How much does a trip to Dali Cost?

The Cost of a Trip to Dali

A journey to Dali will usually cost from $20 to $110 for an individual and $40 to $221 for two people. The mid-range tends to hover around $48 (¥348) per person daily, as calculated from our travel cost data from fellow travelers covering food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation expenses. This is a fairly wide price range, and your individual expenses will vary by the level of luxury and travel style that you choose. For those seeking a balance between comfort and budget, booking standard accommodation and eating at typical restaurants, your expenses will be close to this calculated average. Read on for a detailed breakdown of travel expenses by category and a comprehensive overview of accommodation and activity costs tailored to your visit.

How much money should you budget for your trip to Dali?

If you're planning an Independent trip to Dali, budget travelers should plan to spend around $20 (¥143) per day for their trip. This average includes hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and activities. If you're on a mid-range budget, plan for around $48 (¥348) a day which covers the cost of typical hotels, normal restaurants, and a variety of popular attractions. Luxury travelers should allow for $110 (¥798) a day, which would cover higher-end hotels, nicer restaurants, and more private tour options. All of these price ranges are based on our extensive travel cost data for Dali from other travelers, along with hotel and tour data from travel companies.


Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
Budget Mid-Range Luxury
Accommodation1 $7 $17 $38
Local Transportation1 $4 $9 $22
Food2 $7 $18 $41
Water2 $1 $4 $10
Entertainment1 $8 $18 $35
Souvenirs1 $3 $9 $26
Living Expenses2 $2 $4 $13
Alcohol2 $5 $11 $24


How much does a weekend trip to Dali cost?

On average, travelers spend around $144 per person during a three-day trip to Dali. This average includes expenses for sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. To align with this average price range, consider opting for mid-range hotels and dining at mid-level restaurants, while also allocating funds for entry tickets to popular attractions. For those seeking a more budget-friendly approach, it is possible to find lower-cost accommodations, dine at less expensive restaurants, and explore free activities. Also, many visitors choose to spend a higher travel budget, as Dali offers a range of high-end hotels and restaurants for those seeking a more luxurious experience.



Dali, Yunnan, China

How much does a five day trip to Dali cost?

With five days in Dali, you can expect to spend about $241 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.

How much does a one week trip to Dali cost?

Most visitors spend between $139 and $772 for a one week trip to Dali, with the average being $337. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Dali. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.

Hostel Prices in Dali

With more than 2 hostels in Dali, the average price is $14 per night for a dorm bed. The cheapest hostel costs $6 and the most expensive is $22. Usually popular with younger travelers, hostels are a great way to save money while also being social. But not all hostels are the same, and we've analyzed the prices of both dorms and private rooms to find the average prices and best places to stay. You can see more details about the hostel prices in Dali here.

Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Dali.

  • $22 for a dorm bed at The Jade Emu International Hostel in Dali
  • $6 for a dorm bed at The Lily Pad in Dali

Hotel Prices in Dali

Based on our calculations from available hotels in the Dali, the average price for a hotel room is $0 per night. To save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by amenities and location. Check out more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Dali here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.

Should you do a tour in Dali?

Many visitors enjoy the convenience of booking tours and activities while they visit, and Dali has a wide array of things to do. These activities often include knowledgable guides and unique experiences. Tours range in price from [ACTIVITY_CHEAP_PRICE] for the [ACTIVITY_CHEAP] to [ACTIVITY_EXPENSIVE_PRICE] for the [ACTIVITY_EXPENSIVE].


    • Private tour to Xizhou old town local market Erhai lake three Pagodas from Dali: $184
    • Dali Yunnan Local Market + Pottery Making Eco Tour: $220
    • 1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali: $129
    • 1 day Dali Highlights Mini Group Tour: $140
    • 1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali: $160
    • Private Day Tour of Dali Explore the Ancient City: $175
    • Private hiking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $175
    • Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
    More for Dali

    If you're planning a trip to Dali, China, check out these other informative travel guides.



    We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



    1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
    2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
    For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.

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    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.

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