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

Should you visit Kunming or Macao?

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 Macao. 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 Macao?

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.

Macao

Located in China, Macau is a Special Administrative Region and one of the world's most densely populated regions. Until 1999 it remained an overseas territory of Portugal. It sits across from Hong Kong, along the Pearl River Estuary. Because it was so recently relinquished as a colony, it still has a significant amount of visible colonial history. The old city still looks very European, which you can see during a walking tour. Despite this architectural influence, the majority of the city's population is native Chinese.

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


Which place is cheaper, Macao or Kunming?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $68, while the average daily cost in Macao is $143. 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 Macao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kunming $33
    Macao $114
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kunming $66
    Macao $228
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Macao

Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Macao? 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 Macao


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kunming $13
    Macao $0.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming

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

  • Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
  • Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
  • Kunming Private Arrival Transfer:Railway Station to City Hotel: $22
  • Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
  • One way Kunming airport to hotel private transfer: $41
  • Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
  • [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Macao

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


  • Local Bus (for Two)
    $1.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Macao?

Prices for flights to both Macao 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 $23
    Macao $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming

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

  • Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $78

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kunming $18
    Macao $11

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
  • Half-Day History Tour in Kunming: $82
  • Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
  • Morning Market Tour - Eat like a local: $93
  • 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
  • One day Stone Forest and Nuohei Yi Village Tour: $114
  • 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
  • Private Kunming Night Tour with Dynamic Yunnan Show: $125
  • Full Day Private Kunming Sedan Chair Snow Mountain Tour: $130
  • Night tour Cross-Bridge rice Noddles Shangrila-Dynamic Yunnan Show from Kunming : $136

Typical Entertainment Prices in Macao

Here are a few typical costs in Macao for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Macau Tower
    $11

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kunming $17
    Macao -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Macao, we can see that Macao 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 Macao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Macao 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 Macao Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kunming or Macao?

Kunming has a larger population, and is about 97% larger than the population of Macao. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Macao, 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.