Which place is cheaper, Mount Kailash or Kanchanaburi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Mount Kailash?
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 Mount Kailash. 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 Mount Kailash?
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.
Mount Kailash
The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $42Mount Kailash $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $42, while the average daily cost in Mount Kailash is $71. 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 Mount Kailash in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $19Mount Kailash $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $38Mount Kailash $54
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Mount Kailash
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Mount Kailash? 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 $12Mount Kailash $31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Hotel in Kanchanaburi: $116
- Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $103
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $171
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $163
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $98
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Mount Kailash?
Prices for flights to both Mount Kailash 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 $12Mount Kailash $24
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$4.09
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: $34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $9.10Mount Kailash $15
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$5.46
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: $16
- Cycling to visit Local Experience and Learn Culture with Local expert: $28
- E-Scooter Tour in Kanchanaburi: $30
- Full Day Kanchanaburi River Kwai Experience: $84
- Bangkok: Erawan Waterfall, River Kwai & Death Railway Tour: $95
- Private Tour: Trekking Kanchanaburi Forest to Tham Than Lod: $108
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $110
- Erawan Waterfalls & Phra That Cave Tour : from Bangkok: $111
- Amazing Boat Trip River Kwai and Erawan Falls Full Day Tour: $116
- Private Tour: Kanchanaburi Local Thai Life and City Discovery: $139
- Kanchanaburi River Kwai & Hellfire Pass Private Tour: $144
- Bangkok: Kanchanaburi and Erawan Waterfall Private Tour: $149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $8.03Mount Kailash $2.76
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Mount Kailash, we can see that Mount Kailash 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 Mount Kailash would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mount Kailash 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 Mount Kailash Expensive?.
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.