Should you visit Jinghong or Taiyuan?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Jinghong and Taiyuan can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Jinghong
Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.
Taiyuan
With sleek architectural designs and blossoming businesses, this metropolis is simply brimming with invigorating excitement and once-in-a-lifetime entertainment. Despite its glimmering skyscrapers and gorgeous fountains, Taiyuan, China has an extensive history of nearly 2,500 years. During ancient China, Taiyuan, or the "Dragon City," was a major military town. Presently, this city is now one of China's most important industrial cities, producing more than half of the national coal mining output. Taiyuan is both the capital and largest city of the Shanxi province of North China. It is bounded by mountains on three of its sides, allowing this great city to be surrounded by fantastic views of its landscape. Besides its economic significance, Taiyuan also achieves tourist significance due to its plethora of landmarks and sights. Some of these attractions include Jinci Temple, Forest Park, Mengshan Giant Buddha, and Shanxi Museum. Taiyuan is also celebrated internationally for holding their annual Shanxi Taiyuan International Folk Arts Festival, a celebration held in September that hosts exhibition of fine arts, painting, paper-cutting, sculpture, drama, acrobatic and the culture of costume. With such a great deal to do in such a limited window of time, it is best to make the most Taiyuan while you visit!
Which city is cheaper, Taiyuan or Jinghong?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Jinghong is $57, while the average daily cost in Taiyuan is $82. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Jinghong and Taiyuan in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Jinghong is $36. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Taiyuan, $78 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Taiyuan, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $39, such as in a hostel.
Food
Jinghong food costs typically run travelers around $25 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
On average, meal and food prices in Taiyuan cost around $19 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $7.60.
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Food
Meals for one day
Jinghong $25
Taiyuan $19
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $23 per day to get around in Jinghong.
To get around in Taiyuan, the average visitor spends $43 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taiyuan
Also for Taiyuan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Arrival Transfer: From Taiyuan Wusu Airport to Pingyao Hotel:
$41
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Private One Way Transfer Service to Pingyao from Taiyuan:
$68
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Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Pingyao Ancient Town from Taiyuan:
$92
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Private Taiyuan Wusu or Xiaocheng Airport Arrival Transfer to City Hotels:
$5.00
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Private Taiyuan Wusu or Xiaocheng Airport Departure Transfer from City Hotels:
$28
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Private Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Taiyuan:
$148
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Taiyuan Private Airport Departure Transfer from City Hotels:
$56
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Taiyuan Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$56
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Taiyuan Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station:
$56
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Taiyuan Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Hotels:
$24
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Taiyuan Wusu Airport Chauffeur Service , Taiyuan Airport Transfer,Pickup:
$31
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Taiyuan Wusu Airport Chauffeur Service , Taiyuan Airport Transfer,Pickup:
$64
Is it cheaper to fly into Jinghong or Taiyuan?
Prices for flights to both Taiyuan and Jinghong 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.
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $8.37 per person, per day in Jinghong. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Taiyuan, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $14 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Jinghong
Here are a few actual costs in Jinghong for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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1 Day Xishuangbanna City Tour with Menglun Tropical Botanical Garden:
$269
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Individual Tailor-made Tours: Mekong Valley Expedition:
$2,008
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One day XiShuangBanan Private Minority Tour:
$169
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Private Xishuangbanna and Wild Elephant Valley Day Tour from Jinghong:
$237
Tours and Activities in Taiyuan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Taiyuan.
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All Inclusive Taiyuan Private Tour to Jinci Temple and Mengshan Buddha:
$168
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Private Day Tour from Qiao Family and Pingyao Ancient City:
$198
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Private Day Tour in Jinci, Mengshan Buddha, Tianlong Mount:
$199
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Private Full Day Tour to Qikou Ancient Town and Yellow River from Taiyuan:
$218
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Taiyuan Private Day Tour to Pingyao Ancient City and Shuanglin Temple:
$218
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Private Day Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Pingyao Old Town from Taiyuan:
$219
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All Inclusive Taiyuan Private Day Tour to Jinci Temple and Pingyao Ancient Town:
$228
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Taiyuan Private Day Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Pingyao Ancient City:
$228
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Private Day Tour to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Monastery from Taiyuan:
$229
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All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple from Taiyuan:
$278
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Private Day Tour to Discover Wutaishan from Taiyuan:
$288
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Private Day Tour to Yungang Caves, Wooden Pagoda, Hanging Temple from Taiyuan:
$289
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Jinghong may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $4.86 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Taiyuan, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $5.76.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jinghong and Taiyuan, we can see that Taiyuan is more expensive. And not only is Jinghong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Jinghong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jinghong 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 Taiyuan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taiyuan than you might in Jinghong.
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