Which place is cheaper, Kanazawa or Kunming?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kunming or Kanazawa?
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 Kanazawa. 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 Kanazawa?
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.
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.
-
Kunming Prices
China PricesKanazawa Prices
Japan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $85Kanazawa $131
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $85, while the average daily cost in Kanazawa is $131. 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 Kanazawa in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $33Kanazawa $66
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $66Kanazawa $132
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Kanazawa
Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Kanazawa? 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: Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $14Kanazawa $9.66
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
-
Taxi Ride$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Kanazawa?
Prices for flights to both Kanazawa 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 dayKunming $39Kanazawa $58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Japanese Cooking and Sushi-Making Lesson: $101
- traditional Japanese & sushi cooking classes: $103
- Fishing Experience with Gyotaku and Cooking: $423
- Geisha Performance with Dinner and Drinks: $1,217
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $18Kanazawa $10
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
- Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $290
- 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
- 1-Day Kunming Scenery 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
- 2 Days Kunming City Tour with Professional Private Tour Guide: $226
- All inclusive Dongchuan red earth tour start from Kunming: $150
- Dongchuan Red Land Private Tour: $123
- Essences of Kunming Downtown Day Tour: $189
- From 15-Day Private Tour to Guilin and Yangshuo: $3,149
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa Tedori Gorge White Road and Shirakawa Go: $212
- 1-Day Shirakawago & Takayama Tour (Round Trip from Kanazawa): $219
- Amaharashi Coast & Shokawa Cruise from Kanazawa: $211
- Colors of City Tour with Kenrokuen and Kaga Yuzen: $68
- Day Tour from Kanazawa OR Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley: $265
- Discover Kanazawa with a Local: Private & Custom Tour: $90
- Exclusive Kannon in Temple Tour in Kanazawa: $138
- Explore Kanazawa Half Day Private Tour with Local Guide : $103
- Explore Kanazawa with Sushi Making Experience: $207
- From Kanazawa/Toyama: Snow Wall & Mysterious Valley Day Tour: $243
- From Kurobe Gorge & Unazuki Onsen Full-Day Tour: $239
- From Tateyama Mountain Tour with Waterfall & Hike: $270
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $18Kanazawa $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Kanazawa
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kanazawa:
- Kanazawa Historic Brewery: Fermentation Tour, Tasting, Lunch: $81
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Kanazawa, we can see that Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kunming or Kanazawa?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kanazawa. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Kanazawa, 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.