A Travel Price Comparison for China Deqin vs. Kunming for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Deqin or Kunming?

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 Kunming. 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 Kunming?

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.

Kunming

Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.

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


Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Deqin?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $63, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $67. 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 Kunming in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Deqin $35
    Kunming $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Deqin $70
    Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Kunming

Looking for a hotel in Deqin or Kunming? 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 Kunming


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 $18
    Kunming $13

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming

Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
  • Kunming Private Arrival Transfer:Railway Station to City Hotel: $22
  • Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
  • One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41
  • [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Kunming?

Prices for flights to both Kunming 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
    Kunming $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming

For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Kunming evening food tour with locals: $65
  • Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Deqin $13
    Kunming $18

Tours and Activities in Kunming

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.

  • One day Kunming leisure city tour: $70
  • Half Day Kunming History Tour: $80
  • Half-Day History Tour in Kunming: $82
  • Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
  • Half Day Flower Tour in Kunming: $91
  • Morning Market Tour - Eat like a local: $93
  • Stone Forest Day Tour: $106
  • Private Day Tour of Jiuxiang Cave from Yunnan: $109
  • 4-Hour Tea-tasting and Cha Guo Zi (茶果子)Experience Tour: $112
  • 1-Day Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
  • 1 day Kunming Highlights Mini Group tour: $114
  • One day Stone Forest and Nuohei Yi Village Tour: $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Deqin $11
    Kunming $17


When comparing the travel costs between Deqin and Kunming, we can see that Kunming is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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