A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kanchanaburi vs. Jaisalmer for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kanchanaburi or Jaisalmer?

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 Jaisalmer. 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 Jaisalmer?

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.

Jaisalmer

Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Jaisalmer or Kanchanaburi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Kanchanaburi Prices
    Thailand Prices
    Jaisalmer Prices
    India Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Kanchanaburi $58
    Jaisalmer $44

The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in Jaisalmer is $44. 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 Jaisalmer in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kanchanaburi $22
    Jaisalmer $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kanchanaburi $44
    Jaisalmer $26
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Jaisalmer

Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Jaisalmer? 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.

Hotels in Kanchanaburi


Hotels in Jaisalmer


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 Jaisalmer Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kanchanaburi $14
    Jaisalmer $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi

Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
  • Private Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119
  • Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $99

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer

Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer From Jaisalmer To Udaipur Via Ranakpur Jain Temple: $90
  • Private transfer from Jaisalmer to Bikaner: $120
  • Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Sam Sand Dunes: $19
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Pushkar: $85
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jaipur: $117
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Agra: $181
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $13
  • Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $13
  • Private One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $12
  • One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $11
  • One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42

Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Jaisalmer?

Prices for flights to both Jaisalmer 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kanchanaburi $24
    Jaisalmer $22
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi

For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • 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 Jaisalmer

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:


  • Dinner
    $4.54

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer

For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Jaisalmer Food Tour: Taste the Flavors of the Golden City!: $14
  • Jaisalmer Heritage & Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $25
  • Camel Trails Sunset Safari with Dinner: $29
  • Half day, non touristic sand dune ,camel safari with dinner : $29
  • Jodhpur Camel & Jeep Safari with Sunset, Folk Dance, Dinner: $30
  • Half-Day Camel Tour with Dinner: $34
  • Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $35
  • Dinner on the Dunes & Camel Safari: $36
  • Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
  • Camel Safari Campfire Dinner and Stargazing : $40
  • Jeep Safari, Camel Ride, Dinner and Folk Dance: $42
  • Half-Day Desert Safari with Camel Ride and Dinner: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kanchanaburi $10
    Jaisalmer $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • 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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer

For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Sam Sand Dunes for Two
    $3.41

Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.

  • Non_touristic Camel safari : $30
  • 1 night 2 days Thar Desert Experience Jaisalmer: $41
  • 1-Night and 2-Days Thar Desert Safari Tour: $44
  • 2 Days Non-Touristic Overnight Thar Desert Camel Safari Tour: $28
  • 2-Night Desert Experience with Luxury Camp from Jaisalmer: $233
  • 3 Days Private Jaisalmer Tour: $180
  • 4-day Jaisalmer And Jodhpur Combo Tour : $222
  • 8 Days Private Tour Colors of Rajasthan from Jaisalmer: $231
  • Agra: Skip-the-Line Taj Mahal Sunrise Tour w/Fatehpur Sikri: $4.50
  • An Overnight Non-touristic Camel Safari (2PM to 11:30 AM Next Day): $44
  • Best of Jaisalmer (Guided Full Day City Sightseeing Tour by Car): $107
  • Best of Day tour of Fort, havelis and Sunset at Lake: $149

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kanchanaburi $9.24
    Jaisalmer $8.76


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Jaisalmer, we can see that Kanchanaburi is more expensive. And not only is Jaisalmer much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jaisalmer would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaisalmer 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 Jaisalmer.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Jaisalmer Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Jaisalmer?

Jaisalmer has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Jaisalmer, 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.

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