Which place is cheaper, Kaikoura or Guilin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Guilin or Kaikoura?
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 Kaikoura can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Kaikoura?
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.
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $67Kaikoura $135
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $67, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $135. 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 Kaikoura in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $34Kaikoura $48
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $68Kaikoura $96
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Kaikoura
Looking for a hotel in Guilin or Kaikoura? 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: Kaikoura Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $5.76Kaikoura $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
-
Taxi$2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Guilin Train Stations: $17
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Downtown Hotel: $25
- Private Departure Transfer: Downtown Guilin Hotel to Airport (KWL): $25
- Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Liangjiang International Aiport to Guilin Hotel: $35
- Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Yangshuo hotel: $37
- Private Guilin Airport Transfer to Yangshuo: $42
- Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $57
- Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $57
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $57
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dongguan Transfer: $71
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $92
- Guilin Private Transfer (English-speaking) Between Guilin Hotels & Yangshuo: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Kaikoura?
Prices for flights to both Kaikoura 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
-
Food Meals for one dayGuilin $22Kaikoura $38
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
-
Fresh Coconut Drink$1.38
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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $28Kaikoura $152
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
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:
- Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terrace 4 days tour: $21
- 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $45
- Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
- Guilin City Center Walking Group Tour at Night for Three Hours: $50
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $59
- Private Bike Tour: Yangshuo Countryside: $72
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide: $72
- Yangshuo Old Town and Li River Cruise from Guilin: $72
- One Day Private Longshen Rice Terraces Tour Including Lunch: $73
- Half/Full day Yangshuo Cuiping hill Sunset Private Tour: $73
- Full/Half-Day Yangshuo Xianggong Mountain Sunrise Private Tour: $77
Tours and Activities in Kaikoura
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaikoura are as follows:
- Seal-Watching Pedal Kayak Tour: $71
- Sunset Kayak tour in Kaikoura: $72
- Seal Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura: $72
- Llama Trek (Taster) - Kowhai River Valley and Native Woodland Tour: $81
- Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
- Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $89
- Wildlife Kayaking Tour at Sunset: $89
- Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $90
- Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $91
- KaikÅura: Zipline and Native Forest Adventure Trip: $94
- Half Day Zipline Adventure in Kaikoura: $97
- Whale Watching Cruise: $98
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $5.72Kaikoura -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Kaikoura, we can see that Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Kaikoura?
Guilin has a larger population, and is about 950 times larger than the population of Kaikoura. When comparing the sizes of Guilin and Kaikoura, 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.