Which place is cheaper, Seoul or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dali or Seoul?
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 Seoul can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Seoul?
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.
Seoul
With a population of more than 11 million, Seoul is easily the largest city in South Korea. It is also the financial, political, and cultural capital of the country and has much to offer open minded travelers. It is often overlooked by travelers who instead head to Tokyo or Shanghai, but Seoul has a wide range of cultural experiences, food options, and historical sights. Seoul is a city of contrasts with ancient traditions, flashy technology, religious temples and a modern youth culture. It is also more affordable than many of the other Asian metropolis' to which it is often compared. If you're looking for an interesting and different experience that is a little off the tourist trail, Seoul can definitely offer that opportunity.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Korea, and The Best Adventure Tours to South Korea.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $49Seoul $113
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $49, while the average daily cost in Seoul is $113. 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 Seoul in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Seoul $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Seoul $114
Compare Hotels in Dali and Seoul
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Seoul? 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: Seoul Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.45Seoul $16
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:
- 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 Seoul
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Seoul:
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Subway Card$3.82
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Short Taxi Ride$5.34
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Metro Ride$1.03
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Seoul City Pass Plus$7.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seoul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seoul:
- Transfer Service from Gimpo Airport to Hotel City: $57
- Private Transfer in a Cadillac Escalade: $400
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport (1-12pax): $171
- Private Transfer To/From Incheon Airport: $101
- Private transfer from Seoul hotel to Seoul Station and so on: $96
- Private Transfer between Seoul City and Gyeongbokgung Palace: $69
- Private Transfer Service from Seoul City Hotels to Gimpo Airport: $57
- Private Transfer Incheon Airport<->Seoul(12 passengers): $190
- Private Transfer Incheon Airport <-> Seoul Korea: $110
- Private Lotte world 1 day pass + Round Transfer In Seoul: $128
- Private Gimpo Airport Transfer between Seoul City: $72
- Private Airport Transfer: Seoul City - Gimpo Airport (1-5 pax): $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Seoul?
Prices for flights to both Seoul 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 $18Seoul $31
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
Typical Food Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seoul are as follows:
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Rice with Kimchi & Bacon$4.58
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Waffle$0.76
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Dippin' Dots$1.53
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Chicken Fried Rice$4.20
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Chicken Stick$1.53
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Drinking Yoghurt & Mi Chew$1.45
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Lunch Buffet$4.58
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Donut$0.76
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Mushroom Burger$3.97
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Green Tea Ice Cream$2.52
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Udon & Sushi$5.34
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Fresh Burger$3.66
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Soba Noodles Lunch$3.43
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Bibimbap Lunch$3.82
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Fried Rice$4.20
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Vietnamese Dinner$7.25
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Breakfast and Coffee for 2$7.25
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Donut$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seoul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seoul.
- Oriental Medicine&Optional Temple Vegan Cooking Class: $43
- Korean Grandma Cooking Class l Gimbap & Kimchi Pancake l Seoul: $45
- Namdaemun Market: the Largest Traditional Market Food Tour: $47
- Namdaemun Market Street Food Tour: $48
- Gwangjang Market Netflix Food Tour: $51
- Mangwon Market Food tour By Locals;Cheap Eats to Fancy Feast: $54
- Guided City Wall Sunset Hike with Korean Dinner: $59
- Vegan Korean Food Cooking Class: Gimbap, Sundubu Jjigae, and more: $60
- 1 Day Trek & Trip, Inwangsan Sunset Hiking and Dinner: $63
- Vegan Korean Food Cooking Class: $63
- 2-Hour Private K Cooking Class: $67
- Night Market Food Tour with Local Guide: $73
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Seoul $28
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Seoul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Seoul are as follows:
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Palace Tickets$6.10
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Movie Ticket$6.10
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Kimchi Museum$2.29
Tours and Activities in Seoul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seoul are as follows:
- Danyang Tour of Guinsa Temple, Bobaljae and Cheongpung Cable Car: $96
- Private Tour Nami Island with Petite France 'and/or' The Garden of Morning Calm: $98
- 'Must Do' Seoul Tram guided Tour with local street food tasting: $60
- (Private tour) Nami Island + Railbike + Garden of morning calm: $220
- 1 Day Private Full DMZ Tour in Seoul with Crystal Gondola: $220
- 3 Hour Walking Tour in Songpa Seoul: $50
- 3-Hour Self-guided Sokcho Tour with Private Transportation: $33
- 365-day DMZ Special Tour including Monday & National Holiday: $55
- 8 Hours Guided Winter Tour in South Korea: $55
- ARMY Bangtan pilgrimage tour in Seoul: $55
- Afternoon Half Day Seoul City Tour, visit Queen's dorm: $67
- Alive Museum Discount Ticket at Insa-dong(내국인불가): $9.40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Seoul $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Seoul
Also in Seoul, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Gangnam Pub Crawl with 3 Shots and Korean Tapas: $22
- Pub Crawl: $25
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official]: $26
- Chunpoong Brewery Tour:Award Winning Makgeolli(rice wine): $34
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - Story of Three Pigs: $43
- DMZ and Makgeolli Brewery Tour with Tasting Course: $66
- Learn and Craft Makgeolli in a Traditional Brewery: $82
- DMZ and Makgeolli Brewery Tour with Tasting and Brewing Class: $84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Seoul, we can see that Seoul 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 Seoul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seoul 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 Seoul Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dali or Seoul?
Seoul has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Dali and Seoul, 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.