Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Kunming?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Kunming? 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: Darjiling or Kunming?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Kunming $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $67. 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 Darjiling and Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Kunming $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Kunming? 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.48Kunming $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $14Kunming $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kunming evening food tour with locals: $65
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $78
- Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Kunming $18
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- 5-Day Private Tour of Gangtok and Darjeeling: $246
- A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $232
- Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $84
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Day Trip to Buddha Park (Guided Private Sightseeing Tour from Gangtok): $148
- Day Trip to Darjeeling (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $148
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $148
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $148
- Day Trip to Singalila (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $258
- Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $117
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- 1-Day Stone Forest Geological Park Private Tour with the Lunch from Kunming: $201
- Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $196
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 1-Day Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
- 1-Day Dinosaur Tour in Kunming: $144
- 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
- 1-Day Kunming Culture Tour: $156
- 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming Temple and Market Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the Green Lake,Bird & Flower market and Yuantong Temple: $201
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.77Kunming $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Kunming, we can see that Kunming is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Kunming would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kunming than you might in Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Kunming, 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.