Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang or Kunming?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kunming or Pyeongchang?
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 Pyeongchang. 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 Pyeongchang?
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.
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $67Pyeongchang $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $67, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $114. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $33Pyeongchang $62
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $66Pyeongchang $124
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Pyeongchang
Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Pyeongchang? 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: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $13Pyeongchang $25
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Pyeongchang?
Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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 $22Pyeongchang $27
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
- Half Day Private Tour of Kunming Flower Market and Flower Pastry Cooking Class: $110
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $18Pyeongchang $51
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 Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
- 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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $17Pyeongchang $8.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang Expensive?.
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.