Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu. 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 Kathmandu?
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.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $55Kathmandu $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $55, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $55. 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 Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $21Kathmandu $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $42Kathmandu $70
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Kathmandu $6.09
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 Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $97
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $115
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $184
- Private Erawan Falls & River Kwai with Transfer from Kanchanaburi: $271
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Tribhuvan International Airport KTM Private Transfer to Kathmandu: $28
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel: $25
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $144
- Private One-Way Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara/Chitwan/Lumbini: $80
- Private Luxury Car Transfer all over Nepal: $88
- Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $23Kathmandu $13
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
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.18
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Dinner for Two$2.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Saturday Hidden Kathmandu Walk and Food Tour: $10
- Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu: $17
- Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Patan Food Tour Walking and Food Testing: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Kathmandu Kitchens Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $9.96Kathmandu $7.03
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:
- Discovery Bike Tour: $17
- Scenic 9 km Kwai Noi River Kayaking Tour in Kanchanaburi: $21
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $23
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $29
- Kanchanaburi 9 km Kwai Noi River Kayaking Tour: $31
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $43
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $45
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $51
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $51
- Morning Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Lunch & Historical Stops: $54
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $57
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $61
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.32
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.29
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.32
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
- 1 Day Kathmandu 7 UNESCO Heritage Tour: $70
- 1 Day Kathmandu Heritage 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch: $99
- 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
- 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
- 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
- 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
- 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
- 2 Day Kathmandu City with Nagarkot Sunrise, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur Tour: $236
- 2 Day Kathmandu Sightseeing with Panauti, Namobuddha Tour from Kathmandu: $163
- 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
- 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $8.78Kathmandu $5.01
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $50
When comparing the travel costs between Kanchanaburi and Kathmandu, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Kathmandu, 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.