A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guilin vs. Lake Tekapo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guilin or Lake Tekapo?

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 Lake Tekapo can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Guilin or Lake Tekapo?

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.

Lake Tekapo

Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo or Guilin?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $67, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guilin $34
    Lake Tekapo $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guilin $68
    Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Lake Tekapo

Looking for a hotel in Guilin or Lake Tekapo? 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 Guilin


Hotels in Lake Tekapo


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: Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guilin $5.76
    Lake Tekapo -
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:

  • 2-hours Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat Tour with the Round-way Private Transfers: $83
  • Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dongguan Transfer: $71
  • Guilin Airport to Yangshuo: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $190
  • Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
  • Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $57
  • Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $57
  • Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $57
  • Live Show of Impression Liu San Jie including the Transfer Services: $102
  • Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $45
  • Private Airport Transfer:Guilin Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport: $35
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Downtown Hotel: $25
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Yangshuo: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Lake Tekapo?

Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 day
    Guilin $22
    Lake Tekapo $13
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
  • Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guilin $28
    Lake Tekapo -
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
  • Full-Day Guilin Essence and Lifestyle Walking Tour: $69
  • 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
  • Full/Half-Day Yangshuo Xianggong Mountain Sunrise Private Tour: $77

Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo

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

  • Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $30
  • Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
  • Dark Sky Virtual Stargazing Experience: $41
  • 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
  • High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
  • Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59
  • Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
  • 中文观星团 Chinese tour: $65
  • Stargazing Experience: $65
  • Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
  • From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
  • Summit Experience - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory: $115

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guilin $5.72
    Lake Tekapo -


When comparing the travel costs between Guilin and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Guilin is in Asia and Lake Tekapo is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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


Which is Bigger, Guilin or Lake Tekapo?

Guilin has a larger population, and is about 1970 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Guilin and Lake Tekapo, 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.