Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Mount Kailash?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mount Kailash or Guilin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Guilin? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Mount Kailash or Guilin?
Mount Kailash
The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $71Guilin $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $71, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $67. 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 Mount Kailash and Guilin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $27Guilin $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $54Guilin $68
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Guilin
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Guilin? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $31Guilin $5.77
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- 2-hours Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat Tour with the Round-way Private Transfers: $83
- Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dongguan Transfer: $71
- Guilin Airport to Yangshuo: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $190
- Guilin Railway stations Transfer Service: $37
- Guilin Transfer Services: Airport,train station & hotel: $57
- Guilin liangjiang Airport Chauffeur Service,Guilin Airport Transfer: $57
- Four Lakes Night Cruise with Round-trip Transfer: $57
- Live Show of Impression Liu San Jie including the Transfer Services: $102
- Private Airport Transfer: Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $45
- Private Airport Transfer:Guilin Hotel to Guilin Liangjiang International Airport: $35
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Downtown Hotel: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer: Guilin International Airport (KWL) to Yangshuo: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Guilin?
Prices for flights to both Guilin and Mount Kailash 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 dayMount Kailash $24Guilin $22
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.38
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $16Guilin $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guilin Yangshuo & Longji Rice Terrace 4 days tour: $21
- 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $45
- Guilin Four lakes night cruise with the English speaking driver from Guilin hotel: $47
- Guilin City Center Walking Group Tour at Night for Three Hours: $50
- Half-Day Self-Guided Yangshuo Xianggong Hill Sunrise Tour: $52
- Private Full-Day City Tour with Fubo Hill: $59
- Full-Day Guilin Essence and Lifestyle Walking Tour: $69
- Private Bike Tour: Yangshuo Countryside: $72
- Kayaking Adventure with Local Guide: $72
- Yangshuo Old Town and Li River Cruise from Guilin: $72
- One Day Private Longshen Rice Terraces Tour Including Lunch: $73
- Full/Half-Day Yangshuo Xianggong Mountain Sunrise Private Tour: $77
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.77Guilin $5.73
When comparing the travel costs between Mount Kailash and Guilin, we can see that Mount Kailash 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 Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Guilin 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.