Which place is cheaper, Aoraki Mount Cook or Deqin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Deqin or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Deqin and Aoraki Mount Cook. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Deqin or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Deqin
Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.
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 Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeqin $65Aoraki Mount Cook $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Aoraki Mount Cook is $112. 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 Deqin and Aoraki Mount Cook in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $36Aoraki Mount Cook $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $72Aoraki Mount Cook $126
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Aoraki Mount Cook
Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Deqin $19Aoraki Mount Cook $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aoraki Mount Cook
Also for Aoraki Mount Cook, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Dunedin City Hotels to Chalmers Cruise Port: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Aoraki Mount Cook?
Prices for flights to both Aoraki Mount Cook and Deqin 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 dayDeqin $16Aoraki Mount Cook $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Aoraki Mount Cook $25
Tours and Activities in Aoraki Mount Cook
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Aoraki Mount Cook.
- Half-Day Self-Guided Ride and Wine Bike Tour from Arrowtown: $63
- Half-Day Guided Sea Kayaking Tour from Anakiwa: $69
- Mt Cook to Queenstown Small Group Tour (One-Way): $111
- From Christchurch: Mount Cook One-Way Discovery Tour: $126
- Mt Cook to Christchurch One-Way Small Group Tour via Lake Tekapo: $127
- Mt Cook to Lake Tekapo One-Way Small Group Tour: $127
- Mount Cook to Queenstown Day Tour: $159
- Mt Cook Small Group Tour from Queenstown with Optional Activities : $159
- Mt Cook & Hooker Valley Hike Small Group Tour from Queenstown: $159
- Day Tours from Mount Cook: $175
- (MT) Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour from Christchurch: $222
- Mt Cook Tour: Finish at Christchurch, Queenstown or Dunedin: $950
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Aoraki Mount Cook $22
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: Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Experience: $29
- Kinross Winery: Valli Wine Tasting Experience: $29
- Kinross Winery: Wild Irishman Wine Tasting Experience: $48
- Kinross Winery: Premium Central Otago Wine Tasting Experience: $48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Aoraki Mount Cook, we can see that Aoraki Mount Cook is more expensive. And not only is Deqin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Deqin 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 Deqin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Deqin 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 Deqin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin 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.