Which place is cheaper, Nelson or Guilin?
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 Guilin or Nelson?
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 Nelson can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Nelson?
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.
Nelson
Nelson is a city that sits on Tasman Bay on the South Island of New Zealand. Travelers, especially ones that are heading to explore Abel Tasman National Park, frequently visit this town. Nelson has a population of about 46,000 people and, geographically speaking, it is the center of New Zealand as a whole.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to New Zealand.
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Guilin Prices
China PricesNelson Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $84Nelson $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $84, while the average daily cost in Nelson is $114. 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 Nelson in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $35Nelson $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $70Nelson $82
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Nelson
Looking for a hotel in Guilin or Nelson? 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: Nelson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $5.85Nelson $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- One Way Transfer Service between Guilin city and airport: $17
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin Train Stations to Downtown Hotel: $17
- Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Guilin Train Stations: $17
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $18
- [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
- Private Departure Transfer: Downtown Guilin Hotel to Airport (KWL): $25
- Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
- Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
- Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
- Private Guilin Airport Transfer to Yangshuo: $42
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin Train Stations to Yangshuo: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Yangshuo: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Nelson?
Prices for flights to both Nelson 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 $39Nelson $47
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$1.40
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
- Wukong Guilin Neighborhood Food Tour: $65
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $28Nelson $23
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:
- City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting: $46
- Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide(beginner friendly): $51
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- 1-Day tour of Guilin-LiRiver cruise-Yangshuo Xianggong hill : $55
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $60
- Guilin English tour guide service : $62
- Private day tours: ancient zhuang rice terraces hiking to PingAn : $66
- Full-Day Guilin Essence and Lifestyle Walking Tour: $69
- Li River Cruise ticket from Guilin to Yangshuo with pickup: $72
- Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo Day Tour: $72
- Fully-Guided Private Day Tour of Longji Terraces From Guilin: $72
Tours and Activities in Nelson
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nelson are as follows:
- Nelson City Walking Tour - Guided: $29
- Cable Bay Adventure Park: E-bike hire: $55
- Cable Bay Adventure Park Skywire Experience: $64
- Abel Tasman Vista Cruise: $65
- Skywire Adventure at Cable Bay, Nelson: $65
- Nelson to Mapua: Full-Day Cycling Self-Guided Adventure: $69
- Self-Guided Nelson to Mapua Cycle Adventure: $71
- Magical Mapua Charms in off-summer Season Selfguided Cycle Tour: $74
- Half Day Guided Mountain Biking Adventure in Nelson: $74
- Magical Mapua Self Guided One Day Cycle Tour: $74
- Great Taste Beer Tour by Bicycle (Self-guided): $77
- Guided Quad Biking Tour Through Forest and Farmland: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $5.81Nelson $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Nelson
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nelson:
- Self-guided E-bike cycle tour with private wine tasting : $116
- Wine Tour with Tastings and Lunch: $231
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Nelson, we can see that Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nelson 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 Nelson Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Nelson?
Guilin has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nelson. When comparing the sizes of Guilin and Nelson, 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.