Which place is cheaper, Varanasi 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 Varanasi?
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 Varanasi. 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 Varanasi?
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.
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesVaranasi Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $58Varanasi $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is $33. 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 Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Varanasi $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Varanasi $30
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Varanasi? 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 Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Varanasi $4.69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $99
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
- Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.91
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Rickshaw Ride$0.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Pickup/Drop Transfer Service: $57
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
- Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $23
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $8.53
- Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotels drop: Private Transfers: $23
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $14
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $11
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $11
- Varanasi - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $24
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $45
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi 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 $24Varanasi $12
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$4.71
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
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour: Highlights Tour with Tasting &Sunset in Varanasi: $15
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $17
- Varanasi Food Tour with Monu: $22
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $28
- 3-hour street food tour: $33
- 3-hour street food tour: $33
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $40
- Yoga, Ayurveda, and Cooking Class with Boat Ride: $41
- Cooking Class with Sona: $42
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $44
- Evening Dinner with Private Transfer: $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Varanasi $9.96
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$6.28
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
- E-Scooter Tour in Kanchanaburi: $35
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $110
- Guided Walking Tour in History & Legends: $174
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $53
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Train Along Death Railway Tour: $178
- Kanchanaburi Tour Erawan Waterfall Temples and Giant Rain Tree: $112
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $108
- Kanchanaburi Tour: Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway: $112
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $45
- Private Tour: Kanchanaburi Local Thai Life and City Discovery: $191
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.79
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Varanasi Experience 01 Night -02 Days Tour: $85
- 03 Day Spiritual Tour: Kashi Vishwanath,Ganga Aarti Sarnath”: $289
- 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur : $90
- 1 Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi: $85
- 11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.: $100
- 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
- 2 Day Private Mystical Varanasi Tour: $46
- 2 Day Varanasi Day Tour with Boating and English Speaking Guide: $300
- 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $150
- 2 Night 3 Days Spiritual Varanasi with Cruise Ride: $250
- 2-Day Experience Sunrise Boat Ride & Evening Aarti: $341
- 3 Day Varanasi Ganga Aarti Tour with Sarnath Buddhist Temple: $223
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.24Varanasi $7.45
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Varanasi, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Varanasi?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Varanasi, 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.