Which place is cheaper, Gold Coast or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dali or Gold Coast?
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 Gold Coast can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Gold Coast?
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.
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's premier destinations. Famous for gorgeous beaches, warm weather, watersports, and plenty of activities for all ages, millions of tourists from Australia as well as everywhere in the world flock to this region every year. With beaches, national parks, theme parks, shopping and dining, nice resorts, boating, fishing, diving, theme parks and more, the Gold Coast offers something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $49Gold Coast $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $49, while the average daily cost in Gold Coast is $103. 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 Gold Coast in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Gold Coast $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Gold Coast $116
Compare Hotels in Dali and Gold Coast
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Gold Coast? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.45Gold Coast $24
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$0.43
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gold Coast
Also for Gold Coast, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Luxury Airport Transfer with Limousine: $98
- Private Gold Coast Airport Arrival Transfer: $84
- Movie World To Brisbane Hotel One Way Transfer: $31
- Theme Park Transfer: $578
- Chill Out at Byron Bay Bus Transfer: $60
- Australia Zoo Ticket and Roundtrip Transfer: $105
- Airport to Hotel Return Transfer: $22
- Gold Coast Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Gold Coast: $46
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Luxury Van: $129
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Luxury Car: $130
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Gold Coast to Airport OOL in Business Car: $101
- Gold Coast Airport Transfer: Airport OOL to Gold Coast in Luxury Van: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Gold Coast?
Prices for flights to both Gold Coast 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 $18Gold Coast $29
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.54
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Breakfast$3.55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gold Coast
For Gold Coast, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Broadwater Sunset Dinner Cruise with Spirit of Gold Coast: $54
- Australian Outback Spectacular Dinner & Show: $82
- Gold Coast Buffet Dinner Sightseeing Cruise: $83
- Gold Coast Private Sunset Sailing Charter w/ dinner & drinks: $319
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Gold Coast $20
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 Gold Coast
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Gold Coast.
- Whale Watching Australia Experience (3hours): $83
- 1 Hour Amore Tour: $244
- 1.5 hr Jet Ski Safari tour to South Stradbroke Island!: $195
- 2 Hours Dolphin Kayaking & Snorkeling Tour on the Broadwater: $53
- 2.5 hr Jet Ski Safaris tour - Ultimate Adventure + island stop: $278
- 2.5-Hour Ultimate Learn to Surf Adventure: $45
- 2.5hr Gold Coast Kayaking & snorkelling tour: $55
- 3-Day Ticket: Dreamworld with WhiteWaterWorld & SkyPoint: $101
- 30min Jet Ski Tour in Surfers Paradise: $84
- 55min Gold Coast Jet Boat Adventure Ride: $55
- Aquaduck Gold Coast 1 hour City and River Tour: $38
- Arro Jet Boating Experience, Surfers Paradise Gold Coast: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Gold Coast $5.48
Sample the Local Flavors in Gold Coast
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Gold Coast:
- Queensland Distillery Tour: $78
- Tamborine Mountain Wine Tour with 2-Course Lunch: $143
- Full-Day Guided Wine Tour in Mt Tamborine From Gold Coast : $146
- Mount Tamborine Wine Tasting Tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast: $146
- Queensland Gin Distillery Tasting & Talk: $408
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Gold Coast, we can see that Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gold Coast 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 Gold Coast Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dali or Gold Coast?
Gold Coast has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Gold Coast, 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.