Which place is cheaper, Darwin or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Dali or Darwin?
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 Darwin can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Darwin?
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.
Darwin
Darwin is a tropical city set against the Timor Sea in north central Australia. It is also the capital city of the Northern Territory. Despite being a relatively small city, Darwin is very diverse with residents from all over the world. The city itself has a very relaxed vibe with plenty to do. Visitors can enjoy everything from traditionally Asian style markets to culturally diverse events such as concerts, festivals or art shows.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia, and The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $49Darwin $117
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $49, while the average daily cost in Darwin is $117. 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 Darwin in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Darwin $65
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Darwin $130
Compare Hotels in Dali and Darwin
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Darwin? 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: Darwin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.45Darwin $12
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:
- 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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Darwin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Darwin:
-
Shuttle to Train Station$10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darwin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Darwin:
- Private Transfer from Darwin Cruise Port to Darwin Airport (DRW): $61
- Private Transfer from Darwin City Hotels to Darwin Cruise Port: $61
- From Darwin Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Darwin city: $120
- Darwin to Darwin Int Airport (DRW) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Darwin Int Airport (DRW) to Darwin - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $146
- Crocodile Jumping Boat Cruise with Transfer from Darwin: $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Darwin?
Prices for flights to both Darwin 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 $18Darwin $39
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 Darwin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Darwin.
- Sunset Harbour Cruise with Fish and Chips Dinner: $74
- Darwin Harbor Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $93
- Charles Darwin Dinner Cruise: $103
- Signature four course Sunset Dinner Cruise: $104
- Cape Adieu Darwin Sunset Dinner Cruise: $104
- Signature four course Sunset Dinner Cruise: $105
- Sunset 3-Hour Cruise from Darwin with Dinner and Sparkling Wine: $118
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Darwin $16
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 Darwin
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Darwin are as follows:
- 1 Day Corroboree Billabong Wetland Experience including 2.5 hour cruise + lunch: $146
- 1 Hour Jumping Crocodile Cruise on the Adelaide River: $35
- 4-Hour Outback Gourmet Food & Aboriginal Art Tour: $174
- 4x4 Litchfield Park Adventures : $279
- Blue Waters, Jumping Crocodile Cruise & Aboriginal Eco Adventure: $275
- Bombing of Darwin WWII Heritage Tours: $94
- Bombing of Darwin World War II Tour with Harbour Cruise: $104
- Breeze Cruise Darwin City Tour + Jumping Crocodile Cruise: $84
- Crocosaurus Cove General Admission Ticket: $27
- Darwin City & Mindil Beach Sunset Market experience: $94
- Darwin City Explorer Tour: $108
- Darwin Combo: The Bombing of Darwin Experience & Darwin Harbour Cruise: $59
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Darwin $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Darwin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Darwin from other travelers:
-
Evening at a Bar$16
-
Glass of Wine$4.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Darwin, we can see that Darwin 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 Darwin 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 Darwin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darwin 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 Darwin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dali or Darwin?
Dali has a larger population, and is about 44% larger than the population of Darwin. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Darwin, 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.