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

Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Kampong Cham?

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 Kampong Cham. 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 Kampong Cham?

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.

Kampong Cham

Kampong Cham is the sixth largest city in the country, located in the east of Cambodia. Just two and a half hours away from Phnom Penh is a surprisingly large province by the same name. Kampong Cham is the capital of this province, a quiet town on the west side of the Mekong River. While the town does not cater to tourists like other large cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the charm of Kampong Cham lies in the beauty and simplicity of local life. Visitors will also get a glimpse into agricultural life on the plantations of rubber trees, tobacco and cashews.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Kampong Cham or Kanchanaburi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in Kampong Cham is $36. 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 Kampong Cham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kanchanaburi $22
    Kampong Cham $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kanchanaburi $44
    Kampong Cham $40
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Kampong Cham

Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Kampong Cham? 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.

Hotels in Kanchanaburi


Hotels in Kampong Cham


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kanchanaburi $14
    Kampong Cham $7.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi

Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $99
  • Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
  • Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119

Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Kampong Cham?

Prices for flights to both Kampong Cham 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kanchanaburi $24
    Kampong Cham $11
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi

For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casual Lunch
    $4.71

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: $39

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kanchanaburi $10
    Kampong Cham $5.76
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Entry Park TreeHouse
    $6.28

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: $27
  • Discovery Bike Tour: $18
  • E-Scooter Tour in Kanchanaburi: $35
  • Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $110
  • Guided Walking Tour in History & Legends: $174
  • Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $53
  • Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Train Along Death Railway Tour: $178
  • Kanchanaburi Tour Erawan Waterfall Temples and Giant Rain Tree: $112
  • Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $108
  • Kanchanaburi Tour: Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway: $112
  • Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $45
  • Private Tour: Kanchanaburi Local Thai Life and City Discovery: $191

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kanchanaburi $9.24
    Kampong Cham $5.47


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Kampong Cham, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is Kampong Cham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampong Cham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampong Cham 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 Kampong Cham.

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


Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Kampong Cham?

Kanchanaburi has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Kampong Cham. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Kampong Cham, 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.