Sihanoukville Statistics 2026
Verified Sihanoukville statistics for 2026: ~310,000 province population, Cambodia's only deep-sea port (~700,000 TEU/year), 7+ beaches, and expat cost of living $600–1,100/month — sourced from NIS, Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and CDC Cambodia.
Journalists and researchers: download the full dataset (CSV / JSON) or copy a citation.
Last updated: May 2026·Next update: November 2026·28 sourced statistics
Only high & medium confidence data is published.
Key Sihanoukville Statistics
residents — Sihanoukville province (2019 census)
Sihanoukville province is one of Cambodia's fastest-growing regions, fuelled by port activity and coastal tourism.
TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year
Sihanoukville handles the bulk of Cambodia's seaborne imports and exports — a critical economic gateway.
main beaches along the coastline
Sihanoukville's coastline stretches across 7 main beaches including Serendipity, Ochheuteal, Otres and Independence.
by road (~3.5h drive) from Phnom Penh
Just 3.5 hours from Phnom Penh by road, Sihanoukville is Cambodia's closest major beach destination to the capital.
USD/month comfortable solo lifestyle
Despite rapid development, Sihanoukville remains more affordable than Koh Samui or Phuket for long-stay visitors.
km² — Kampong Som Bay maritime area
Kampong Som Bay covers over 2,500 km² — providing sheltered deep-sea anchorage that makes the port viable.
Sihanoukville Cost of Living
Monthly budgets, rents and city comparisons — 2025–2026 estimates
| City | COL Index (NYC=100) | Apartment 1BR | Solo Budget/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sihanoukvilleest. | 26.5 | $200–500 | $600–1,100 |
| Siem Reap | 24.8 | $250–600 | $600–1,200 |
| Phnom Penh | 32.1 | $300–800 | $800–1,500 |
| Kampotest. | 22.5 | $150–400 | $500–900 |
| Bangkok | 41.3 | $500–1,200 | $1,000–2,000 |
COL Index for Sihanoukville is a rough estimate — Numbeo has limited data for this city.
Sources: Numbeo May 2026 (private) + Siem Reap Hub local checks (internal estimate).
- →Post-2019 gambling ban significantly reduced property prices and rents from their 2017–2019 peaks
- →Otres Beach area commands slightly higher rents than town center ($300–600/month)
- →Food and transport costs are comparable to or slightly higher than Siem Reap
- →SIM card + data: $5–10/month from Metfone, Cellcard or Smart
All cost figures are estimates. Sihanoukville saw extreme price volatility 2017–2023 — current figures reflect the post-gambling-ban stabilization.
Sihanoukville Port Statistics
Container throughput, employment and SEZ — source: Sihanoukville Autonomous Port & CDC
- →Sihanoukville Port is Cambodia's only deep-sea commercial port
- →The port handles over 95% of Cambodia's containerized imports
- →The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone hosts 150+ factories, mainly Chinese
- →A new port expansion project is planned to increase capacity to 1M TEU/year
Port throughput figures from Sihanoukville Autonomous Port annual reports. Exact year varies.
Tourism & Beaches
Visitors, coastline and accommodation — 2024–2025 data
- →Main beaches: Serendipity, Ochheuteal, Otres Beach 1 & 2, Victory, Independence, Sokha
- →Otres Beach remains the most popular for long-stay visitors and digital nomads
- →The casino ban in 2019 significantly changed the city's character — it has since repositioned toward beach tourism
- →Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Guangzhou and Hangzhou available via Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS)
Expat & Long-Stay Scene
Community size, cost of living and infrastructure — 2025 data
- →Sihanoukville has a smaller but growing expat community, concentrated around Otres Beach and the town center
- →A significant Chinese-origin business community remains from the 2017–2019 investment boom
- →Cost of living is competitive — comparable to or cheaper than Siem Reap
- →Visa services, international restaurants and co-working facilities are available but more limited than Phnom Penh or Siem Reap
Expat figures are rough estimates based on community data. No official city-level census for foreign residents.
Transport & Access
Road, air and sea connections from Sihanoukville — 2026
| Destination | Distance | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phnom Penh | 230 km | ~3.5h (road) / 35min (flight) | Bus/taxi/flight |
| Siem Reap | 520 km | ~8h (road) | Bus/taxi |
| Kampot | 110 km | ~2h (road) | Bus/taxi |
| Kep | 120 km | ~2h (road) | Bus/taxi |
| Bangkok | 900 km | ~14h (road) / 2h (flight) | Bus/flight |
| Singapore | — | ~2h (flight) | Flight via KOS |
Road distances approximate via NR4 highway.
- →Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS) operates direct international flights to Malaysia, China and Thailand
- →The NR4 highway to Phnom Penh is fully paved — 3.5h by express bus or shared taxi
- →A train line connects Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville (limited service, check current schedule)
- →Ferry services operate to offshore islands (Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem, Koh Ta Kiev)
Offshore Islands
Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem and surrounding islands — 2026
- →Koh Rong is Cambodia's most popular island — beaches, bioluminescent plankton, jungle trekking
- →Koh Rong Samloem offers a quieter alternative with pristine beaches and diving
- →Koh Ta Kiev is a smaller, less-developed island popular with budget travelers
- →Koh Dek Koul and other small islands accessible by speedboat or longtail
- →Ferry operators: Speed Ferry Cambodia, Island Speed Ferry, GTK Speedboat — running daily from Sihanoukville port
Ferry schedules and prices vary seasonally. Check operator websites for current timetables.
Real Estate & Neighborhoods
Rental ranges by neighborhood — post-casino-ban market 2025
| Area | Rent Range | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Otres Beachest. | $300–600/mo | Most popular with Western expats/nomads |
| Serendipity/Ochheutealest. | $250–500/mo | Tourist strip, lively bars and restaurants |
| Town centerest. | $200–450/mo | Local residential, more affordable |
| Victory Hillest. | $200–400/mo | Quieter, local community |
Sihanoukville experienced extreme property speculation 2017–2019 and a sharp correction post-2019 gambling ban. Current rents reflect stabilized post-ban market.
Source: Siem Reap Hub local checks + Realestate.com.kh (private, estimate).
Digital Connectivity
Coworking, internet speeds and mobile coverage — 2025–2026
- →Sihanoukville has fewer co-working options than Phnom Penh or Siem Reap
- →Most beach cafés and guesthouses offer WiFi, though reliability varies in remote beach areas
- →Mobile data: $5–10/month for Cellcard, Smart or Metfone — good coverage in town and main beaches
- →Otres Beach area has the most digital-nomad-friendly infrastructure
Climate, Safety & Practical Notes
Seasons, beach conditions and post-casino context — 2026
| Season | Months | Weather | Beach Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry season | Nov–Apr | 26–33°C | Calm seas, ideal for swimming and island hopping |
| Rainy season | May–Oct | 25–32°C | Rough seas possible, afternoon showers, fewer tourists |
Sihanoukville is on the Gulf of Thailand coast — calmer than the South China Sea side.
- →Best beach season: November to April (dry season, calm seas)
- →Rainy season (May–October) brings fewer tourists and lower prices — seas can be rough for island boats
- →Air quality is generally good — coastal breezes reduce urban pollution
- →Post-2019, the city has significantly fewer casinos — the overall character has shifted back toward conventional beach tourism
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Siem Reap Hub. (2026, May). Sihanoukville statistics 2026. https://siemreaphub.com/sihanoukville/statistics
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