Which place is cheaper, Adelaide or Dali?
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 Dali or Adelaide?
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 Dali and Adelaide can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Adelaide?
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.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the often overlooked capital city of the State of South Australia. It's also the fifth largest city in the country. Despite being skipped by most travelers, Adelaide is an interesting city to explore and has a decent amount to offer open minded travelers. It has some fascinating architecture, unique shopping, and wonderful cafes and restaurants. Part of the appeal of Adelaide is its location in the midst of Australia's wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, and Clare Valley. Any of these destinations could be visited as a day trip from Adelaide.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Dali Prices
China PricesAdelaide Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $62Adelaide $133
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $62, while the average daily cost in Adelaide is $133. 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 Dali and Adelaide in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Adelaide $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Adelaide $130
Compare Hotels in Dali and Adelaide
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Adelaide? 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: Adelaide Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.34Adelaide $18
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$0.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
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Shuttle from the Train Station$3.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Adelaide city to Adelaide Cruise Port: $60
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Port to Adelaide Airport (ADL): $60
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Cruise Port to Adelaide city: $60
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Airport (ADL) to Adelaide Port: $60
- Private Transfer Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide City & Port: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Adelaide Airport: $54
- Private Arrival Transfer: Adelaide Airport to Hotel: $67
- Private Airport & Houseboat Transfers Adelaide Bus: $298
- One Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour with return ferry transfers from Adelaide: $261
- Departure Transfer: Adelaide to Airport ADL by Business Car: $78
- Departure Private Transfers: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport ADL in Luxury Van: $113
- Arrival Transfer: Airport ADL to Adelaide by Business Car: $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Adelaide?
Prices for flights to both Adelaide and Dali 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 dayDali $32Adelaide $54
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.49
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Breakfast$3.50
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: $80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- HandleBar Bike Tour with Pub Stops & Dinner Option: $30
- A Taste of Adelaide Central Markets Food Tour: $36
- Local Food Tour and Tastings with Guide: $65
- Four Hours Cooking Class in Adelaide Hills: $124
- Maggie Beer's Farm Cooking School and Seasonal Lunch: $131
- Small-Group River Murray Dark Sky and Sunset Tour with Dinner: $201
- Pipi Catching and Cooking Experience in Goolwa : $235
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Adelaide $14
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Dali Erhai Sightseeing Tour: $250
- 1-Day Dali Tie Dye Experience Private Tour: $230
- 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
- 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Dali to Lijiang and overnight in Shaxi old town: $205
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $213
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $72
- Dali Day Tour: Scenic Lakes, Bai Heritage & Tie-Dye Workshop: $262
- Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
- Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
- Dali Yunnan Local Market Pottery Making Eco Tour: $197
- Ancient City, Three Pagodas, and Longkan (ErHai) Tour: $85
- Donglianhua (East Lotus) & Hui Muslim Culture Tour: $70
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Barossa Tour from 4 Tastings & Lunch Included": $109
- "Penfolds Magill Estate Luxury Wine & Gourmet Lunch Private Tour": $268
- 90 Minute Port River Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise: $59
- Adelaide "Firsts" Walking Tour - From Grid Plans to Great Wine: $17
- Adelaide Central Market Tour with Lunch: $122
- Adelaide Central Markets: Food Walking Tour: $46
- Adelaide City Full-Day Tour: $155
- Adelaide City Highlights Full-Day Tour: $152
- Adelaide City Highlights Tour: $58
- Adelaide City Kayak Tour: $52
- Adelaide City and First Nations Cultural tour: $99
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Tours: $208
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Adelaide $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
- Private Pinot Noir Wine Tasting & Platter in Adelaide Hills: $30
- Experience SA Private Barossa Wine Tour- Pickup is in the Barossa: $34
- Half-day McLaren Vale & Glenelg Wine Tasting Tour: $59
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $60
- Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting: $89
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $91
- Epic Barossa Wine, Brewery, Chocolate, Lunch & Wildlife: $100
- Picnic and Wine Tasting Experience in the Barossa Valley: $104
- Adelaide Food Odyssey: Food Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $105
- Barossa Day Out: Wines, Brewery, Chocolate & Lunch: $105
- Discover Barossa: 4 Wine Tastings, Gourmet Lunch, and Hidden Gems: $114
- Barossa Premium Wine Tasting tour & Winery Lunch: $118
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Adelaide, we can see that Adelaide is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dali is in Asia and Adelaide is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Adelaide would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Adelaide than you might in Dali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dali Expensive? and Is Adelaide Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dali or Adelaide?
Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Adelaide, 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.