Which place is cheaper, El Nido 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 El Nido?
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 El Nido. 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 El Nido?
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.
El Nido
El Nido is a coastal destination on the Philippine island of Palawan. It consists of about 45 islands and islets all with beautiful beachfront scenery and plenty of opportunities for experiencing nature above and below the water. Some of the island's best features include limestone karst cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, coves, and waterfalls.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesEl Nido Prices
Philippines Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $58El Nido $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in El Nido is $47. 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 El Nido in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22El Nido $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44El Nido $28
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and El Nido
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or El Nido? 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 El Nido Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14El Nido $19
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in El Nido
Also for El Nido, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Van Transfer : From El Nido to Puerto Princesa Palawan: $170
- Private Transfer from El Nido to Port Barton Palawan: $170
- To Puerto Princesa 1-Way Shared Van Transfer: $14
- Lio Airport to/from Hotel Transfers: $35
- Island Hopping Tour B Snake Island with transfer: $39
- Island Hopping TOUR A with Lunch, Transfer & EDTF: $53
- El Nido Town: Transfers to/from Nacpan Beach: $12
- El Nido Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Tour C with Lunch and Transfers: $44
- El Nido Big Lagoon and Tropical Island Private Tour with Transfer: $179
- El Nido (Lio) Airport Transfers: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or El Nido?
Prices for flights to both El Nido 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 $24El Nido $20
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in El Nido
For El Nido, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- El Nido, Sibaltan: Family Dinner, Bonfire and Karaoke: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10El Nido $5.34
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
Tours and Activities in El Nido
For El Nido, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- El Nido Full Day Tour C with Buffet Lunch : $45
- 2 Days Private Cruise in El Nido on a 43-foot Sailing Yacht: $672
- All-Inclusive El Nido Island Hopping Private Tour: $153
- Private Island Hopping Tour A with BUFFET LUNCH: $128
- Private Island Hopping Tour B: $132
- Private Island Hopping Tour C w/BUFFET LUNCH: $132
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour A w/BUFFET LUNCH: $21
- Sharing/Joiner Island Hopping Tour B: $28
- El Nido Advanced Enduro Tour: $200
- El Nido Big Lagoon & Tropical Island Private Tour: $356
- El Nido Group Tour A with Beach Lunch: $45
- El Nido Group Tour B with Lunch (Full Day): $47
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.24El Nido $8.31
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and El Nido, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is El Nido much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to El Nido would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in El Nido 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 El Nido.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is El Nido Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or El Nido?
Kanchanaburi has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of El Nido. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and El Nido, 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.