Which place is cheaper, Dali or Krabi?
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 Krabi or Dali?
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 Krabi and Dali can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Dali?
Krabi
Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.
Dali
Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesDali Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $74Dali $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $74, while the average daily cost in Dali is $62. 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 Krabi and Dali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $42Dali $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $84Dali $34
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Dali
Looking for a hotel in Krabi or Dali? 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: Krabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $4.37Dali $9.34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$3.14
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.51
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Longboat Taxi from Town$6.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Van Phuket Airport Transfer to Patong Beach Area (SHA Plus): $43
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to TRI TRANG BEACH: $39
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to SURIN BEACH: $32
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to ROYAL YACHT HAVEN: $32
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to RASSADA PIER: $42
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to PATONG BEACH: $48
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAITHON BEACH: $30
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAIHARN BEACH: $45
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to MAI KHAO BEACH: $32
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to LAYAN BEACH: $27
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KURABURI: $109
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KRABI AIRPORT: $124
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
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Local Bus$0.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG): $149
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service, Private Dali Airport Transfer: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Dali?
Prices for flights to both Dali and Krabi 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 dayKrabi $25Dali $32
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$7.85
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Drinks on the Beach$7.54
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$19
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$35
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Mango Shake$1.57
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Pad Thai$3.14
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Fruit from the Market$1.88
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Pancakes$3.14
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Coffee & Cake$2.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Snorkeling and Sunset to Krabi 7 Islands by Longtail Boat + Buffet BBQ Dinner: $37
- Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $39
- Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $40
- Penny Thai Cooking Class Krabi: $45
- Krabi Kitchens Food Tour with 15 Plus Tastings: $45
- Krabi Bites Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $45
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night : $45
- Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $46
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $46
- Kayaking and BBQ Dinner On The Beach Ao Thalane From Krabi: $48
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.49
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Breakfast$3.50
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali
For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cangshan Mountain hike and organic homemade dinner: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $12Dali $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$10
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Thai Massages (for Two)$25
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Bikini & Sarong$19
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$14
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.85
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$60
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV Adventure in Thrills Await: $28
- Tiger Cave and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour from Krabi: $73
- 2-Hour Clear Kayak Illuminated Night Tour in Krabi: $70
- 2-Hour The best of Krabi Private Walking Tour : $174
- 2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi: $277
- 4 Island Early Bird Tour by Longtail Boat from Krabi: $48
- 4 Island Full Day Krabi Tour: Longtail Boat & Lunch: $34
- 4 Island Joint Tour by Speed Boat from Krabi: $53
- 4 Island Snorkeling Tour on a LongTail Boat from Krabi: $35
- 4 Island Speed Boat Adventure from Krabi: $33
- 4 Island Tour by Traditional Big Longtail Boat from Krabi: $32
- 4 Island tour by SPEEDBOAT from Krabi + Lunch + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $33
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Dali Erhai Sightseeing Tour: $250
- 1-Day Dali Tie Dye Experience Private Tour: $230
- 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
- 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Dali to Lijiang and overnight in Shaxi old town: $205
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $213
- Dali City Tour with Private Guide: $71
- Dali Day Tour: Scenic Lakes, Bai Heritage & Tie-Dye Workshop: $262
- Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
- Dali XIzhou Ancient Town Private Tour: $87
- Dali Yunnan Local Market Pottery Making Eco Tour: $197
- Ancient City, Three Pagodas, and Longkan (ErHai) Tour: $85
- Donglianhua (East Lotus) & Hui Muslim Culture Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrabi $5.00Dali $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.83
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Cocktails (for Two)$9.42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Dali, we can see that Krabi is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Krabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krabi than you might in Dali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krabi Expensive? and Is Dali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or Dali?
Dali has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi and Dali, 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.