Which place is cheaper, Aoraki Mount Cook or Datong?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Datong or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Datong or Aoraki Mount Cook, 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 Aoraki Mount Cook?
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.
Aoraki Mount Cook
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is located on the South Island of New Zealand. It was declared a national park in 1953 to protect and preserve the landscape. The park is home to the country's highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook. In Maori, Aoraki means, "cloud piercer", and the English name, Mt Cook, refers to the navigator James Cook, who discovered New Zealand in the 18th century. Mt Cook was the training location for Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to summit Everest in 1953. Other peaks in the park include Mount Tasman, Mount Sefton, and Mount Hicks. Not only can you find lush greenery all over the park, but also, glaciers cover 40% of the parks area.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDatong $56Aoraki Mount Cook $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Datong is $56, while the average daily cost in Aoraki Mount Cook is $105. 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 Aoraki Mount Cook in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDatong $23Aoraki Mount Cook $59
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDatong $46Aoraki Mount Cook $118
Compare Hotels in Datong and Aoraki Mount Cook
Looking for a hotel in Datong or Aoraki Mount Cook? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Datong $12Aoraki Mount Cook $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- 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
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Datong or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Prices for flights to both Aoraki Mount Cook 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
-
Food Meals for one dayDatong $20Aoraki Mount Cook $26
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Datong $25Aoraki Mount Cook $23
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
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- All Inclusive Datong Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes : $268
- All Inclusive Datong Private Tour to Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $238
- 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
- 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
- Datong Private Day Tour to Deshengbu and Zhenchuankou Great Wall with Lunch: $190
Tours and Activities in Aoraki Mount Cook
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aoraki Mount Cook.
- (MT) Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch: $178
- 45-Minute Mount Cook Ski Plane and Helicopter Combo Tour: $289
- Day Tours from Mount Cook: $151
- Fox Glacier Nature Tour: $54
- Franz Josef Nature Tour: $54
- From Christchurch: Mount Cook One-Way Discovery Tour: $118
- From Queenstown: Mount Cook Private Day Tour: $1,188
- Gold Hunting Adventures: $223
- Mount Cook to Queenstown Day Tour: $148
- Mt Cook & Hooker Valley Hike Small Group Tour from Queenstown: $151
- Mt Cook Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Optional Activities : $151
- Mt Cook Tour: Return to Christchurch, Queenstown or Dunedin: $772
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDatong $12Aoraki Mount Cook $20
Sample the Local Flavors in Aoraki Mount Cook
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Aoraki Mount Cook:
- Kinross Winery: Classic Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $15
- Kinross Winery: Valli Wine Tasting Experience: $27
- Kinross Winery: Premium Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $45
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Datong and Aoraki Mount Cook, we can see that Aoraki Mount Cook 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 Aoraki Mount Cook 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 Aoraki Mount Cook would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aoraki Mount Cook 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 Aoraki Mount Cook 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.