Which place is cheaper, Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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 Kolkata (Calcutta). 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 Kolkata (Calcutta)?
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.
Kolkata (Calcutta)
Formerly known as Calcutta, Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal, India. Featuring colonial architecture, galleries, temples, and festivals, the city has flourished from its roots as an East India Company trading post in the 18th Century to a thriving metropolis. Today Kolkata is a diverse center of culture and bustling activity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in India, and The Best Bicycle Tours in India.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesKolkata (Calcutta) Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $56Kolkata (Calcutta) $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $56, while the average daily cost in Kolkata (Calcutta) is $42. 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $21Kolkata (Calcutta) $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $42Kolkata (Calcutta) $30
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Kolkata (Calcutta)
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Kolkata (Calcutta)? 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 Kolkata (Calcutta) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Kolkata (Calcutta) $4.46
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: $99
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $116
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $186
- Private Erawan Falls & River Kwai with Transfer from Kanchanaburi: $275
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kolkata (Calcutta):
- The Second City of Empire: A Kolkata Heritage Walking Tour with Private Transfer: $134
- Private Transfer from Kolkata to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (CCU) Airport: $64
- Private Transfer From Kolkata Airport to Hotel: $11
- Kolkata Airport to Kolkata Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $32
- Departure transfer from Hotel to Airport in Kolkata: $44
- Build Your Own: custom private tour of Kolkata with transfers: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Prices for flights to both Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 $23Kolkata (Calcutta) $21
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$4.54
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 Kolkata (Calcutta)
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kolkata (Calcutta).
- Hooghly River Dinner Cruise: $39
- Bengali Nights Kolkata Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $39
- Alleyway Food Tour: $40
- Food Tour Delights of Kolkata with Aditya: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Kolkata (Calcutta) $13
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$6.05
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
- Scenic 9 km Kwai Noi River Kayaking Tour in Kanchanaburi: $21
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $26
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- Kanchanaburi 9 km Kwai Noi River Kayaking Tour: $31
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $39
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $46
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $52
- Kanchanaburi Sunset Cycling Tour: $53
- Morning Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Lunch & Historical Stops: $54
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $57
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $58
Tours and Activities in Kolkata (Calcutta)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kolkata (Calcutta) are as follows:
- Capturing the City of Joy; Full Day Kolkata Street Photography Tour: $85
- Chasing The Sun Experience Kolkata's Culture: $35
- Cultural Confluence of Kolkata - Culture Kaleidoscope Tour: $38
- Day Tour Of Kolkata: $24
- Discover Kolkata in 2 Days: Private Customised Sightseeing Tour: $150
- Explore Kolkata: Private 1-Day and 2-Day Tour Options: $119
- Flower Market Colors and Ganges Ghat Experience: $30
- Full Day Kolkata City Tour: $110
- Full Day Pilgrimage Tour of Ganga Sagar from Kolkata: $100
- Full-Day Kolkata Sightseeing Private Tour with Tour Guide: $75
- Guided Kolkata Sightseeing Trip by Car, Walk & Sunset Cruise Excursion Trip: $97
- Hello Calcutta Walk Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $8.90Kolkata (Calcutta) $7.22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Kolkata (Calcutta), we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is Kolkata (Calcutta) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kolkata (Calcutta) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kolkata (Calcutta) 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 Kolkata (Calcutta).
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Kolkata (Calcutta) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Kolkata (Calcutta)?
Kolkata (Calcutta) has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Kolkata (Calcutta), 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.