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

Should you visit Sihanoukville or Boracay?

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

Should I visit Sihanoukville or Boracay? 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 Boracay?

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.

Boracay

A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Cambodia, The Best Adventure Tours to Cambodia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Boracay 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 Boracay is $66. 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 Boracay in more detail.



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

Looking for a hotel in Sihanoukville or Boracay? 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 Boracay


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sihanoukville $14
    Boracay $28

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:

  • Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $29
  • Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
  • Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
  • Boracay to Caticlan Airport (MPH) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
  • Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $43
  • Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
  • Two-way Shared Transfer from/to Airport to Hotel: $34
  • Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Arrival Private Transfer : $24
  • Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $53
  • Caticlan Airport (MPH) to Boracay - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $53
  • Caticlan: 1-Way or Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Boracay: $27
  • Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Sihanoukville or Boracay?

Prices for flights to both Boracay 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
    Boracay $25

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.
    Sihanoukville $5.37
    Boracay $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
  • La Plantation tour (discovering Kampot Pepper) + Lunch: $21
  • Kampot Tour Pepper Plantation, Salt Field, Cave, Secret Lake: $21
  • Half day tour with countryside include Pepper farm Kampot : $22
  • Full day Tour, Countryside, Pepper farm & Kep, crab market...: $25
  • Kampot Countryside Tour - Pepper Farm, Salt Lake, Caves, and more: $25
  • SUP Tour in Mangrove Forest of Koh Rong Sanloem: $28
  • Kampot Day Tour "Bokor National Park": $29
  • Bokor Mountain Adventure - History, Sights and Waterfalls: $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

Tours and Activities in Boracay

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

  • Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $6.27
  • Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $8.95
  • Banana Boat Adventure: $10
  • Boracay Private Land Tour: $13
  • Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $14
  • All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $15
  • Boracay UFO Adventure: $16
  • Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $16
  • Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
  • Boracay Island Rhythm Sunset Cruise: $17
  • Bandwagon Ride Experience: $17
  • Sunset Cruise Boat Party by Haqqy Life: $18

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sihanoukville $4.42
    Boracay $16


When comparing the travel costs between Sihanoukville and Boracay, we can see that Boracay 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 Sihanoukville Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sihanoukville or Boracay?

Sihanoukville has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Sihanoukville and Boracay, 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.