Which place is cheaper, Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer?
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 Jaisalmer. 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 Jaisalmer?
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.
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
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 PricesJaisalmer Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $55Jaisalmer $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $55, while the average daily cost in Jaisalmer is $41. 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 Jaisalmer in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $21Jaisalmer $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $42Jaisalmer $24
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Jaisalmer
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Jaisalmer? 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 Jaisalmer Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Jaisalmer $10
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: $270
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $180
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $114
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $95
- Kanchanaburi River Kwai SUP Experience with Hotel Transfers: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
- Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $45
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Ahmedabad: $117
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $45
- Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $12
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $11
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $39
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Jaisalmer?
Prices for flights to both Jaisalmer 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 $23Jaisalmer $20
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$4.48
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
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- off beat Desert safari with sunset and dinner: $10
- Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $13
- Jodhpur Camel & Jeep Safari with Sunset, Folk Dance, Dinner: $25
- Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $25
- Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $25
- Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $32
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Cooking Class with Local Family & Rooftop Meal: $37
- Jeep Camel Ride, Musical Evening & Traditional Buffet Dinner: $37
- Shahi Half day non touristic sand dune camel safari with dinner: $37
- Blissful Half-Day Sunset Camel Safari, Musical Eve & Dinner: $38
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $9.96Jaisalmer $11
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: $26
- Discovery Bike Tour: $17
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $130
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $45
- Guided Walking Private Tour in History & Legends: $138
- Kanchanaburi 9 km Kwai Noi River Kayaking Tour: $31
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $57
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway Full Day Tour: $71
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Train Along Death Railway Tour: $171
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $55
- Kanchanaburi Small-Group History and Local Life Guided Bike Tour: $51
- Kanchanaburi Sunset Cycling Tour: $52
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.11
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- 02 nights authentic wild camping & Luxury Camping Experience: $129
- 2 Days Sharing Group Thar Desert Safari Adventure Tour: $8.60
- 2 Days-1 Night Camel Tour: $108
- 2 Nights 3 Days Nomadic Thar Desert Adventure Safari Tour: $105
- 2-Night Desert Experience with Luxury Camp from Jaisalmer: $224
- 3 days Jaisalmer Private Tour with Desert Safari, Sightseeing and Accommodation: $176
- 4-day Jaisalmer And Jodhpur Combo Tour: $205
- 5 Days Udaipur Jodhpur & Jaisalmer Tour: $266
- 8 Days Private Tour Colors of Rajasthan from Jaisalmer: $213
- Adventure & Campfire Overnight Desert Safari: $32
- Adventure non touristic camel safari: $24
- Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour w/Fatehpur Sikri: $4.50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $8.78Jaisalmer $8.01
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Jaisalmer, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Jaisalmer Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Jaisalmer?
Jaisalmer has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Jaisalmer, 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.