Sihanoukville Prices

« Who has known us for a while knows that we lived in Cambodia last winter for several months. We had a small rental business and car, and we came here to take care of things.

In a year, a lot has changed in our village; there’s now large-scale construction going on, the whole place is buzzing with activity, everywhere mud, and prices have skyrocketed 😱. For example, that little house we rented last year for $500 is now almost $1500. Hotels start from $50. Even massages are now $10, while before they were $7. Prices at all the popular cafes have also gone up 😱. Have you heard such news already?

Summer in 5, I think 🤔, everything will be ready and there will be a beautiful new resort. But for now, it’s not holy hell Cambodia 😩.

📸 Not published, but from last winter. »

« Sihanoukville continues to impress. First of all, here, unlike in some other places, you can rent bikes and pay the cops $1-2 just to avoid trouble for not having the right license. 😄

Secondly, this is a beach resort with a variety of beaches and the necessary infrastructure.

Thirdly, there’s a cute little café right by the ocean with a decent selection of cocktails for just $2 each.

Fourthly, there are small beach parties where you can dance, and especially lively ladies tend to flirt with charming foreigners. You know who I'm talking about! All in all, Sihanoukville is looking quite appealing right now! 🌊✨ »

« 3.50$ cane sugar »

« "Round wagon for just $25 a day!" »

« Cambodia. That's about all I can remember. Maybe I'll also share a bit about the Cambodian police))). They might just be the most corrupt cops in the world)). Here, there are basically no fines for traffic violations, but there are clearly established bribe amounts: riding without a helmet - $3, driving without a license - $5, driving under the influence - $10. For an unsuspecting tourist, the officers put on a performance reminiscent of a kindergarten morning show, pretending to threaten prison and fines from $200)))), but they do it so clumsily that it's hard not to laugh at their act. And at Angkor Wat, one cop even tried to sell us a police badge!)))) I wouldn't be surprised if he suggested we smoke a little too)))) »

« Cambodia. Soho Beach of the hotel with the same name. They asked for $20 for a lounge chair, including some drinks. But I remembered I forgot my swimsuit in the bungalow, and we proudly walked away. Seriously though, paying for a lounge chair in Cambodia seems a bit silly)). But it was interesting to see; the beach is clean and beautiful. »

« Cambodian traffic cops are just a dream. You drive without a license, run red lights, cross double lines, go against traffic, and they just wave a finger, take a dollar, and wish you a safe journey. Maybe it’s worth bringing a couple of them along! 😄 »

« The most popular alcoholic beverage in Cambodia is the local whiskey "Mekong," 700ml for $0.90. I haven't tried it myself, but people around me mix it with cola and say it's good. »

« Yay! Got my Vietnamese visa! Well, it's in my backpack now) They did it in just one business day! The new price is now $90 for 3 months. »

« This is a classic Cambodian tuk-tuk. An average ride costs around $3-4, but you can also hire it for the whole day for about $25. »

« The long-distance bus looks comfortable and is practical too, but only for a couple of hours; after that, there are no comfortable positions left. Both tourists and locals travel on these buses. The trip to Siem Reap cost me $18. »

« Another hotel in Sihanoukville. Stylish. A room for $100 a night. Quite a lot by local standards. »

« The local currency is the Cambodian riel, which is subdivided into 100 sen. You'll find banknotes in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, and 100 riels.

However, the US dollar is widely used and practically serves as the second currency in the kingdom. Prices in shops, hotels, and restaurants are mostly displayed in dollars. Even at markets, you'll hear prices quoted in dollars. Change may be given in either dollars or riels, but if you have the choice, always ask for it in dollars.

Overall, the local currency isn't highly regarded, and most locals prefer to transact in dollars. It’s better for tourists to follow this same practice, exchanging only small amounts for riels to cover minor expenses and paying in dollars whenever possible. It's wise to stock up on smaller denominations ahead of time, namely $1, $5, and $10 bills, as these are commonly used here. »

« What was I doing in Phnom Penh?! In Sihanouk, the water is +86°F, bungalows are $6, bike rentals are $5, and shrimp, tuna, and shark cost $4 each. »

« We went to the market, and the jewelry workshops were right there, next to the stalls. 1 gram of gold costs $20, and the colors and designs are quite flashy. »

« Bungalow for $25 a day! 😊 »

« Not bad: laundry for $1.50! »

« $6 per day! An indispensable item! For comparison: a trip from beach to beach by tuk-tuk one way costs $3-5 :) »

« In my opinion, the cheapest accommodation on the beach in Cambodia. Prices start from $100 per month. Sea, beach, fruits, Cambodia! »

« Sprat-beer. I'm still figuring out the prices, and I end up buying a can of beer in the store for the price of a mug in some restaurants. $0.60. »

« Traditional massage and manicure-pedicure on the beach by local women. In my opinion: the massage was not great. The manicure-pedicure is done carefully, but I still wouldn't take the risk. The price is $5. »