Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Datong?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Datong or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Datong or Katoomba, 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 Katoomba?
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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
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 in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDatong $57Katoomba $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Datong is $57, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $141. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDatong $24Katoomba $82
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDatong $48Katoomba $164
Compare Hotels in Datong and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Datong or Katoomba? 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: Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Datong $13Katoomba $52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Flexible Private Transfer Service from Datong to Pingyao with Sightseeing Stops: $225
Is it cheaper to fly into Datong or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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 $20Katoomba $18
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Datong $26Katoomba $56
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $26
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket Only: $35
- Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Area Pass Ticket Only: $36
- YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- Private Datong Day Tour Arranged by Local Tour Guide Nancy: $129
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
- Private city tour Datong Yungang grottoes and Huayan Monastery: $160
- Private Custom Tour: Datong City in One Day: $180
- Private day tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple& lunch: $180
- Private Tour: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery From Datong: $186
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- 4Hrs at Wolgan Valley Birdwatching Experience: $135
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $103
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $69
- Beauty of the Blue Mountains Private Tour: $877
- Blue Labyrinth PRIVATE Tour: Sydney Blue Mountains by E-Bike : $260
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $113
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $101
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $67
- Blue Mountains BarNSW Local Produce Tasting Experience: $39
- Blue Mountains Full Day Guided Tour : $201
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $34
- Blue Mountains Private Tour From Sydney, & Featherdale Aussie Animal Park Option: $274
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDatong $13Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Datong and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Datong or Katoomba?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Datong and Katoomba, 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.