Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Datong?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Datong or Nelson?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Datong or Nelson, 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 Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.
-
Datong Prices
China PricesNelson Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDatong $71Nelson $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Datong is $71, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $114. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDatong $23Nelson $41
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDatong $46Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Datong and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Datong or Nelson? 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: Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Datong $13Nelson $28
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
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
- From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988
Is it cheaper to fly into Datong or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $35Nelson $47
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Datong $25Nelson $23
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- Yungang Grottoes Ticket Booking: $21
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket with Optional Tour Services: $24
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket Only: $33
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $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 day tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong: $100
- Private Guided Tour of Yungang Grottoes&Huayan Monastery : $148
- Yungang Grottoes and Jinhua Palace 2-Day Tour: $168
- Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes Private Tour: $174
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Abel Tasman National Park: Cruise and Hike Full-Day Tour: $310
- Abel Tasman National Park: Cruise, Kayak, & Hike Tour: $386
- Abel Tasman National Park: Waka & Walk Tour: $409
- Abel Tasman Vista Cruise: $62
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
- Cruise Abel Tasman to Golden Bay: $296
- Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $122
- Full-Day Sailing Adventure in the Abel Tasman National Park: $160
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $77
- Half Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventure in Nelson: $74
- Half Day Nelson Electric Mountain Bike Rental Adventure: $82
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $74
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDatong $12Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $116
- Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $222
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Datong and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Datong or Nelson?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Datong and Nelson, 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.