Which place is cheaper, Kanchanaburi or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Kanchanaburi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Kanchanaburi can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Kanchanaburi?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Kanchanaburi $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Kanchanaburi is $42. 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 Petra and Kanchanaburi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Kanchanaburi $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Kanchanaburi $38
Compare Hotels in Petra and Kanchanaburi
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Kanchanaburi? 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Kanchanaburi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Kanchanaburi $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
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 Petra or Kanchanaburi?
Prices for flights to both Kanchanaburi and Petra 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 dayPetra $38Kanchanaburi $12
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
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.Petra $47Kanchanaburi $9.10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
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 dayPetra $15Kanchanaburi $8.03
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Kanchanaburi, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Kanchanaburi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Kanchanaburi is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive? and Is Kanchanaburi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Kanchanaburi?
Kanchanaburi has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Kanchanaburi, 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 Petra or Kanchanaburi?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Petra or Kanchanaburi in the Summer?
Both Kanchanaburi and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kanchanaburi year-round.
July to October is the rainy season in Kanchanaburi. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Kanchanaburi. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kanchanaburi receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Kanchanaburi. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanchanaburi receives 176 hours of full sun.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Kanchanaburi. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Kanchanaburi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Kanchanaburi 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Petra or Kanchanaburi in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Kanchanaburi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Kanchanaburi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season. Also, July to October is the rainy season in Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Kanchanaburi. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Kanchanaburi receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kanchanaburi this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Kanchanaburi during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Kanchanaburi receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Petra is around the same temperature as Kanchanaburi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Kanchanaburi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Kanchanaburi 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Kanchanaburi in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Kanchanaburi. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kanchanaburi throughout the year.
Petra usually gets more rain in January than Kanchanaburi. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Kanchanaburi receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kanchanaburi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets less sunshine than Kanchanaburi. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kanchanaburi receives 276 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Petra is much colder than Kanchanaburi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Kanchanaburi averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Kanchanaburi 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Petra or Kanchanaburi in the Spring?
Both Kanchanaburi and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kanchanaburi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Kanchanaburi is November to May. In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Kanchanaburi. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Kanchanaburi receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Kanchanaburi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Kanchanaburi during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Kanchanaburi receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's very hot in Kanchanaburi this time of the year. In April, Petra is generally cooler than Kanchanaburi. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Kanchanaburi fluctuates around 32°C (89°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Kanchanaburi 32°C (89°F)
Typical Weather for Kanchanaburi and Petra
| Petra | Kanchanaburi | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 32°C (89°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 218 mm (8.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 9 mm (0.4 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.