Which place is cheaper, Alice Springs or Datong?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Datong or Alice Springs?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Datong or Alice Springs, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Datong or Alice Springs?
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs is in the middle of Central Australia and is most famous as a base for exploring the famous rock, Uluru. Alice Springs itself has grown dramatically from what was once a small outpost. The tourist boom began in the early 1980s and the population is now somewhere around 28,000. The city now has all of the necessary facilities to cater to the influx of tourists who swing through to see Uluru. The town is 1500km from Darwin, which is the closest major city. Adelaide is just as far to the south. It's remote location means that costs can be higher than they are elsewhere in Australia. Expect to pay more for anything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and souvenirs. When making a reservation for a hotel, do note that the rating scale differs from elsewhere in Australia or in most western countries. The ratings come from the amenities available and have little to do with the actual room quality.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDatong $57Alice Springs $98
The average daily cost (per person) in Datong is $57, while the average daily cost in Alice Springs 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 Datong and Alice Springs in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDatong $23Alice Springs $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDatong $46Alice Springs $104
Compare Hotels in Datong and Alice Springs
Looking for a hotel in Datong or Alice Springs? 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: Alice Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Datong $13Alice Springs $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Flexible Private Transfer Service from Datong to Pingyao with Sightseeing Stops: $225
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alice Springs
Also for Alice Springs, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Alice Springs to Uluru (Ayers Rock) Coach Transfer: $136
- Uluru to Alice Springs or Alice to Uluru 1-Way Luxe Transfer: $135
Is it cheaper to fly into Datong or Alice Springs?
Prices for flights to both Alice Springs and Datong 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 dayDatong $20Alice Springs $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alice Springs
For Alice Springs, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- From Day Trip to Uluru with BBQ Dinner: $243
- Ayers Rock Day Trip from Alice Springs Including BBQ Dinner: $246
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Datong $25Alice Springs $14
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- 1-Day Pingyao tour from Datong and ends of Beijing or Xi'an by Bullet Train: $267
- 1-Day Private Tour: Datong Highlights with the Lunch: $215
- 2-Day Dadong Tour Including Tickets: $520
- 2-Day Private Datong Tour:Hanging Temple, Yugang Grottoes,Wooden Pagoda and More: $298
- All Inclusive Datong Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes : $268
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour to Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- All-Inclusive Private Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- Black Myth Wukong Actual Locations 6-Day Shanxi Private Tour: $1,224
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
- Datong Day Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: $203
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
Tours and Activities in Alice Springs
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Alice Springs.
- 2 Day Uluru Kata Tjuta Rock Escape Tour: $455
- 4-Day Tour of Uluru, Kings Canyon, and the West MacDonnell: $2,761
- A Town Like Alice: Half-Day Tour of Alice Springs: $690
- Alice Springs Airport to Alice Springs City Half Day Tour: $126
- Alice Springs Airport to West MacDonnell Ranges Half-Day Tour: $112
- Alice Springs Camel Tour: $63
- Alice Springs Desert Park General Entry Ticket: $28
- Alice Springs Desert Park Nocturnal Tour: $29
- Alice Springs Highlights Tour : $115
- West MacDonnell Ranges & Standley Chasm Tour: $128
- Alice Town And Country Half Day Sunset Tour - Small Group: $132
- Alice Town and Country Half Day Sunset Tour -Small Group: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDatong $12Alice Springs $18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Alice Springs
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Alice Springs:
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Glass of Wine in Alice Springs$4.70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Datong and Alice Springs, we can see that Alice Springs is more expensive. And not only is Datong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Datong is in Asia and Alice Springs is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Datong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Datong 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 Alice Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alice Springs than you might in Datong.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Datong Expensive? and Is Alice Springs Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Datong or Alice Springs?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Alice Springs. When comparing the sizes of Datong and Alice Springs, 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.