Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Datong?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Datong or Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Datong or Lake Tekapo, 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDatong $57Lake Tekapo $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Datong is $57, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $80. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDatong $24Lake Tekapo $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDatong $48Lake Tekapo $126
Compare Hotels in Datong and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Datong or Lake Tekapo? 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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Datong $13Lake Tekapo -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- 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
- Flexible Private Transfer Service from Datong to Pingyao with Sightseeing Stops: $225
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Datong or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $20Lake Tekapo $14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Datong $26Lake Tekapo -
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 day tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple& lunch: $180
- Private Tour: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery From Datong: $186
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188
Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Lake Tekapo Tour Scenic 4WD Mountains & Glaciers: $190
- 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $58
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $63
- Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
- Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $41
- From Christchurch: 1 Way Tour to Queenstown via Mt Cook: $228
- From Queenstown: 1 Way to Tour Christchurch via Mt Cook: $231
- High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $61
- Lake Tekapo Farm Tours: $64
- Lake Tekapo Fishing Tour: $203
- Lake Tekapo Guided 4WD Tours: $184
- Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $184
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDatong $13Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Datong and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Datong or Lake Tekapo?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 3190 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Datong and Lake Tekapo, 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.