Which place is cheaper, Pingyao 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 Pingyao?
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 Pingyao. 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 Pingyao?
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.
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesPingyao Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $58Pingyao $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $58, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $69. 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 Pingyao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Pingyao $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Pingyao
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Pingyao? 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 $14Pingyao $13
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 Airport Transfer : Bangkok to/from Kanchanaburi: $119
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $187
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.40
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Pingyao?
Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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 $24Pingyao $34
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 Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.05
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Mango Juice$0.70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Pingyao $19
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 Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.80
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.01
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.56
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.24Pingyao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Pingyao, we can see that Pingyao 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 Pingyao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pingyao 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 Pingyao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Pingyao?
Kanchanaburi has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Pingyao, 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.