Which place is cheaper, Bangkok or Kathmandu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kathmandu or Bangkok?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Bangkok can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Kathmandu or Bangkok?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $57Bangkok $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $57, while the average daily cost in Bangkok is $76. 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 Kathmandu and Bangkok in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $40Bangkok $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $80Bangkok $82
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Bangkok
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Bangkok? 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Bangkok Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.94Bangkok $5.80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- 1-Way Car Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara: $132
- 3-Day Chitwan Safari Tour with Hotel Transfers, Kathmandu: $195
- Airport Transfer: International Airport Pick up and drop: $12
- Chitwan Sauraha To Kathmandu Private Transfer By Car: $89
- Chitwan to Pokhara Transfer by Private AC Car (One Way): $80
- Day Trip to Water and Amusement Park and Kirtipur sightseeing with Transfer : $87
- From One-Way Private Transfer to Pokhara: $148
- Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel : $12
- Kathmandu - Pokhara Private Transfer by Car/Jeep/Minibus: $120
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $16
- Kathmandu Ramechhap Airport Transfer: $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.19
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Skytrain Ticket$4.39
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.88
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Ferry Ride$0.71
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Taxi From Airport$6.86
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Short Taxi Ride$2.47
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Boat Taxi$1.37
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Trains to airport$4.39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus transfer to/from Bangkok: $4.14
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer (BKK/DMK): $14
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Departure Transfer (Shared or Private): $15
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Arrival Transfer (Shared or Private): $15
- Bangkok DonMueang Airport Private Transfer To City Or To Airport: $16
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Shared Departure Transfer : $17
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer: $17
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Shared Arrival Transfer : $17
- Arrival Private Transfer Bangkok Airport BKK or DMK to Bangkok City by Sedan Car: $17
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport: Bus Transfer from/to Koh Chang: $18
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok APT-HTL (BKK): $18
- Bangkok Don Muang Airport Shared Transfer : $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Bangkok?
Prices for flights to both Bangkok and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $8.29Bangkok $18
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.35
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Dinner for Two$3.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Nepali Cooking Class & Momo Making with Pickup: $7.50
- Momo Making & Cooking class in Thamel with Pickup: $8.55
- Half Day cooking class in Kathmandu by Local Chefs & Pickup: $9.33
- Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
- Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $12
- Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
- Cooking Class in Nepal: $20
- Nepali cooking class and Homestay experience : $22
- Momo, Dhalbhat & Thukpa Cooking Class, Nepal: $25
- Private Half -Day Cooking Class with Meals: $27
- Private Nepali Cooking Class (Dal Bhat and MoMo): $27
- Nepali Cooking Classes: $30
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$25
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$5.49
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.23
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.82
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$5.49
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Pad Thai$1.92
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Airport Lunch for 2$15
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Lunch for 2$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- White Orchid Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $19
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket: $21
- Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet: $21
- River Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $23
- Meridian Sunset Dinner Cruise - Floating Paradise From ICONSIAM Bangkok: $24
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $25
- 2-Hour Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $25
- Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: $26
- Viva Alangka Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $27
- Chao Phraya Buffet Dinner Viva Alangka Cruise: $27
- Alangka Luxury Buffet Dinner Cruise With Live Music: $27
- Nopparat Thai Dinner with Classical Dance: $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $8.02Bangkok $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.50
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.75
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.50
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Private Tour Chandragiri Hills and Kathmandu Durbar Square : $5.00
- 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private Day Tour: $7.50
- From Nagarkot Sunrise View Private Tour: $7.77
- City Highlights Bus Tour: $9.52
- Privet Day Tours in Kathmandu Nepal : $10
- Nagarkot Sunrise View Tour and Changunarayan Hike: $10
- Private 7 UNESCO Heritage Sites Day Tour: $10
- Luxury Tourist Bus Ticket to Pokhara: Premium VIP Bus: $10
- Sarngkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour in Pokhara: $10
- Kathmandu TO Gorkha Bus Ticket: $11
- Discovering Full-Day City Highlights Bus Tour: $12
- Kathmandu to Pokhara Tourist Bus- MNS: $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$4.39
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$9.60
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.37
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$5.49
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Club Cover Charge$10
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$66
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Fish Pedicure$4.11
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$2.74
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Siriraj Museum (2)$11
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Thailand's Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $1.99
- Bangkok Chinatown Eats: A Self-guided Audio Tour: $5.13
- Skip the Line: Ayutthaya Floating Market Admission Ticket: $5.46
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $5.47
- Bangkok's Old Town: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Chinatown Mystery Quest Experience in Bangkok: $7.17
- Best of Bangkok in 2 Days: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.98
- Bangkok's Wireless Road: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket of Ayothaya Floating Market: $8.52
- Pororo Aqua Park Entry Ticket: $9.64
- Wat Pho Reclining Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl.): $10
- Chinatown & Golden Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl): $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.76Bangkok $6.00
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.10
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Bangkok After Dark: Pub Crawl Adventure: $10
- The Bangkok Pub Crawl: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Bangkok, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Bangkok would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangkok than you might in Kathmandu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Bangkok Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Bangkok?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Bangkok, 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.