Which place is cheaper, Yichang or Kanchanaburi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Yichang?
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 Yichang. 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 Yichang?
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.
Yichang
Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.
Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $42Yichang $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $42, while the average daily cost in Yichang is $58. 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 Yichang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $19Yichang $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $38Yichang $48
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Yichang
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Yichang? 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 $12Yichang $14
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: $90
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $98
- Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $103
- Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Hotel in Kanchanaburi: $116
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $163
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $171
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Yichang?
Prices for flights to both Yichang 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 $12Yichang $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$4.09
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 $9.10Yichang $18
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
Tours and Activities in Yichang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yichang are as follows:
- From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $761
- Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
- Private Tour: Essence of Yichang Day Tour: $165
- Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
- Yichang hotel/Sanxia Tourist Center/Maoping pier to Zhangjiajie: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $8.03Yichang $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Yichang, we can see that Yichang 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 Yichang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yichang 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 Yichang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Yichang?
Yichang has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Yichang, 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.
When is the best time to visit Kanchanaburi or Yichang?
Yichang has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kanchanaburi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Yichang in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kanchanaburi as well as Yichang. Kanchanaburi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Kanchanaburi is generally around the same temperature as Yichang. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 29°C (84°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Yichang. In the summer, Kanchanaburi often gets less sunshine than Yichang. Kanchanaburi gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 206 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Yichang. Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in July than Yichang. Kanchanaburi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year. July to October in Kanchanaburi is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKanchanaburi 29°C (84°F)Yichang 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Yichang in the Autumn?
Both Yichang and Kanchanaburi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kanchanaburi throughout the year.
Kanchanaburi is a little warmer than Yichang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Yichang fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during autumn. Kanchanaburi gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 134 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Kanchanaburi. In October, Kanchanaburi usually receives more rain than Yichang. Kanchanaburi gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Kanchanaburi is November to May. The rainy season in Kanchanaburi is July to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKanchanaburi 28°C (82°F)Yichang 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Yichang in the Winter?
Both Yichang and Kanchanaburi during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kanchanaburi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Kanchanaburi is much warmer than Yichang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kanchanaburi in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Yichang averages at about 6°C (43°F).
It's quite sunny in Kanchanaburi. In the winter, Kanchanaburi often gets more sunshine than Yichang. Kanchanaburi gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 92 hours of full sun.
Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in January than Yichang. Kanchanaburi gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKanchanaburi 25°C (77°F)Yichang 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Yichang in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanchanaburi and Yichang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kanchanaburi year-round.
Kanchanaburi can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Kanchanaburi is generally much warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 32°C (89°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
In Kanchanaburi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kanchanaburi usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during spring. Kanchanaburi gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 129 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Yichang. Kanchanaburi gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKanchanaburi 32°C (89°F)Yichang 18°C (65°F)
Typical Weather for Yichang and Kanchanaburi
| Kanchanaburi | Yichang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 30°C (87°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 218 mm (8.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
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.