Which place is cheaper, Chongqing 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 Chongqing?
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 Chongqing. 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 Chongqing?
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.
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesChongqing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $57Chongqing $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $57, while the average daily cost in Chongqing is $111. 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 Chongqing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Chongqing $53
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Chongqing $106
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Chongqing
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Chongqing? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Chongqing $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kanchanaburi River Kwai SUP Experience with Hotel Transfers: $39
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $116
- Private Erawan Falls & River Kwai with Transfer from Kanchanaburi: $221
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $183
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- [Airport Transfer] Chongqing Airport ⇔ Chongqing City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $23
- Private Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $29
- Private Transfer: Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier to Airport (CKG): $30
- Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station: $27
- Private Transfer from Chongqing Railway Station to City Hotel: $52
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG): $60
- Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $29
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chongqing: $24
- Private Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $49
- Private Chongqing International Airport Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Chongqing?
Prices for flights to both Chongqing 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 $24Chongqing $45
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$4.60
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 Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
- Qingyu Banquet Experience with Show and Dinner: $51
- Be a Chongqinger - wet market tour &cooking class & paper cutting: $59
- Half-Day Cultural Immersion with Cooking Class: $80
- Food Tour with Old Town and Magical Night Views: $93
- Chongqing Food Tour: $93
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner or Massage: $150
- Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $245
- From Port Transfer with Half Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $246
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Chongqing $14
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$6.14
Tours and Activities in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discovery Bike Tour: $18
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $37
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $40
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $52
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $58
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $58
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $62
- Full Day Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Historical Sites Tour: $78
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway Full Day Tour: $80
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $106
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Chongqing Adventures 18 Steps Laojun Cave and Huangjueya: $195
- 1 Day Private Tour to UNESCO Dazu Rock Carvings from Chongqing: $166
- 1 Day Private tour to Chongqing Wulong National Geology Park: $179
- 1-Day Chongqing City Private Tour with the Hot pot Lunch: $157
- 3Days Chongqing Cyber City✖ Wulong Karst Cave Adventure: $750
- 4D3N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang: $628
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $230
- Authentic Chongqing Walking Tour: Explore History & Local Vibe: $98
- Best of Chongqing One Day Tour: Stilwell Museum, Arhat Temple, Eling Park, Panda: $197
- Century Cruises Chongqing to Yichang Yangzte River Tour: $61
- Chinese calligraphy experience: $42
- Chong Qing : 1949 theater historical Show Ticket: $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.03Chongqing $7.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Chongqing, we can see that Chongqing 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 Chongqing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chongqing 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 Chongqing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Chongqing?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Chongqing, 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.