Which place is cheaper, Arrowtown or Guilin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Guilin or Arrowtown?
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 Guilin and Arrowtown can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Arrowtown?
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
Arrowtown
Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $69Arrowtown $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $69, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $122. 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 Guilin and Arrowtown in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $35Arrowtown $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $70Arrowtown $144
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Arrowtown
Looking for a hotel in Guilin or Arrowtown? 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: Arrowtown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $5.92Arrowtown $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $120
- Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
- Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
- Private Transfer: Guilin Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $115
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $391
- Private Transfer from Haikou (HAK) airport to/from Sanya hotel: $120
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Longji terraces: $168
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $197
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhangjiajie: $391
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Hongjiang: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Arrowtown?
Prices for flights to both Arrowtown and Guilin 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 dayGuilin $23Arrowtown $32
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.42
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $28Arrowtown $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
- Full-Day Guilin Li-River Cruise with 4 star boat and Reed Flute Cave Tour: $262
- Full-Day Yangshuo Sunrise and Li-River cruise with the 4 Star Boat Private Tour: $272
- 1 Day Guilin to Yangshuo with top scenery & culture private tour : $120
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $219
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $169
- 1 day Li River cruise & Yangshuo countryside private day tour : $120
- 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $70
- 1-DAy Private Guilin -Li River Cruise-Yangshuo Highlights tour: $70
- 1-Day Guilin Tour to Reed Flute Cave, Xianggong Hill, Bamboo Boat and Night Show: $89
- 1-Day Guilin Xing'an Ling Canal Private Tour: $183
- 1-Day Longji Terrace Fields-Dazhai village Tour with the English Speaking Driver: $79
Tours and Activities in Arrowtown
For Arrowtown, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Queenstown: Arrowtown To Queenstown Biking Adventure: $59
- From Queenstown: 'Valley of the Vines' Wine and Bike Tour: $92
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $5.88Arrowtown $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Arrowtown, we can see that Arrowtown is more expensive. And not only is Guilin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Guilin is in Asia and Arrowtown 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 Guilin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guilin 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 Arrowtown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arrowtown than you might in Guilin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guilin Expensive? and Is Arrowtown Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Arrowtown?
Guilin has a larger population, and is about 300 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Guilin and Arrowtown, 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.