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

Should you visit Deqin or Nelson?

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 Nelson. 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 Nelson?

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.

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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Nelson 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 Nelson is $94. 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 Nelson in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Deqin $35
    Nelson $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Deqin $70
    Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Nelson

Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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.

Hotels in Deqin


Hotels in Nelson


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.
    Deqin $18
    Nelson $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Nelson?

Prices for flights to both Nelson 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
    Nelson $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Deqin $13
    Nelson $24

Tours and Activities in Nelson

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:

  • Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $56
  • Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $65
  • SKYWIRE Experience: $67
  • Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $71
  • Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $72
  • Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $75
  • Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $76
  • Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $79
  • Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $80
  • Spooners Tunnel to Nelson One Day Cycle Self Guided Tour: $82
  • Cruise, Walk, and Sail in Abel Tasman National Park: $121

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Deqin $11
    Nelson $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 : $97


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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 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 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 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 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 Nelson Expensive?.