Which place is cheaper, Queenstown or Kunming?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kunming or Queenstown?
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 Queenstown. 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 Queenstown?
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.
Queenstown
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island. It is beautifully surrounded by the Southern Alps and sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. Across the lake you will find a stunning view of the Remarkables, a dramatic mountain range. The town itself is quite touristy, but prices still remain reasonable. There are options for all travel budgets, whether you're a backpacker hoping to save a few dollars or a family looking for some luxury accommodation. Despite its natural and tranquil setting, Queenstown is actually very much a party town, particularly during the peak seasons. Don't be surprised to find people out enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning. If you're not into the party scene and are hoping to get a decent night's sleep, consider staying a little outside of town. About an hour outside of Queenstown you'll find Wanaka, which is a much smaller and peaceful town without the party scene.
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 New Zealand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $67Queenstown $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $67, while the average daily cost in Queenstown is $104. 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 Queenstown in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $33Queenstown $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $66Queenstown $110
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Queenstown
Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Queenstown? 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: Queenstown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $13Queenstown $10
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$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queenstown
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queenstown:
- Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers: $890
- Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer: $736
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Central to Wanaka: $178
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Airport: $178
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Central: $178
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Port: $166
- Private Transfer from Queenstown to Milford Sound Cruise Port: $166
- From Mount Cook Transfer w/ Guided Landmark Tour: $104
- Queenstown Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Queenstown: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Queenstown?
Prices for flights to both Queenstown 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 $22Queenstown $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queenstown
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queenstown.
- Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza: $18
- Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $18Queenstown $21
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- One day Kunming leisure city tour: $70
- Half Day Kunming History Tour: $80
- Half-Day History Tour in Kunming: $82
- Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
- Half Day Flower Tour in Kunming: $91
- Morning Market Tour - Eat like a local: $93
- Stone Forest Day Tour: $106
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- Private Day Tour of Jiuxiang Cave from Yunnan: $109
- 1-Day Civil Culture Tour in Kunming: $112
- 4-Hour Tea-tasting and Cha Guo Zi (茶果子）Experience Tour: $112
- One day Stone Forest and Nuohei Yi Village Tour: $114
Typical Entertainment Prices in Queenstown
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Queenstown are as follows:
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Skyline Gondola (for 2)$30
Tours and Activities in Queenstown
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Queenstown are as follows:
- 5-Hour Wine and Food Sampler Tour from Queenstown: $136
- Arrowtown and Wanaka Highlights Tour from Queenstown: $126
- Boutique Winery Half-Day Tour & Vineyard Platter-Style Lunch: $142
- Challenger Self Drive Guided Buggy Tour from Queenstown: $290
- Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown: $265
- Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience: $185
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown: $259
- E-Bike Adventures Through the Wineries in Gibbston: $100
- E-Bike Rental for Lake Dunstan Trail Experience : $112
- Escape Adventure AR Experience in Queenstown: $24
- Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown: $180
- From Queenstown/Glenorchy: Dart River Jet Boat Tour: $178
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $17Queenstown $8.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Queenstown
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Queenstown:
- Ice Bar Crawl: $24
- Queenstown & Gibbston Valley: Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tours: $53
- Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Bannockburn - departing Queenstown: $60
- Afternoon brewery tour with lunch: $110
- Afternoon Wine Tasting Tour with 3 Wineries: $110
- Original Wine Tour: $112
- Classic Wine Tour: $118
- Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Vineyards, Caves and Cheeseboard: $120
- Wine Tasting Tour: $130
- Afternoon Boutique Wine Tour: $132
- The Ultimate Luxury Hop on Hop off Wine Tour: $138
- Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown Including Lunch: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kunming and Queenstown, we can see that Queenstown is more expensive. And not only is Kunming much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kunming is in Asia and Queenstown is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Queenstown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Queenstown 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 Queenstown Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kunming or Queenstown?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Queenstown. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Queenstown, 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.