Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Kunming?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Kunming or Zhangjiajie?
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 Zhangjiajie. 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
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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Kunming Prices
China PricesZhangjiajie Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $90Zhangjiajie $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $90, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $83. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $35Zhangjiajie $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $70Zhangjiajie $64
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Zhangjiajie? 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: Kunming Hotel Prices and Zhangjiajie Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $14Zhangjiajie $15
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$1.63
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 Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- 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! : $36
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer with Meet and Greet Service: $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie to/from Fenghuang: $149
- Entrance Tickets to Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge with Private Car Transfer From Zhangjiajie city hotel (Round Trip ): $127
- Glass Bridge & Canyon ticket with the transfer: $117
- Zhangjiajie:Tianmen Mountain & Cable Car Ticket with the transfer: $114
- Zhangjiajie Forest Park 4 Day Pass and All You Can Ride Transfers: $98
- Glass Bridge and Huanglong Cave 1 Day Tour with Transfer Included: $84
- Fox Fairy Show Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $42Zhangjiajie $38
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 Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Zhangjiajie Night Scenic Tour+Dinner Feast or Relaxing Massage: $98
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $19Zhangjiajie $24
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $290
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 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 Kunming tour with the West Hill,Dragon Gate and Bamboo Temple: $222
- 1-Day Private Tour:Stone Forest and Western Hill(Dragon Gate) from Kunming: $245
- 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
- 2 Days Honghe Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Private Tour: $208
- All inclusive Dongchuan red earth tour start from Kunming: $150
- Citywalk - 1 Day History Private Tour in Kunming: $120
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $270
- 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Jiutian Cave and Visit Marshal Helong Memorial: $179
- 1 Day Private Mt Avatar and Forest Park Tour VIP Fast track: $208
- 1 day tour Avatar Mountain and Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge: $215
- 1-2 Days All-inclusive Tours: Mt Avatar, Glass Bridge, Mt Tianmen: $99
- 1-2 Days Group Tour to Avatar & Tianmen Mountain & Glass Bridge: $5.50
- 1-Day Best Mini Group & Private Tours to Mt. Avatar & Forest Park: $57
- 1-Day Fenghuang Tour from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) by Round-way Bullet Train: $240
- 1-Day Mini Group & Private Tours to Glass Bridge & Mt. Tianmen: $99
- 1-Day Private Tour to Avatar Mountain & 72 Wonder Tower: $109
- 1-Day Private Tour to Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon & Baofeng Lake: $107
- 1-Day Private Tour to Glass Bridge & Yellow Dragon Cave: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $19Zhangjiajie $17
When comparing the travel costs between Kunming and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Kunming is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kunming Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kunming or Zhangjiajie?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Zhangjiajie, 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.