Which place is cheaper, Adelaide or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
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 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $49Adelaide $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $49, while the average daily cost in Adelaide is $115. 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
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Adelaide $68
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Adelaide $136
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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.45Adelaide $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
-
Local Bus$0.43
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/Shuhe hotel: $149
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service,Dali Airport Transfer: $40
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Adelaide
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Adelaide are as follows:
-
Shuttle from the Train Station$3.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Adelaide
Also for Adelaide, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Adelaide Airport to Adelaide Port: $37
- Private One way Transfer from Adelaide Airport（ADL） to Adelaide: $39
- One Day Kangaroo Island Sip & See tour with return ferry transfers from Adelaide: $255
- Departure Private Transfers: Adelaide to Adelaide Airport ADL in Business Car: $64
- Arrival Private Transfers: Adelaide Airport ADL to Adelaide in Luxury Van: $94
- Full-Day Private City Tour with Hotel Transfers: $506
- Adelaide to Adelaide Airport (ADL) - Departure Private Transfer : $39
- Adelaide Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Adelaide city: $258
- Adelaide Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Adelaide: $33
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Airport ADL to Adelaide City in Luxury Van: $94
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Airport ADL to Adelaide City in Luxury Car: $108
- Adelaide Airport Transfers : Adelaide City to Airport ADL in Luxury Van: $94
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
-
Food Meals for one dayDali $18Adelaide $32
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch$4.54
-
Breakfast$3.55
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
- Local Food Tour and Tastings with Guide: $80
- Four Hours Cooking Class in Adelaide Hills: $127
- Maggie Beer's Farm Cooking School and Seasonal Lunch: $133
- Cooking classes Goolwa: $133
- Small-Group River Murray Dark Sky and Sunset Tour with Dinner: $199
Entertainment
-
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 tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
- 1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali: $129
- 1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali: $160
- 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
- All inclusive Dali Erhai cruise three pagoda xizhou market: $210
- Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
- Dali Yunnan Local Market + Pottery Making Eco Tour: $220
- Private Customized Tour: Dali City Highlights in One Day: $213
- Private Day Tour of Dali Explore the Ancient City: $274
- Private Day Tour: Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient Town: $217
- Private hiking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $175
Tours and Activities in Adelaide
For Adelaide, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3-Day Yorkes Peninsula Coastal Wilderness Tour from Adelaide: $1,887
- 5-Day Flinders Ranges & Outback Eco Tour from Adelaide: $2,224
- 90 Minute Port River Dolphin & Ships Graveyard Cruise: $60
- Adelaide Central Market Delicious Lunch Tour: $127
- Adelaide Central Market Tour with Lunch: $125
- Adelaide Central Markets: Food Walking Tour: $47
- Adelaide City Highlights Tour: $54
- Adelaide City to Sea Bike Tour: $93
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Half-Day Tour with City Highlights: $102
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Tours in McLaren Vale and Hahndorf: $143
- Adelaide Cruise Ship Tours with South Australia Highlights: $129
- Adelaide Cruise Ship in Barossa Valley and Hahndorf Tour: $129
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Adelaide $23
Sample the Local Flavors in Adelaide
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Adelaide:
- River Torrens Desserts And Wine Tour: $44
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting Tour: $60
- McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon): $61
- Highlights, Hahndorf, & McLaren Vale Wine Tastings: $80
- Adelaide Highlights, Hahndorf & McLaren Vale Wine Tasting and Sightseeing Tour: $88
- From Barossa Valley Food and Wine Tour: $103
- From McLaren Vale Tour with Wine Tasting & Lunch: $115
- Barossa Valley Full-Day Wine Tasting & Maggie Beers Farm Join Us: $116
- The Barossa Valley Premium Wine Tour with Lunch: $121
- Barossa Valley Wine Tours - Small Private Groups : $123
- Barossa and Hahndorf Day Trip from Adelaide Including Wine Tasting and Lunch: $129
- McLaren Vale Wine Tour by Bike: $129
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.