Which place is cheaper, Ulaanbaatar or Kanchanaburi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Ulaanbaatar?
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 Ulaanbaatar. 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 Ulaanbaatar?
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.
Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia's capital city. It has a population of slightly over two million people, or about sixty percent of the country's entire population. You are likely to arrive in Ulaanbaatar either by train, coming from China or Russia, or by plane. Many people use Ulaanbaatar as a stop off while doing the Transsiberian Railway. The city is a great place to organize a tour of the surrounding countryside. It's also good city to relax, so make sure you allow yourself a few days to recover from your tour, enjoy some of the great food options, and see some of the fascinating cultural sights around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mongolia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Mongolia.
-
Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesUlaanbaatar Prices
Mongolia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $56Ulaanbaatar $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $56, while the average daily cost in Ulaanbaatar is $30. 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 Ulaanbaatar in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $21Ulaanbaatar $11
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $42Ulaanbaatar $22
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Ulaanbaatar
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Ulaanbaatar? 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 Ulaanbaatar Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Ulaanbaatar $2.80
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 Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $116
- Private Erawan Falls & River Kwai with Transfer from Kanchanaburi: $221
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $183
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ulaanbaatar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ulaanbaatar:
- VIP Airport Transfer-Cadillac Escalade (6 Passengers+6 Luggage): $266
- ULN Airport to Downtown|Hotels Private Transfer: $21
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Taxi Transfer 24/7: $21
- Airport Transfer Taxi Shuttle Pick Up: $23
- Transfer service to Terelj national park: $51
- Transfer service to Kharkhorin: $220
- Transfer Service to Khustai National Park: $178
- Private Transfer to Ulaanbaatar Airport UBN by private Vehicule: $52
- Chinggis Khaan Airport (UBN) Taxi Transfers to/from Ulaanbaatar: $20
- Best Price :Terelj National Park Best Non-Guided Transfers: $36
- BEST 5* Chinggis Khaan Airport UBN Ulaanbaatar Transfer Taxi 24/7: $21
- Airport Private Transfer: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Ulaanbaatar?
Prices for flights to both Ulaanbaatar 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 dayKanchanaburi $23Ulaanbaatar $15
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Casual Lunch$4.56
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 Ulaanbaatar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ulaanbaatar.
- Cooking Class in a Traditional Ger Home in Ulaanbaatar Suburbs: $229
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Ulaanbaatar $4.25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Entry Park TreeHouse$6.08
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
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $37
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $40
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $52
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $58
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $58
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $62
- Full Day Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Historical Sites Tour: $78
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway Full Day Tour: $80
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $106
Tours and Activities in Ulaanbaatar
Here are a few actual costs in Ulaanbaatar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Aglag Buteel Temple Tour- Meditation and Nature: $222
- 1 Day Chinggis Khaan Statue & Terelj National Park Private tour: $180
- 1 Day Coach Tour of Terelj National Park Including Lunch And Free Camel Ride: $123
- 1 Day Khustai National Park Tour- Wild Horse (Takhi): $257
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi All-included tour: $146
- 1 Day Semi-Gobi Tour Including Lunch And Free Camel +Bonus Khustai National Park: $169
- 1 Day Ulaanbaatar City Tour- Culture and History: $245
- 12 day Great Gobi and Central Mongolia full adventure: $2,210
- 2 Day Local experience by train visit Tunkhel town: $380
- 2 Day full adventure to Central Mongolia: $370
- 2 day Central Mongolia /Joint public tour: $270
- 3 day Khar khorum budget tour Central Mongolia: $400
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $8.95Ulaanbaatar $3.68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Ulaanbaatar, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is Ulaanbaatar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ulaanbaatar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ulaanbaatar 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 Ulaanbaatar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Ulaanbaatar Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Ulaanbaatar?
Ulaanbaatar has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Ulaanbaatar, 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.