A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dalian vs. Te Anau for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dalian or Te Anau?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Dalian or Te Anau? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Dalian or Te Anau?

Dalian

Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.

Te Anau

Te Anau is a town on the South Island of New Zealand, best-known as a gateway to Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound. The region is a major destination for ecotourism as it is home to rare species like the endangered flightless takahe bird and natural features like caves, waterfalls, forests, lakes, glacial valleys, and mountains.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Te Anau or Dalian?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dalian is $103, while the average daily cost in Te Anau is $98. 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 Dalian and Te Anau in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dalian $54
    Te Anau $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dalian $108
    Te Anau $88
Compare Hotels in Dalian and Te Anau

Looking for a hotel in Dalian or Te Anau? 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 Dalian


Hotels in Te Anau


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: Te Anau Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dalian $41
    Te Anau $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian

Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Any Guiyang Railway Station: $38
  • Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $27
  • Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $40
  • Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $32
  • Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to City Hotel: $33

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Te Anau

Also for Te Anau, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Kepler Water Taxi Transfer across Lake Te Anau: $15

Is it cheaper to fly into Dalian or Te Anau?

Prices for flights to both Te Anau and Dalian 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
    Dalian $27
    Te Anau $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dalian $4.78
    Te Anau $47

Tours and Activities in Dalian

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.

  • Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way: $159

Tours and Activities in Te Anau

For Te Anau, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Afternoon Te Anau Cruise on Historic Motor Yacht: $87
  • Champagne Sightseeing Cruise on Lake Te Anau: $87
  • Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau: $211
  • Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri: $229
  • Fiordland: Jet Boat & Nature Walk Experience from Te Anau: $106
  • From 1-Day Milford Sound Coach & Cruise: $136
  • From Milford Sound Coach Tour and Cruise: $110
  • From Milford Sound Coach, Cruise, and Walks: $146
  • From Milford Sound Cruise and Coach Day Trip: $122
  • From Milford Sound Tour with Cruise and Lunch: $154
  • From Premium Doubtful Sound Coach & Cruise: $237
  • Full-Day Milford Sound Extraordinaire Tour from Te Anau: $151

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dalian $6.31
    Te Anau $14


When comparing the travel costs between Dalian and Te Anau, we can see that Dalian is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Dalian is in Asia and Te Anau is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dalian Expensive? and Is Te Anau Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Dalian or Te Anau?

Dalian has a larger population, and is about 980 times larger than the population of Te Anau. When comparing the sizes of Dalian and Te Anau, 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.