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

Should you visit Bali or Jinghong?

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 Jinghong can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bali or Jinghong?

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.

Jinghong

Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Jinghong or Bali?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $76, while the average daily cost in Jinghong is $64. 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 Jinghong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bali $43
    Jinghong $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bali $86
    Jinghong $42
Compare Hotels in Bali and Jinghong

Looking for a hotel in Bali or Jinghong? 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 Jinghong


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 $9.40
    Jinghong $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali

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


  • Motorbike Rental
    $3.23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $103
  • Bali DPS Airport Private Transfer from-to Nusa Dua: $23
  • Bali Parasailing Adventure with Including Hotel Transfer: $45
  • Bali Parasailing Adventure,Banana Boat,Jet Ski and Donut Boat with Transfers: $59
  • Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
  • Bali Spiritual: Blessing Ceremony, Pristine Nature and Transfer: $109
  • Bali Tours 4U Airport and Seaport transfers. 24 hours a day.: $21
  • Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $64
  • Bali and Nusa Penida: Fast Boat Transfers: $30
  • Bali and Trawangan: Fastboat with Optional Bali Transfer: $49
  • Bali to/from Gili Air: Fast Boat with Optional Bali Transfer: $49
  • Bali to/from Gili Gede: Fast Boat (Optional Bali Transfer): $64

Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Jinghong?

Prices for flights to both Jinghong 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
    Jinghong $28
Typical Food Prices in Bali

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


  • Coffee
    $1.29
  • Lunch for Two
    $14
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $28
  • Lunch for Two
    $8.40
  • Lunch for 2
    $9.30
  • Dinner for 2
    $10

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': $29
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset jimbaran Beach: $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: $34
  • Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $35
  • From Ubud: Authentic Cooking Class in a Local Village: $35
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $38
  • Padang-Padang Beach+ Uluwatu Sunset and Kecak Dance + Dinner: $45
  • Seminyak: Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $45
  • Bali's Best Sunset: Uluwatu Kecak Dance & Dinner Jimbaran Beach: $50
  • Evening Bali Mangrove Canoe Tour with Dinner: $51

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bali $11
    Jinghong $9.42
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali

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


  • Spa for Two
    $56
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $13
  • Cooking School
    $29

Tours and Activities in Bali

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

  • Bali Nusa Dua Theatre: Devdan Show Tickets: $0.05
  • Bali Water Sports Adventure: $7.89
  • Bali Tanjung Benoa Water Sport Adventure: $8.34
  • Bali Bird Park 1-Day Admission Ticket: $9.29
  • Bali Bird Park: 1-Day Admission Ticket: $9.56
  • Best of Ubud Full Day Private Guided Tour: $11
  • Private Tour to New Indonesia Urban Destination: $13
  • Kecak and Fire Dance Ticket at Uluwatu Temple: $14
  • Uluwatu Temple Tour with Optional Kecak Dance Ticket: $16
  • Private Kintamani Sunrise Jeep Tour with Breakfast: $17
  • Watersport activity Ocean walker, Parasailing Adventure & Banana Boat: $18
  • Tanah Lot Temple Guided Tour: $18

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bali $3.33
    Jinghong $5.47


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Jinghong, we can see that Bali is more expensive. And not only is Jinghong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jinghong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jinghong 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 Jinghong.

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


Which is Bigger, Bali or Jinghong?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Jinghong. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Jinghong, 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.