A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Doha vs. Kunming for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Doha or Kunming?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Kunming can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Doha or Kunming?

Doha

Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.

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 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Doha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $89. 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 Doha and Kunming in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Doha $119
    Kunming $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Doha $238
    Kunming $70
Compare Hotels in Doha and Kunming

Looking for a hotel in Doha 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 Doha


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Doha Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Doha $23
    Kunming $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:

  • Entry to Angry Birds World with Transfer to Park and Top Up- Private Tour: $174
  • Doha Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $139
  • Doha Arabian Horse Riding Adventure in the Desert with Transfer: $135
  • Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $128
  • Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $128
  • Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $120
  • Doha Private Airport Transfer: $99
  • Hamad Airport Transfer Service – 24/7 Door-to-Door Transport: $98
  • Private Transfer from Doha Hamad Airport(DOH) to Doha Cruise Port: $94
  • Private Transfer from Doha hotels to Doha Cruise Port: $94
  • From North of Qatar Guided Tour with Transfers: $85
  • Private Transfer: Hamad Airport DOH to Doha by Business Car: $84

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.63

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 Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
  • Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
  • Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $88
  • Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
  • Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
  • Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
  • Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
  • Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
  • [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Kunming?

Prices for flights to both Kunming and Doha 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
    Doha $106
    Kunming $41

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha

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

  • Dhow Cruise Dinner Live BBQ Buffet and Hotel Transfer: $23
  • Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $32
  • Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
  • Doha Evening Dhow Cruise with Dinner Option: $39
  • Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
  • Qatar: Desert Dune Bashing with lunch/dinner in Desert Beach Camp: $55
  • Moonlight Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $65
  • Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
  • Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
  • 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
  • Full Day Desert Safari in Qatar with Lunch/Dinner by sea side: $159
  • Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming

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

  • Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
  • Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Doha $18
    Kunming $19

Tours and Activities in Doha

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

  • 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
  • 4 Hour Doha City Tour from Airport, Hotel & Cruise Terminal: $44
  • 4 Hours-Doha City Private or Shared Tour from AirPort/ Hotel: $54
  • 4 Hrs Private Doha Tour: Discover the City’s Premier Attractions!: $115
  • 4 hours Desert Safari Experience in Doha up to Group of 5: $260
  • 6 Hours Doha Qatar City Tour with Local Meal: $145
  • 6 Hours Private Full Day Tour in Doha: $130
  • 8 Hours Doha City and West of Qatar Private Tour: $145
  • 8-Hour Private Cultural Tour: $200
  • 8-hour Doha tour: Cultural site, Heritage market, Modern Landmark: $149
  • Al Khor to Al Zubarah Private 4WD Guided Tour: $50
  • All Main Doha City Attractions Tour: $50

Tours and Activities in Kunming

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

  • Kunming City & Cultural Walking tour: $26
  • Yunnan University & Culture Alley Guided Tour: $26
  • Kunming Walking Tour Around Green Lake and University Quarter: $29
  • Dynamic Yunnan Cultural Show Ticket in Kunming: $32
  • Half Day Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $43
  • Kunming City Tour with Private Guide: $44
  • Stone Forest + Yiliang Roast Duck + Kunming City Private Tour: $60
  • Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour: $64
  • Kunming Western Hills Scenic Area Private Tour (Half Day): $66
  • Private Tour with Customizable Itinerary: $66
  • Guandu Ancient Town Private Tour (Half-Day): $66
  • Old Town Private Tour (Half Day): $66

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Doha $15
    Kunming $19


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

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


Which is Bigger, Doha or Kunming?

Kunming has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha and Kunming, 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.