Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dali or Airlie Beach?
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 Airlie Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Airlie Beach?
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.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $49Airlie Beach $146
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $49, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $146. 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 Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Airlie Beach $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Airlie Beach $120
Compare Hotels in Dali and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Airlie Beach? 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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.39Airlie Beach $20
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:
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service,Dali Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $17
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $62
- Roundtrip KIA Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $238
- Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $34
- One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $18
- Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $30
- Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
- Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $332
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach 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 $18Airlie Beach $33
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.51
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Breakfast$3.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $86
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Airlie Beach $165
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali: $129
- 1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali: $160
- Private hiking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $175
- Private tour to Xizhou old town local market Erhai lake three Pagodas from Dali: $184
- Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
- 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 Dali Erhai cruise three pagoda xizhou market: $210
- Private Customized Tour: Dali City Highlights in One Day: $213
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $213
- Private Day Tour: Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient Town: $217
- Dali Yunnan Local Market + Pottery Making Eco Tour: $220
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- 1-Day Whitsunday Islands Cruise: Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet: $148
- Airlie Beach Adrenaline Jet Ski Adventure: $172
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Guided Night Tour: $70
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $63
- Airlie Beach Jet Ski Tour: $112
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $48
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $53
- Airlie Beach to Daydream Island Ultimate Jet Ski Adventure: $277
- Airlie Beach to Daydream Island Ultimate Jet Ski Adventure: $273
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $48
- Adults-Only Whitehaven Beach Sailing Tour: $193
- Airlie Adventure Jet Ski Tour: $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Airlie Beach $9.30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach 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 Airlie Beach 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach 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 Airlie Beach Expensive?.
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.