Which place is cheaper, Kunming 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 Kunming?
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 Kunming. 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 Kunming?
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.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesKunming Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $57Kunming $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $57, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $89. 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 Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Kunming $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Kunming $70
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Kunming? 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 $14Kunming $14
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: $222
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $186
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $117
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $98
- Kanchanaburi River Kwai SUP Experience with Hotel Transfers: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $36
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer with Meet and Greet Service: $28
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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 $24Kunming $41
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: $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
- Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class: $165
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Kunming $19
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:
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- Discovery Bike Tour: $18
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $130
- Full Day Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Historical Sites Tour: $78
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $37
- Guided Walking Private Tour in History & Legends: $142
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $52
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $58
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway Full Day Tour: $81
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Train Along Death Railway Tour: $176
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $62
- Kanchanaburi Tour Erawan Waterfall Temples and Giant Rain Tree: $110
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $290
- 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
- 1-Day Kunming Civil Culture Tour: $112
- 1-Day Kunming Culture Tour: $156
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the Green Lake,Bird & Flower market and Yuantong Temple: $201
- 1-Day Private Tour:Stone Forest and Western Hill(Dragon Gate) from Kunming: $245
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- 1-Day Stone Forest Geological Park Private Tour with the Lunch from Kunming: $201
- All inclusive Dongchuan red earth tour start from Kunming: $150
- Citywalk - 1 Day History Private Tour in Kunming: $120
- Dongchuan Red Land Private Tour: $123
- Essences of Kunming Downtown Day Tour: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.03Kunming $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Kunming, we can see that Kunming 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 Kunming would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kunming 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 Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Kunming, 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.