Is Kunming expensive to visit?
Kunming is a smaller destination that attracts a broad range of travelers, encompassing various travel styles, spending practices, and budget options. You'll find a wide array of accommodation options, such as luxury hotels, mid-range places, or budget-friendly hostels.
If you choose to make it so, Kunming can be very pricey, but you can reduce your expenses by looking for discounts and coupons.
On average, budget travelers spend $33 (¥239) per day, mid-range travelers spend $83 (¥606) per day, and luxury travelers spend around $210 (¥1,536) per day. These costs are calculated from the expenses of previous travelers to Kunming.
Within Asia, Kunming is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Xiamen or Shenyang.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Kunming Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Kunming?
The average Kunming trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Kunming travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers. Also, you can see more details at How much does a trip to Kunming cost?
Realistic Expectations for Your Travel Budget
Setting realistic expectations for your travel budget is important. Many people think they can visit Kunming on a tight budget, but most travelers aren't comfortable with a low "shoestring" budget. Think about what you enjoy during your vacations and how you typically travel. Do you prefer resorts, vacation rentals, or hostels? Do you want to visit museums, sights, and participate in activities? Is dining out a priority? These factors will shape both your budget and your itinerary.
What Does It Mean to Be a Budget Traveler?
While you might think you're a budget traveler, without giving up many of your usual comforts, you'll likely need to spend more than the $33 per day that backpackers often spend.
Backpackers often work within this tight budget by staying in hostel dorms, eating fast food or street food, using public transit, and mainly visiting free attractions.
Kunming has plenty of hostels available, like Kunming Cloudland International Youth Hostel, Kunming Upland International Youth Hostel, and The Hump Route Hostel. Here, you can enjoy low-cost dorm lodging and a vibrant social environment, though amenities might be minimal.
What Makes You an Average Traveler?
Couples and families enjoying a vacation will probably want to stay in a mid-range hotel, eat at popular dining spots, and explore the key museums and attractions that have entry fees. A significant number of visitors to Kunming will want to tour the main attractions, museums, and landmarks. Keep in mind that most activities cost money. Thus, it's reasonable to expect your daily budget to be around $83 per person, per day.
Want to Escape the Daily Grind in Style?
If you want an all encompassing getaway with top-notch amenities and exceptional service, get ready for a daily cost around $210. Staying in upscale hotels, dining at acclaimed restaurants, indulging in lavish activities, and using taxis or private drivers to navigate the destination will require a more luxurious budget. Also, higher-end tours are common with luxury travelers, such as Private day tour in Kunming to Stone forest and cuihu lake with lunch - offered by Viator.
Accommodation Budget in Kunming
Prices for hotels in Kunming vary widely, with luxury hotels charging more due to higher amenities. In the off-season, expect to pay around $0, but during peak season, average prices climb to $0. With options ranging from $0 to $0, there's something for every budget. Hostels are usually cheaper, especially dorm rooms. To save, book during the off-season or keep an eye out for special deals.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid in Kunming for two people for a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $65 (¥476). For one person sharing a room, the average price paid for a hotel room is $33 (¥238) per night. These costs are from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Kunming? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Choosing to travel outside of and in the low or shoulder season will give you lower hotel prices and less tourist congestion.
Transportation Budget in Kunming
Kunming lacks an efficient public transit system.
Calculated from travelers like you
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On average, past travelers have spent $13 (¥97) per person, per day, on local transportation in Kunming. The cost of a taxi ride or rideshare service (Uber/Lyft) in Kunming is significantly more than public transportation.
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Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$13
¥97
A few of the typical hotel transfers and transportation services include:
- One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer for $41 details
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! ≪Charter charter> for $36 details
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup for $83 details
How much does it cost to go to Kunming? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Kunming will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Some typical prices for transportation in Kunming are shown below. These are actual costs from previous travelers, and are representative of the amount you'll likely spend on transportation in Kunming. Don't forget that your individual costs will vary based on how you get around, because hired cars such as taxis are often much more expensive than local public transportation.
Food Budget in Kunming
One of the biggest draws for travelers is the food, so be sure to savor the local flavors.
Calculated from travelers like you
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While restaurant and meal prices in Kunming can vary significantly, the average cost of food in Kunming is $38 (¥280) per day, per person, based on the spending habits of previous travelers.
