Which place is cheaper, Rotorua or Lijiang?
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 Lijiang or Rotorua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Lijiang and Rotorua can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Lijiang or Rotorua?
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
Rotorua
Located on the banks of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua is famous as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. The area has a variety of geothermal sights, but it is also close to several lakes and has more traditional activities as well, including fishing, boating and white water rafting.
Rotorua is located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which is the largest volcano in the area. There are four major volcanic calderas that now have lakes, and several other volcanoes in the area. Rotorua sits on top of a thermal hot spring, and there are many vents and hot pools throughout the area. Many of the hot pools and sights are located within parks, with some of the best being Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Rotorua has a warm, temperate climate. Because of the area's inland location, it has less wind than many places in New Zealand. Temperatures during the winter months can fall to below freezing, but snow is incredibly rare.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand.
-
Lijiang Prices
China PricesRotorua Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLijiang $55Rotorua $114
The average daily cost (per person) in Lijiang is $55, while the average daily cost in Rotorua 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 Lijiang and Rotorua in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLijiang $16Rotorua $48
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLijiang $32Rotorua $96
Compare Hotels in Lijiang and Rotorua
Looking for a hotel in Lijiang or Rotorua? 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: Rotorua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lijiang $5.67Rotorua $4.99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang hotel/airport(LJG) to Dali : $149
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotorua
Also for Rotorua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms: $186
Is it cheaper to fly into Lijiang or Rotorua?
Prices for flights to both Rotorua and Lijiang 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 dayLijiang $30Rotorua $50
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Lunch for Two$4.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet: $98
- Te Puia: Te Pō Indigenous Evening Experience - Haka + Dinner: $113
- Te Puia: Te Pō Indigenous Evening Experience with Dinner: $117
- Te Pa Tu Māori Cultural Experience with Dinner: $156
- Te Puia: Te Pō Indigenous Combo - Tour, Dinner + Haka: $161
- Evening Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour with dinner: $202
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lijiang $20Rotorua $34
Tours and Activities in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Baisha Village Private Tour: $245
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- 1-Day Private Tour to Lijiang Highlights: $297
- 2 Days Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour by public coach: $189
- 3days Dali Lijiang highlights tour start from Kunming: $700
- 4 Hour Private Lijiang City Highlights Walking Tour: $72
- 7-Day Yunnan Culture & Nature Tour: $1,008
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang: $221
- Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
- China: 18-Day Tour with Shanghai, Guilin,Yunnan and Beijing: $4,500
- Flexible Lijiang City Highlights Private Day Tour with Lunch: $208
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Rotorua's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Lunch Out for Two$27
Tours and Activities in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4x4 Self Drive Yamaha Experience : $90
- Agrodome Farm Experience including Farm Show and Farm Tour - Rotorua: $35
- Auckland: One-Way Tour to Rotorua with Waitomo Caves: $181
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights Tour with Wai-O-Tapu & Hot Tubs: $204
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights inc Te Puia Tour & Redwoods: $208
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights inc Wai O Tapu & Te Puia Tour: $225
- Auckland: Rotorua Highlights with Te Puia Tour, Show & Lunch: $228
- Cultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuisine at Te Pā Tū : $162
- From Auckland: Rotorua Private Day Tour with Spa Experience: $585
- From HELL's GATE Geothermal MUD BATH Half Day Tour: $159
- From Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with Festive Lunch: $177
- From WAI-O-TAPU Geothermal Wonderland Half-Day Tour: $103
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLijiang $7.98Rotorua $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rotorua:
-
Bottle of Wine$11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lijiang and Rotorua, we can see that Rotorua is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lijiang is in Asia and Rotorua 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 Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Rotorua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotorua than you might in Lijiang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lijiang Expensive? and Is Rotorua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lijiang or Rotorua?
Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Rotorua. When comparing the sizes of Lijiang and Rotorua, 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.