Which place is cheaper, Yangshuo or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Yangshuo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Yangshuo? 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 Yangshuo?
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.
Yangshuo
A county of the city, Guilin, Yangshuo is located in a region famous for its karst topography. Surrounded by jagged mountain peaks and bordered on one side by the Li River, Yangshuo has become a popular home base for tourists looking to explore the region's natural wonders. Backpackers and tourists, both foreign and domestic, come to Yangshuo every year making it a city of many cultures. Most locals are even able to speak English, which is fairly uncommon for Chinese cities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Budget Tours to China, and The Best Tours for Seniors to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Yangshuo $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Yangshuo is $72. 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 Yangshuo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Yangshuo $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Yangshuo $50
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Yangshuo
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Yangshuo? 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 $7.48Yangshuo $42
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangshuo
Also for Yangshuo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Longsheng hotel: $107
- Visit 100% primitive cave with Transfer: $97
- Private Impression Sanjie Liu Evening Show with Hotel Transfer: $88
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Longsheng hotel: $85
- Liusanjie Light Show with Round way private transfer from Xingping hotel: $69
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Yangshuo hotel: $56
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo hotel to Guilin hotel: $37
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo(Xingping) Train Station to Yangshuo Hotel: $21
- Private Transfer from Xingping hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Yangshuo?
Prices for flights to both Yangshuo 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 $14Yangshuo $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangshuo
For Yangshuo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Yangshuo Full Day Tour: Cooking class, River boat, Light Show: $259
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Yangshuo $23
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 Yangshuo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Yangshuo.
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $181
- Yangshuo Helicopter Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $170
- 1 Day - Yangshuo Bike Tour: $80
- 1-Day Guilin City Tour with the Daxu Town and Yao Mountain from Yangshuo: $187
- 1-Day Longji Rice Terraces hiking tour from Guilin/Yangshuo hotel: $188
- 1-Day Tour: Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat and Ruyi Peak Cable Car: $149
- 2 Day - Longji Rice Terraces - Sunrise Hiking Tour: $280
- Full-day Tour: Longji Rice Terraces & Minority Villages: $146
- Full/Half-Day Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Private Tour: $136
- Guilin Highlight Sightseeing Private Day City Tour: $139
- Guilin Tea plantation and Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour from Yangshuo hotel: $181
- Guilin Yangshuo Day tour from Guangzhou by Round Way Bullet Train: $212
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.77Yangshuo $33
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Yangshuo, we can see that Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yangshuo 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 Yangshuo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Yangshuo?
Yangshuo has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Yangshuo, 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.