Which place is cheaper, Guilin 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 Guilin?
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 Guilin. 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 Guilin?
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.
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesGuilin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $58Guilin $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $84. 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 Guilin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Guilin $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Guilin $70
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Guilin
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Guilin? 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 $14Guilin $5.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $120
- Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
- Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
- Private Transfer: Guilin to/from Zhangjiajie/Fenghuang: $256
- Private Transfer from/to Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $387
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo/Guilin to Sanjiang and stops Longji Rice Terraces: $160
- Private Transfer from Haikou (HAK) airport to/from Sanya hotel: $120
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Longji terraces: $168
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Hongjiang: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Guilin?
Prices for flights to both Guilin 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 $24Guilin $39
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 Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Guilin $28
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:
- Discovery Bike Tour: $18
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- E-Scooter Tour in Kanchanaburi: $35
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $45
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $53
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $59
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $108
- Erawan Waterfall & Train Tour from Kanchanaburi – Full Day: $110
- Kanchanaburi Tour: Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway: $112
- Kanchanaburi Tour Erawan Waterfall Temples and Giant Rain Tree: $112
- Romantic Getaway in A Walking Tour: $174
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour with the Ping'an and Dazhai Village: $209
- 1 Day Congjiang Ethnic Dong Village Private Tour from Guilin: $219
- 1 Day Guilin Sanjiang Tour to Dong Villages: $169
- 1 Day Guilin Tour: Village Visit, Waterfall Viewing, Hiking: $230
- 1 Day Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Biking Adventure: $72
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide: $209
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $209
- 1 Day Private Cruise Tour at Li River from Guilin with Biking: $198
- 1 Day Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Village Tour: $202
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $172
- 1 Day Relaxing Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Private Tour: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.24Guilin $5.81
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Guilin, we can see that Guilin 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 Guilin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guilin 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 Guilin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Guilin?
Guilin has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Guilin, 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 Guilin?
Guilin 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 Guilin in the Summer?
Both Guilin and Kanchanaburi during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kanchanaburi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Kanchanaburi is generally around the same temperature as Guilin. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 29°C (84°F), and Guilin fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in July than Guilin. Kanchanaburi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year. July to October is the rainy season in Kanchanaburi.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKanchanaburi 29°C (84°F)Guilin 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Guilin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kanchanaburi and Guilin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kanchanaburi year-round.
Kanchanaburi is a little warmer than Guilin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kanchanaburi averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Guilin fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
Kanchanaburi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kanchanaburi usually receives more rain than Guilin. Kanchanaburi gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to May in Kanchanaburi is the dry season. Also, July to October is the rainy season in Kanchanaburi.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKanchanaburi 28°C (82°F)Guilin 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Guilin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kanchanaburi as well as Guilin. Kanchanaburi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the winter, Kanchanaburi is much warmer than Guilin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kanchanaburi in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Guilin averages at about 10°C (49°F).
Kanchanaburi usually gets less rain in January than Guilin. Kanchanaburi gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKanchanaburi 25°C (77°F)Guilin 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Kanchanaburi or Guilin in the Spring?
Both Guilin and Kanchanaburi are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kanchanaburi throughout the year.
Kanchanaburi can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Kanchanaburi is generally much warmer than Guilin. Daily temperatures in Kanchanaburi average around 32°C (89°F), and Guilin fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. In April, Kanchanaburi usually receives less rain than Guilin. Kanchanaburi gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Kanchanaburi is November to May.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKanchanaburi 32°C (89°F)Guilin 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Guilin and Kanchanaburi
| Kanchanaburi | Guilin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 30°C (87°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 218 mm (8.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.