A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bali vs. Datong for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bali or Datong?

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 Bali and Datong can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bali or Datong?

Bali

Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.

Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.

Datong

If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Datong or Bali?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $73, while the average daily cost in Datong is $56. 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 Bali and Datong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bali $42
    Datong $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bali $84
    Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Bali and Datong

Looking for a hotel in Bali or Datong? 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 Bali


Hotels in Datong


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: Bali Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bali $9.03
    Datong $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $3.10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • Bali Spiritual: Blessing Ceremony, Pristine Nature and Transfer: $109
  • BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $103
  • West Beach Nusa Penida Tour with Speedboat Transfer from Sanur: $99
  • Drive Your Own Jet Ski Without Instructor With Private Transfer: $85
  • Unforgettable Batur Volcano Hiking With Private Transfer: $85
  • Batur Volcano Jeep Tour Include Private Transfer: $80
  • Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
  • Horse Riding on the Black Sand Beach and Free Hotel Transfers: $74
  • Nusa Penida All-Inclusive Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $66
  • Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $64
  • Ubud: Sky Bike and Jungle Swing Experience with Transfer: $63
  • Bali to/from Gili Gede: Fast Boat (Optional Bali Transfer): $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong

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

  • Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
  • Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
  • Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
  • Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
  • Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
  • Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
  • Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211

Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Datong?

Prices for flights to both Datong and Bali 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
    Bali $21
    Datong $20
Typical Food Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:


  • Coffee
    $1.24
  • Lunch for Two
    $14
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $27
  • Lunch for Two
    $8.07
  • Lunch for 2
    $8.93
  • Dinner for 2
    $9.80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.

  • ​​The Balinesia Lu'au - 'A Kampung Bali Experience & Dinner Show': $28
  • Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset in the Beach: $30
  • Uluwatu Temple Kecak And Dinner Half Day Private Guided Tour: $30
  • Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $31
  • Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
  • Pirate Dinner Cruise with Shows, Games, and Music: $33
  • From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $35
  • From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $35
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $38
  • Spice Garden, Jamu & Cooking Class in Bali Village: $45
  • Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bali $11
    Datong $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:


  • Spa for Two
    $54
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $12
  • Cooking School
    $28

Tours and Activities in Bali

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:

  • ATV Rafting Jungle Swing Private Guided Tour : $63
  • Bali Telaga Waja White Water Rafting Adventure : $47
  • Lembongan Snorkeling and Island Tour: $80
  • Nusa Penida Snorkeling Adventure (Private & All-Inclusive): $129
  • Private Tour Bali Bird Park And Ubud Tour: $110
  • Private Tours Tegenungan Waterfall Ubud Palace & Market: $80
  • Sightseeing to Ulundanu temple, banyumala waterfall & Tanah lot: $57
  • White Water Rafting Adventure at Telaga Waja River : $43
  • (BCR Rafting) Rafting Adventure in Telaga Waja River 18km: $55
  • 2 Day Tours Ubud Art Village, Dance And Other Tourist Attractions: $186
  • 2 Days Private Tours : Watersport And Uluwatu Temple: $124
  • 2-Hour Private Luxury Spa Experience Bali Aromatherapy Massage: $50

Tours and Activities in Datong

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

  • Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided Service: $22
  • Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $26
  • YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
  • Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
  • 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
  • Private Datong Day Tour Arranged by Local Tour Guide Nancy: $129
  • Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
  • Temples and Grottoes Private Full–Day Tour: $149
  • Private city tour Datong Yungang grottoes and Huayan Monastery: $160
  • Private Tour: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery From Datong: $164
  • Private Custom Tour: Datong City in One Day: $180
  • All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bali $3.20
    Datong $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Datong, we can see that Bali is more expensive. And not only is Datong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Datong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Datong 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 Bali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bali than you might in Datong.

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


Which is Bigger, Bali or Datong?

Datong has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Datong, 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.