Which place is cheaper, Dali or Guangzhou?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Guangzhou or Dali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guangzhou and Dali can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guangzhou or Dali?
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
Dali
Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Guangzhou Prices
China PricesDali Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuangzhou $109Dali $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Guangzhou is $109, while the average daily cost in Dali is $65. 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 Guangzhou and Dali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuangzhou $61Dali $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuangzhou $122Dali $36
Compare Hotels in Guangzhou and Dali
Looking for a hotel in Guangzhou or Dali? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Guangzhou Hotel Prices and Dali Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guangzhou $15Dali $9.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- [Airport transfer] Guangzhou Airport - Guangzhou city transfer service with a good reputation! <Private charter: $27
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport: $108
- Private transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to hotel: $33
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $189
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $171
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $189
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $45
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park and City Center: $38
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain and City Area: $44
- Private Round-Trip Airport Transfers in English-speaking Services: $197
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
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Local Bus$0.44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Guangzhou or Dali?
Prices for flights to both Dali and Guangzhou 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 dayGuangzhou $36Dali $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Local Life Street Food Tour Hidden Spots and Markets: $39
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Half Day Cantonese Cooking Class for Chinese Culinary Experience: $80
- Guangzhou Night Walking and Food Tour: Led by Local Cantonese: $82
- Yum Cha Dim Sum Dinner and Pearl River Night Cruise Private Tour: $94
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Tanxiu Banquet Immersive Drama and Dinner Experience in Foshan: $98
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour Pearl River Cruise & Dim-Sum Dinner: $110
- Private Guangzhou Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Night Cruise: $140
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.71
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Breakfast$3.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali
For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cangshan Mountain hike and organic homemade dinner: $36
- Dali Ancient City Authentic Food Tour: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guangzhou $19Dali $19
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Guangzhou City Highlight Layover Tour from Airport: $276
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 1 Day Relaxing Exploring Tour in Guangzhou: $156
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou: $91
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour in Your Way: $100
- 5-Hour Private Guangzhou Yumcha Tasting with Local Food Market Experience: $118
- 6-Day Guangzhou to Guilin Scenic Tour: $1,598
- All-inclusive Guangzhou Historic City Private Day Tour: $192
- Ancient Foshan Day Tour from Guangzhou: $201
- Ancient Water Village Folk Houses and Wine Museum Private Tour: $220
- Baiyun Mountain Canton Tower Iconic City Landmarks Private Tour: $180
- Canton Tower Top and Pearl River Night Cruise: $249
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Dali and XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $60
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $67
- Donglianhua (East Lotus) & Hui Muslim Culture Tour: $70
- Yunnan Dali Erhai 3 Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple One Day Tour: $74
- 2 Hour Luxurious Driving Range Experience at Canghai Golf Club: $85
- Ancient City, Three Pagodas, and Longkan (ErHai) Tour: $85
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $85
- Jizu Mountain Private Tour: $87
- Zhoucheng Village Tie Dyeing Private Experience: $87
- Zhoucheng Village Tie-Dyeing Experience Private Tour: $89
- Xizhou Ancient Town Private Half-Day Tour: $89
- Shaxi Ancient Town Private Tour: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuangzhou $15Dali $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guangzhou and Dali, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou than you might in Dali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guangzhou Expensive? and Is Dali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guangzhou or Dali?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Guangzhou and Dali, 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.
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.