Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Da Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Da Nang or Kunming?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Da Nang or Kunming? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Da Nang or Kunming?
Da Nang
Halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the North is the easy-going beach city of Da Nang (or Danang, for some). The third most populated city in Vietnam, Da Nang draws in crowds with its beautiful and calm beaches as well as its history as a French colonial port.
With beaches, mountains, and cityscape, there's bound to be a point of interest for all travelers. Da Nang is also a transit hub to get to the four Vietnamese UNESCO World heritage sites: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Hue, Hoi An, and My Son.
Da Nang experiences wet season from September through March and dry season from April through August with average temperatures of around 80℉.
Da Nang is also known to have some of the friendliest locals, probably due to the peace and quiet and lack of heavy traffic, even in the city.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDa Nang $46Kunming $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Da Nang is $46, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $67. 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 Da Nang and Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDa Nang $19Kunming $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDa Nang $38Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Da Nang and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Da Nang or Kunming? 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: Da Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Da Nang $11Kunming $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Da Nang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Da Nang:
- Charter Limousine DCar RoundTrip Transfer Da Nang Hoi An Hue : $219
- Private Transfer from Da Nang (DAD) Airport to Dong Hoi: $187
- Da Nang to Quy Nhon Private Transfer with Professional Driver: $164
- Da Nang or Hoi An Golf Courses Transfer by Limousine VIP 9: $158
- Private Bana Hills - Golden Hands Bridge Guided Tour with Lunch and Transfer: $135
- Da Nang Airport To Hue Private Transfer: $126
- Golden Bridge with guide, lunch, ticket & transfer From Da Nang: $120
- Private Transfer Service Between Da Nang and Hue: $119
- One Way Transfer Tours, to or from Da Nang or Hoi An and Hue via costal roads: $115
- Da Nang to Phong Nha Private Transfer with Sightseeing Stops: $115
- Private Roundtrip Transfer to GOLDEN BRIDGE BA NA HILLS & MARBLE MOUNTAIN : $115
- Private Car Transfer to Visit Golden Bridge Ba Na Hills & My Son Holyland : $113
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Da Nang or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming and Da Nang 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 dayDa Nang $16Kunming $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Da Nang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Da Nang.
- Dragon bridge show and Da Nang local food tour: $4.10
- Home Cooking Class: $22
- Vegetarian Cooking class and Basket Boat Riding: $25
- Happy Cooking Class in Danang : $26
- Cooking Class and tasting Pho with Local Girl: $29
- Vegetarian Home Cooking Class Da Nang: $29
- Eco Cooking Class and Basket boat tour from Da Nang city: $29
- Da Nang Home Cooking Class: $29
- Da Nang Street Walking Food Tour : $29
- Basket Boat Riding and Cooking Class from Da Nang City : $29
- Da Nang Vegetarian Cooking Class: $29
- Making Lantern & Basket Boat & Happy Cooking Class: $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kunming evening food tour with locals: $65
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Da Nang $13Kunming $18
Tours and Activities in Da Nang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Da Nang are as follows:
- Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Full-Day Tour: $93
- DA NANG CITY SUNSET - Private Guided Tour : $92
- Experience Hoi an Rural Eco Tour from Da Nang or Hoi An city: $76
- Full-Day Tour to Discover Hue's Imperial Heritage : $56
- GOLDEN BRIDGE BA NA HILLS & MARBLE MOUNTAIN -Private Guided Tour: $148
- Golden Bridge Ba Na Hill-Early start to Avoid Crowds-PrivateTour: $138
- Golden Bridge- Early Departure & Marble Mountains- Private Tour: $133
- HOI AN COUNTRYSIDE & MARBLE MOUNTAIN Private Tour from Hoi An or Da Nang city: $82
- Hoi An Countryside Tour with 3 Villages & Hoi An City Tour: $128
- HoiAn Walking Tour with RiverBoat-Night Market-Colourful Lantern: $77
- Hue City 1 Day Private Tour From Hoi An or Da Nang: $130
- INSTAGRAM Tour - Da Nang & Hoi An city Private Tour ( 11 Hours): $140
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- Half Day Kunming History Tour: $80
- Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
- Morning Market Tour - Eat like a local: $93
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- Stone Forest Day Tour: $106
- Private Day Tour of Jiuxiang Cave from Yunnan: $109
- 4-Hour Tea-tasting and Cha Guo Zi (茶果子）Experience Tour: $112
- One day Stone Forest and Nuohei Yi Village Tour: $114
- Private Kunming Illuminated Night Tour: Dianchi Lake,1903 Park and Fountain Show: $118
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming Temple and Market Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDa Nang $9.39Kunming $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Da Nang and Kunming, we can see that Kunming is more expensive. And not only is Da Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Da Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Da Nang 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 Kunming would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kunming than you might in Da Nang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Da Nang Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Da Nang or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Da Nang. When comparing the sizes of Da Nang and Kunming, 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.