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Food2
Meals for one day
$38
¥280
When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Kunming is around $38 (¥280) per person, with previous travelers spending from $15 to $103. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.
Typical meal prices in Kunming are as follows:
- Breakfast: $4 to $11
- Lunch: $6 to $15
- Dinner: $11 to $27
- Coffee: $3
- Fast Food or Street Food: $6
Be aware most dishes in Kunming and the Yunnan Province as a whole are usually very spicy. A favorite throughout the province is Guo Qiao Mi Xian, or Over the Bridge Noodles-a local style of steamy noodles with a variety of vegetables, meats, and usually a raw quail egg. Steam Pot Chicken is also popular as is Yiliang Roasted Duck and Xuanwei ham. Each is cooked with a mix of local spices, especially ginger. Erkuai is a kind of chewy rice cake, while other common snacks include sweet Tonghai peapowder candy, Qujing pickled chives flower, sweet pickled Kaiyuan Chinese onion, and smoked tofu. A walk through Kunming will bring you past a full range of flavors from savory street food to sit-down restaurants serving a full sampling of traditional food and international options. The main bar streets in town-Wenlin Street and Wenhua Alley-are lined with many Western cafes and restaurants, as well as a few Japanese, Korean, and Indian ones.
Several hotels include breakfast with your stay, while others charge separately for it. The cost and quality can vary significantly depending on the hotel. Knowing this in advance can guide your budget decisions. It could be worth it for the tasty buffet available at the hotel, or you may wish to find a cheaper option at a local bakery or cafe.
Bring a water bottle instead of buying beverages everywhere. It helps the environment, too.
If you're considering a tour, double-check which meals are included in the package. There may be instances where you'll have to pay for your own meals, potentially stretching your budget.
If you want to experience the culture in Kunming, a food tour or cooking class is a great way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner for $88 details
- Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class for $165 details
Sightseeing and Activities Budget in Kunming
Calculated from travelers like you
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Sightseeing activities, entertainment, and entrance tickets in Kunming typically cost an average of $18 (¥131) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$18
¥131
Often called the "City of Eternal Spring," Kunming has a pleasant climate that allows for flowers to bloom almost year-round. Many take advantage of the warmer weather to explore the sights of the city which dates back to the zenith of the Silk Road. Taking a walk through its streets will lead you past some beautiful traditional architecture, especially in its temples. Yuantong Temple, in the northern part of Kunming is the grandest and most important Buddhist Temple in the Yunnan Province with a history of more than 1,200 years. Tanhua Temple, on the outskirts of the city, is another popular destination-the epitome of Kunming's natural scenery with many beautiful flowers and plants. Other important buildings include the Daguan Pavilion which is located in Daguan Park with wonderful views of Dianchi Lake and Qiongzhu Temple which has some outstanding examples of sculptural artwork.
Being the "City of Eternal Spring," Kunming also has many parks and lake areas offering some of the best scenic views in the city. Dianchi Lake, for example, offers a beautiful picture of forested mountain to the west and traditional fishing boats cutting through the mist of the waters in the east. Green Lake Park is another small but popular one with pedestrian paths. And then there are the stone and earth forests located just outside of the city, offering prime examples of the area's karst topography where jagged mountain pillars stand tall against the sky.
As Kunming is the main entry point for the Yunnan Province, many visitors take a few days sightseeing before moving on to explore other parts of the area. Temples and traditional architecture can be found amidst bustling streets and markets full of local goods and trinkets. You might spend a day wandering these streets, find yourself relaxing an afternoon in one of the city's parks, or perhaps dive into the culture and history of the place at one of the many museums. Yunnan University Wu Mayao Museum of Anthropology, Kunming Zoology Museum, and the Yunnan Railway Museum are just a few examples.
Other attractions include Kunming Zoo which exhibits over 300 species of animals, and Kunming Botanical Gardens which has collected over 4,000 species of precious flowers, medicinal herbs, important trees, and endangered plants of the province.
A nice way to explore destinations in Kunming is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour for $196 details
- Kunming Classic Tour: Daguan Pavilion, Yuantong Temple, Green Lake Park for $160 details
- Kunming City Tour: Dragon Gate, Huating Temple and Daguan Pavilion for $172 details