A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kunming vs. Atami for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kunming or Atami?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kunming and Atami. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Kunming or Atami?

Kunming

Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.

Atami

Sharing a home with the famous Mount Fuji inside the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Atami is a Japanese city set on the seaside of the Izu Peninsula. With volcanic hills and natural hot springs, visitors are very much drawn to the unique landscape of the place. There are many hot springs resorts that take advantage of the area's natural features, which have been attracting visitors since the 8th century.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.


Which place is cheaper, Atami or Kunming?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $67, while the average daily cost in Atami is $86. 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 Kunming and Atami in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kunming $33
    Atami $43
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kunming $66
    Atami $86
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Atami

Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Atami? 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 Kunming


Hotels in Atami


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: Atami Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kunming $13
    Atami $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming

Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
  • Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
  • Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
  • Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
  • Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
  • Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Atami

Also for Atami, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Narita Airport to/from Izu or Atami City Private Transfer: $650
  • Haneda Airport to/from Izu or Atami City Private Transfer: $557

Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Atami?

Prices for flights to both Atami and Kunming 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
    Kunming $22
    Atami $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming

For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Kunming evening food tour with locals: $65
  • Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $78

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kunming $18
    Atami $7.68

Tours and Activities in Kunming

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.

  • 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
  • 1-Day Stone Forest Geological Park Private Tour with the Lunch from Kunming: $201
  • Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
  • 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $196
  • 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
  • 1-Day Dinosaur Tour in Kunming: $144
  • 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
  • 1-Day Kunming Culture Tour: $156
  • 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
  • 1-Day Kunming Temple and Market Tour: $122
  • 1-Day Kunming tour with the Green Lake,Bird & Flower market and Yuantong Temple: $201
  • 1-Day Private Tour:Stone Forest and Western Hill(Dragon Gate) from Kunming: $245

Tours and Activities in Atami

For Atami, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • ACAO BEACH: Tent Sauna experience at private resort: $114
  • "Explore Atami's Culinary Culture" Walking Tour: $44
  • Exclusive Geisha Experience: $114
  • Hakone one day tour: $157
  • Ninja, Samurai, Odawara Castle Experience: $131
  • Odawara Castle and Town Guided Discovery Tour: $104

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kunming $17
    Atami $5.45


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Atami, we can see that Atami is more expensive. And not only is Kunming much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kunming would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kunming 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 Atami would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Atami than you might in Kunming.

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


Which is Bigger, Kunming or Atami?

Kunming has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Atami. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Atami, 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.