A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Deqin vs. Bagan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Deqin or Bagan?

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 Bagan. 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 Bagan?

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.

Bagan

Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Bagan or Deqin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Bagan is $19. 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 Bagan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Deqin $36
    Bagan $4.76
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Deqin $72
    Bagan $9.52
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Bagan

Looking for a hotel in Deqin or Bagan? 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.

Hotels in Deqin


Hotels in Bagan


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.
    Deqin $19
    Bagan $2.31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:

  • From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU): $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Bagan?

Prices for flights to both Bagan 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Deqin $16
    Bagan $3.85

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.

  • Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Deqin $13
    Bagan $37

Tours and Activities in Bagan

Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
  • Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $43
  • Private Bagan Cultural Tour : $46
  • Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48
  • Private Day Tour to Mt Popa: $48
  • Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
  • Full day Adventure Trip to Mt. Popa & Salay: $65
  • Tuk Tuk tour to Mt. Popa : $67
  • Private Bagan day tour by car with horse cart: $70
  • Private Day Adventure Trip in Bagan : $71
  • Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk : $72
  • Half Day Sightseeing With Royal Horse: $76

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Deqin $11
    Bagan -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Bagan, we can see that Deqin is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Deqin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Deqin than you might in Bagan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Bagan Expensive?.