A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dali vs. Auckland for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dali or Auckland?

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

Where Should I go: Dali or Auckland?

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.

Auckland

Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Dali?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $62, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $170. 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 Auckland in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dali $17
    Auckland $99
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dali $34
    Auckland $198
Compare Hotels in Dali and Auckland

Looking for a hotel in Dali or Auckland? 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 Dali


Hotels in Auckland


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: Auckland Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dali $9.34
    Auckland $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:


  • 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 Auckland

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


  • Bus from Airport
    $9.47
  • Airport Shuttle
    $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland

Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • [PRIVATE] Airport Transfer from/to Auckland Airport: $108
  • VIP / Premium Airport Transfers: $84
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland HTL-APT (AKL): $38
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Auckland APT-HTL (AKL): $38
  • Rotorua to Auckland - Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Caves: $188
  • Private Transfer From Cruise Ships To Auckland Airport : $120
  • Private Transfer From Auckland City To Auckland Airport Oaks: $72
  • Private Transfer From Auckland CBD Hotels To Cruise Ship: $96
  • Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To Thames: $201
  • Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To North Shore Auckland : $120
  • Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To Hibiscus Coast: $120
  • Private Transfer From Auckland Airport To Cambridge : $180

Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Auckland?

Prices for flights to both Auckland 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 day
    Dali $32
    Auckland $46
Typical Food Prices in Dali

For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $4.49
  • 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

Typical Food Prices in Auckland

For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $4.73

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland

For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Harbour Sailing Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $93
  • Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $101
  • Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $102
  • Waiheke Island: Private Sunset Wine Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $392
  • Māori Evening Dinner and Private Show Experience: $519
  • From Kiwi Bird Encounter & 3-Course Dinner Tour: $550

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dali $18
    Auckland $27

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: $71
  • 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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)
    $33
  • Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)
    $119

Tours and Activities in Auckland

For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Auckland Best Top 5 Spots Half day Tour : $96
  • Cathedral Cove & Hot water beach -Full Day Tour: PRIVATE TOUR : $270
  • Hobbiton Lord Of Rings Movie Set tour Private Driver : $198
  • Hobbiton Movie Set Small Tour from Auckland: $249
  • 24 day Greatest Of All Tours Small Group Tour: $3,447
  • 4 hours Auckland Friday Night Tour : $78
  • 6 Hours Sightseeing Tour in Auckland: $174
  • A Self-Guided Walking Tour of Auckland's Hidden Stories: $12
  • AUCKLAND CITY Full Day Tour with War Memorial Museum and Mt Eden: $155
  • Half-Day CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR - Mt.Eden, Tamaki Dr: $86
  • Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland: $117
  • America’s Cup 2-Hour Sailing Experience Waitemata Harbour: $122

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dali $11
    Auckland $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland

Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Waiheke Island: Scenic Island Wine Tour & Local Wine Tasting: $110
  • Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $119
  • Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $159
  • Kumeu Wine Tour: $165
  • Waiheke Island: Wine Tour & Lunch at Award Winning Venue: $168
  • From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $180
  • Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch: $180
  • Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $183
  • City Tour with Wine Tasting and Black Sand Beach: $217
  • Shore Excursion from Auckland - Private Tour & Wine Tasting: $278
  • Waiheke Island Scenic Wine Tour: $301


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Auckland, we can see that Auckland 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 Auckland 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland 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 Auckland Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dali or Auckland?

Auckland has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Auckland, 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.