A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dali vs. Mount Aspiring National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dali or Mount Aspiring National Park ?

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 Mount Aspiring National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dali or Mount Aspiring National Park ?

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.

Mount Aspiring National Park

Mount Aspiring National Park is located within the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand in the Otago region. The park is named after one of New Zealand's highest peaks, Mt Aspiring, and is one of the best places to hike in the country. It is part of the Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area and one of the many locations of filming for the Lord of the Rings movies. The closest towns to this park are Haast, Makarora, Wanaka, and Glenorchy. One of New Zealand's great walks is located in this park, the Routeburn track, and is very popular among travelers heading to New Zealand for long hikes through the beautiful scenery.

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 in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Mount Aspiring National Park or Dali?

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

  • Dali Prices
    China Prices
    Mount Aspiring National Park Prices
    New Zealand Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Dali $62
    Mount Aspiring National Park $122

The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $62, while the average daily cost in Mount Aspiring National Park 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 Mount Aspiring National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dali $17
    Mount Aspiring National Park $58
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dali $34
    Mount Aspiring National Park $116
Compare Hotels in Dali and Mount Aspiring National Park

Looking for a hotel in Dali or Mount Aspiring National Park ? 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 Mount Aspiring National Park


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: Mount Aspiring National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dali $9.34
    Mount Aspiring National Park $49
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:

  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Mount Aspiring National Park ?

Prices for flights to both Mount Aspiring National Park 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
    Mount Aspiring National Park $32
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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dali $18
    Mount Aspiring National Park $29

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dali $11
    Mount Aspiring National Park $5.07


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