Which place is cheaper, Dunedin 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 Dunedin?
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 Dunedin can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Dunedin?
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.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the southeast coast and is largely Scottish in its heritage. It is part of the Otago region and has mild temperatures during the spring and summer, but extremely cold temperatures during the end of fall and winter. Dunedin is a university town; The University of Otago is the oldest in New Zealand, established in 1869. The students make up over a tenth of the entire city's population.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Dali Prices
China PricesDunedin Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $62Dunedin $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $62, while the average daily cost in Dunedin is $122. 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 Dunedin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Dunedin $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Dunedin $102
Compare Hotels in Dali and Dunedin
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Dunedin? 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: Dunedin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.34Dunedin $27
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, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dunedin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Dunedin:
- Private Transfer from Chalmers Port to Dunedin Airport (DUD): $144
- Private Transfer from Chalmers Cruise Port to Dunedin City Hotels: $144
- Dunedin Intl Airport (DUN) to Dunedin - Arrival Private Transfer: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Dunedin?
Prices for flights to both Dunedin 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 $32Dunedin $49
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 Dunedin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Dunedin.
- Delicious walking food tour of Dunedin: $134
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Dunedin $17
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Donglianhua (East Lotus) & Hui Muslim Culture Tour: $70
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $71
- Yunnan Dali Erhai 3 Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple One Day Tour: $74
- Ancient City, Three Pagodas, and Longkan (ErHai) Tour: $85
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $85
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $87
- Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
- Zhoucheng Village Tie Dyeing Private Experience: $87
- Xizhou Ancient Town Private Half-Day Tour: $89
- Zhoucheng Village Tie-Dyeing Experience Private Tour: $89
- Shaxi Ancient Town Private Tour: $99
- Xizhou Ancient Town and Dali Ancient City Tour: $101
Tours and Activities in Dunedin
Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shared Dunedin City & Otago Peninsula Scenery Day Tour up to 10: $134
- Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour: $48
- Albatross, seals, and sea birds-Wildlife Cruise: $101
- Captivating Side of Dunedin Walking Tour for Couples: $554
- Castle, Coast & City Tour - 8 pax max - Castle Entrance Included: $142
- Clearwater Wildlife Tours (small group 10max) Otago Peninsula: $134
- Cruise Dunedin City and Castle Tour: $115
- Dunedin 4 Hrs halfday Private Tour : $232
- Dunedin City & Otago Peninsula Scenery Day Tour: $130
- Dunedin City - Settlers & Voyages Tour: $83
- Dunedin City Highlights & Larnach Castle Tour: $143
- Dunedin City Highlights, Otago Peninsula Scenery & Albatross Guided Tour: $178
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Dunedin $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:
- Emerson's Brewery Tour: $24
- Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting: $27
- Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $27
- City Sights Tour, Distillery & Lunch all inclusive: $138
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Dunedin, we can see that Dunedin 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 Dunedin 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 Dunedin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dunedin 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 Dunedin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dali or Dunedin?
Dali has a larger population, and is about 17% larger than the population of Dunedin. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Dunedin, 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.