Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Kanchanaburi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Chennai?
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 Chennai. 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 Chennai?
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.
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesChennai Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $55Chennai $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $55, while the average daily cost in Chennai is $30. 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 Chennai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $21Chennai $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $42Chennai $28
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Chennai
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Chennai? 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.
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 and Chennai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Chennai $2.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Erawan Falls & River Kwai with Transfer from Kanchanaburi: $271
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $184
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $115
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $97
- Kanchanaburi River Kwai SUP Experience with Hotel Transfers: $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Mahabalipuram Hotel to Chennai Airport(MAA): $50
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Thiruvannamalai: Ultimate Guide: $130
- Private Transfer from Chennai to Pondicherry: Comfortable Travel: $130
- Private Transfer from Chennai City to Chennai (MAA) Airport: $40
- Private Transfer from Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport: $30
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $26
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
- Private Arrival Transfer Chennai Airport MAA to Mahabalipuram: $55
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $44
- 12-Day Guided Tour to Kochi with Transfers: $1,167
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $30
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Chennai?
Prices for flights to both Chennai 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
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Food Meals for one dayKanchanaburi $23Chennai $9.70
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch$4.47
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: $38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ayurvedic or South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with an Author: $40
- Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with Vidhya: $48
- Chennai Market Tour & Cooking Class in a Local Home with Meena: $54
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Demo in Chennai in Tara's Home: $76
- Traditional Indian Art, Craft and Cooking Tour: $76
- Private tour to learn Traditional Indian Art, craft & Cooking: $80
- Neighborhood Market Tour & South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai: $152
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $9.96Chennai $2.43
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Entry Park TreeHouse$5.97
Tours and Activities in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $23
- Discovery Bike Tour: $17
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $130
- Full Day Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Historical Sites Tour: $77
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $45
- Guided Walking Private Tour in History & Legends: $141
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $51
- Kanchanaburi 9 km Kwai Noi River Kayaking Tour: $31
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $57
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway Full Day Tour: $79
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Train Along Death Railway Tour: $172
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $61
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- 2 Day Royal Enfield Motorcycle tour from Chennai to Pondicherry & Mahabalipuram: $267
- 3 Day Private Tiruvannamalai Spiritual Tour from Chennai: $298
- 6-Day Classical Tamil Nadu Private Tour from Chennai: $250
- 7-Day Spiritual Tamil Nadu Private Tour from Chennai: $586
- A Private Day tour from Chennai to Gingee & Thiruvannamalai: $96
- Agra Taj Tour from Chennai: $292
- Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.51
- Auroville and Pondicherry Tour from Chennai: $134
- Auto Rickshaw Tour of Mahabalipuram: $82
- Best of Guided Half Day City Tour with a local: $43
- British Architecture Walk in Chennai by Wonder tours: $49
- British Architecture Walk, an immersive walking tour in Chennai: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $8.78Chennai $2.70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Chennai, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Kanchanaburi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanchanaburi than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Chennai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Chennai?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Chennai, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.