Which place is cheaper, Osaka or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dali or Osaka?
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 Osaka can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Osaka?
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.
Osaka
The third largest city in Japan, Osaka has a lot to offer travelers. It's at the center of the Kansai region, and is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The city sits at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay and is a major commercial hub for the country.
Osaka has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. The winters are mild with January temperatures having an average high of almost 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is very rare. Springs start cool and become hot and humid. This is also the wettest season with the rainiest time being between May and early July. Summers are hot and humid with July temperatures climbing into the high 90s Fahrenheit. The fall season becomes cooler as winter approaches.
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 Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $49Osaka $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $49, while the average daily cost in Osaka is $94. 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 Osaka in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Osaka $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Osaka $98
Compare Hotels in Dali and Osaka
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Osaka? 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: Osaka Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.45Osaka $15
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Osaka
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Osaka:
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Subway$8.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Osaka
Also for Osaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 【Tokyo to Osaka】Japan Domestic Private Jet Transfer: $16,528
- Transfer from Osaka to Universal Studios: $167
- Shared Arrival Transfer: Osaka Itami Airport to Kyoto City: $107
- Shared Arrival Transfer : Kansai International Airport to Kyoto City: $135
- SPY×FAMILY at Nijigen no Mori Park Entry & Bus Transfer: $61
- Round-Trip Private Transfer from Osaka Kansai Airport to Kobe: $175
- Private transfer service from Osaka to /from Wakayama.: $436
- Private transfer service from Osaka to /from Nara: $221
- Private arrival Transfer from Osaka Itami Airport(ITM) to central Osaka city: $126
- Private arrival Transfer from Kansai airport to Osaka city: $72
- Private Transfer from Osaka hotels to Osaka Cruise Port: $74
- Private Transfer from Osaka city hotels to Osaka Cruise Port: $67
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Osaka?
Prices for flights to both Osaka 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 $18Osaka $27
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 Osaka
For Osaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2-Hour Kuromon Market Walking Street Food Tour: $28
- Osaka : Real Japanese food tour: $34
- Experience Cooking Takoyaki in its Birthplace, Osaka: $45
- Osaka Okonomiyaki Cooking Experience!: $52
- Retro Shinsekai Food Tour with Local Street Eats: $57
- Daytime food Tour - Osaka Station, Umeda 3 hours: $61
- Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Dotonbori: $65
- Osaka Japanese Cooking And Matcha Class near Osaka Castle: $69
- Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class in Osaka Dotonbori: $71
- Katsu Curry OR Bento Making Cooking Class & Local Shop Tour: $74
- Dotonbori/Namba Food Tour in 3 Hours: $74
- Osaka Cooking Class:Katsu Curry/Bento/Okonomiyaki & Store Tour: $76
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Osaka $22
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Osaka
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Osaka's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Osaka Aquarium (for 2)$32
Tours and Activities in Osaka
For Osaka, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 6 Hours Osaka Tour with National Licensed Guide: $180
- Full-dayTour in Osaka Nara, Todaiji temple and Uji Matcha: $82
- Kyoto and Nara Park One Day Tour from Osaka: $108
- Osaka River Rapids Hike and Natural Hot Spring tour : $48
- “WA”DAIKO RHYTHM QUEST(ワダイコ リズム クエスト) WADAIKO experience: $54
- "Dotonbori Nightscapes: Photoshooting tour in Dotonbori": $100
- 1 Day Bus Tour: Wakayama Mandarin Orange and Persimmon picking: $110
- 1 Day Tokyo Private Custom Tour: $260
- 1 Group Only Tour: Explore Osaka Hidden Nights of Food & Izakaya: $62
- 1-Day Osaka to Kyoto: Temples, Castles & Culture Tour: $504
- 1-Day walking tour in Osaka：Castle, temples and Ukiyoe: $143
- 150 mins Deep Samurai Experience near Osaka Castle: $189
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Osaka $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Osaka
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Osaka:
- Namba Pub Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $35
- Osaka Nights: Ultimate Pub Bar Crawl with an Expert Local Guide: $38
- Osaka Local Bar Crawl in Dotombori & Uranamba Area: $41
- 3 Hours Pub Crawl Welcome Guided Tour in Shinsaibashi: $56
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Osaka, we can see that Osaka is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Osaka would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Osaka 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 Osaka Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dali or Osaka?
Osaka has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Osaka, 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.