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

Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Benxi?

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 Benxi. 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 Benxi?

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.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Kanchanaburi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kanchanaburi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kanchanaburi 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi than you might in Kanchanaburi.

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

Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Benxi?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Benxi, 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.

When is the best time to visit Kanchanaburi or Benxi?

Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kanchanaburi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Benxi in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Kanchanaburi as well as Benxi. Kanchanaburi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Kanchanaburi is a little warmer than Benxi in the summer. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. In the summer, Kanchanaburi often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Kanchanaburi gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Benxi. Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in July than Benxi. Kanchanaburi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year. July to October in Kanchanaburi is the rainy season.

Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Benxi in the Autumn?

Both Benxi and Kanchanaburi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kanchanaburi throughout the year.

In the autumn, Kanchanaburi is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kanchanaburi in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Benxi during autumn. Kanchanaburi gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Kanchanaburi. In October, Kanchanaburi usually receives more rain than Benxi. Kanchanaburi gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Kanchanaburi is November to May. The rainy season in Kanchanaburi is July to October.

Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Benxi in the Winter?

Both Benxi and Kanchanaburi during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kanchanaburi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Benxi. In January, Kanchanaburi is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 25°C (77°F), and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

It's quite sunny in Kanchanaburi. In the winter, Kanchanaburi often gets more sunshine than Benxi. Kanchanaburi gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun.

Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in January than Benxi. Kanchanaburi gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Benxi in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanchanaburi and Benxi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kanchanaburi year-round.

It's very hot in Kanchanaburi this time of the year. Kanchanaburi is much warmer than Benxi in the spring. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Benxi this time of the year. In Kanchanaburi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kanchanaburi usually receives more sunshine than Benxi during spring. Kanchanaburi gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Kanchanaburi usually receives more rain than Benxi. Kanchanaburi gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season.

Typical Weather for Benxi and Kanchanaburi