanchanaburi and Sihanoukville. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Kanchanaburi or Sihanoukville?

Kanchanaburi

If the hustle and bustle of the big city of Bangkok is just getting to you, there's an easy escape. Kanchanaburi, Thailand is a city located at the meeting of Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, and is ideal for backpackers looking to reflect and relax. With easily accessible waterfalls and national parks, you'll wonder why anyone ever leaves.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Sihanoukville or Kanchanaburi?

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 Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in Sihanoukville is $65. 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 Kanchanaburi and Sihanoukville in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kanchanaburi $22
    Sihanoukville $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kanchanaburi $44
    Sihanoukville $46
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Sihanoukville

Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Sihanoukville? 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 Kanchanaburi


Hotels in Sihanoukville


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: Kanchanaburi Hotel Prices.

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi

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

  • Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119
  • Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
  • Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sihanoukville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sihanoukville:

  • Sihanoukville To Phnom Penh Private Transfer Mini-Van-Car: $65
  • Sihanoukville Airport Transfers: $25
  • Private Transfer in Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh by Alphard 2010: $180
  • Private Taxi Transfer Sihanoukville - Battambang Car - Mini-Van: $107
  • Private Taxi Transfer From Kampot - Phnom Penh City: $46
  • Private Shuttle Transfer From Sihanoukville - Phnom Penh: $57

Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Sihanoukville?

Prices for flights to both Sihanoukville and Kanchanaburi 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
    Kanchanaburi $24
    Sihanoukville $32
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi

For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casual Lunch
    $4.71

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanchanaburi

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

  • Thai Cooking Class: $39

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kanchanaburi $10
    Sihanoukville $5.37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Entry Park TreeHouse
    $6.28

Tours and Activities in Kanchanaburi

For Kanchanaburi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Discovery Bike Tour: $18
  • Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
  • River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
  • E-Scooter Tour in Kanchanaburi: $35
  • Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $45
  • Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $53
  • WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $59
  • Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $108
  • Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $110
  • Kanchanaburi Tour: Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway: $112
  • Kanchanaburi Tour Erawan Waterfall Temples and Giant Rain Tree: $112
  • Romantic Getaway in A Walking Tour: $174

Tours and Activities in Sihanoukville

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

  • Small Group Sihanoukville City Tour: $59
  • 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 Ship: $180
  • 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 the Best of Kampot and Kep in a Full-Day Tour: $55
  • From Phnom Penh Day Trip for Cruise Ship Guests: $189
  • Full Day Pepper Farm Adventure by Scooter: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kanchanaburi $9.24
    Sihanoukville $4.42


When comparing the travel costs between Kanchanaburi and Sihanoukville, we can see that Sihanoukville is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Sihanoukville Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Sihanoukville?

Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Sihanoukville, 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.