Which place is cheaper, Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands?
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 Yaeyama Islands can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dali or Yaeyama Islands?
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.
Yaeyama Islands
The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.
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 Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.
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Dali Prices
China PricesYaeyama Islands Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDali $62Yaeyama Islands $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $62, while the average daily cost in Yaeyama Islands is $118. 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 Yaeyama Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDali $17Yaeyama Islands $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDali $34Yaeyama Islands $112
Compare Hotels in Dali and Yaeyama Islands
Looking for a hotel in Dali or Yaeyama Islands? 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: Yaeyama Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dali $9.34Yaeyama Islands $19
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Yaeyama Islands?
Prices for flights to both Yaeyama Islands 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 $32Yaeyama Islands $50
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dali $18Yaeyama Islands $8.93
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $71
- Yunnan Dali Erhai 3 Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple One Day Tour: $74
- Zhoucheng Village Tie Dyeing Private Experience: $87
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $87
- Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
- Shaxi Ancient Town Private Tour: $99
- 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
- Private hiking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $190
- 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
- Dali Yunnan Local Market Pottery Making Eco Tour: $197
- 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Dali to Lijiang and overnight in Shaxi old town: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDali $11Yaeyama Islands $6.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Yaeyama Islands, we can see that Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands Expensive?.
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.