Which place is cheaper, Dali or Bagan?
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 Bagan or Dali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Dali can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Dali?
Bagan
Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Dali
Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Bagan Prices
Myanmar PricesDali Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $34Dali $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Dali is $66. 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 Bagan and Dali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Dali $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Dali $36
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Dali
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Dali? 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: Dali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Dali $9.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU): $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
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Local Bus$0.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Dali?
Prices for flights to both Dali and Bagan 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 dayBagan $10Dali $34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.
- Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.78
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Breakfast$3.74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali
For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cangshan Mountain hike and organic homemade dinner: $36
- Dali Bai ethnic Pottery and cooking class at Lost village: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $57Dali $19
Tours and Activities in Bagan
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Acient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $149
- Amazing Bagan, full day tour by car and guide: $90
- BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
- Bagan Classics Private Temples Tour: $159
- Bagan Cycling Tour ( Villages & Temples Cycling Explorer): $129
- Bagan Fullday Sightseeing by Car and Horse-cart: $184
- Bagan Instagram Photo Tour: $179
- Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
- Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk: $72
- Full-Day Bagan Private Sightseeing Tour by E-Bike with Pickup: $110
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Dali Tie Dye and Tea Culture Tour with Erhai Bike Ride: $35
- Dali and XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $60
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $68
- Donglianhua (East Lotus) & Hui Muslim Culture Tour: $70
- Yunnan Dali Erhai 3 Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple One Day Tour: $74
- Golf Experience at Canghai Golf Club - One of the Best in China: $85
- Ancient City, Three Pagodas, and Longkan (ErHai) Tour: $85
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $85
- Zhoucheng Village Tie Dyeing Private Experience: $88
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $88
- Zhoucheng Village Tie-Dyeing Experience Private Tour: $89
- Xizhou Ancient Town Private Half-Day Tour: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Dali $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Dali, we can see that Dali is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Dali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dali than you might in Bagan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Dali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Dali?
Dali has a larger population, and is about 450 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Dali, 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.