Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Kunming?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kunming or Guangzhou?
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 Guangzhou. 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 Guangzhou?
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.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $67Guangzhou $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $67, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $88. 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 Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $33Guangzhou $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $66Guangzhou $114
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Guangzhou? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $13Guangzhou $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.51
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service, To Dongguan Transfer: $120
- Guangzhou Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Shenzhen City Area: $104
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Shenzhen Transfer: $100
- Private Departure Transfer in English-speaking: Hotel to Airport: $99
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Hotel to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport: $88
- Guangzhou Airport: Private Transfer to/from Guangzhou: $70
- Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou with Private Transfer: $69
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) to Guangzhou City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $62
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport to Shekou Port: $62
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou 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
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Food Meals for one dayKunming $22Guangzhou $19
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: $64
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $78
- Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class: $165
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $100
- Private Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Cruise: $107
- Private Guangzhou Evening Food Tour with Pearl River Night Cruise: $119
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $130
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
- Private City Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $215
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $18Guangzhou $18
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- One day tour to eastern coast region of Daichi Lake: $69
- One day Kunming leisure city tour: $70
- Half-Day History Tour in Kunming: $82
- Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- Stone Forest Day Tour: $106
- Private Day Tour of Jiuxiang Cave from Yunnan: $109
- 4-Hour Tea-tasting and Cha Guo Zi (茶果子）Experience Tour: $112
- 1-Day Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming Temple and Market Tour: $122
- 1-Day Panorama Tour in Kunming: $122
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Private Tour of Foshan: The Ancestral Temple and Other Options from Guangzhou : $167
- 1 Day Guangzhou City Highlight Layover Tour from Airport: $276
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 4 Hours Half Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private Tour: $145
- 4-Hour Chinese Tea Culture Tea Ceremony Tea Market Private Tour: $130
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour with Dim-Sum Option: $95
- 5-Hour Private Day Tour to Visit Unique Architecture in Guangzhou: $130
- 7-Hour Customised Private Guangzhou Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $153
- 7-Hour Private Day Tour to Sunac Land Amusement Park in Guangzhou: $128
- 9-Hour Gulong Gorge and Huangteng Gorge Glass Bridge Private Tour: $159
- 9-Hour Opium War Museum History Relic Private Tour from Guangzhou: $187
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $17Guangzhou $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kunming or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kunming. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Guangzhou, 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.