Which place is cheaper, Dali or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Dali?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Dali? 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: Nanjing or Dali?
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Dali
Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNanjing $96Dali $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $96, while the average daily cost in Dali is $48. 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 Nanjing and Dali in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $46Dali $17
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $92Dali $34
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Dali
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Dali? 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.Nanjing $38Dali $9.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing City : $44
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing: $94
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
- Private Nanjing Airport Transfer to Zhenjiang City: $110
- Private Nanjing Airport Transfer to City Center or Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts: $46
- Private Nanjing Airport Transfer from City Hotels or Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts: $45
- Private NKG Airport Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station: $45
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
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Local Bus$0.41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dali Airport Chauffeur Service,Dali Airport Transfer: $40
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Dali to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Dali?
Prices for flights to both Dali and Nanjing 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 dayNanjing $28Dali $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Typical Food Prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$4.42
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Breakfast$3.46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.28Dali $18
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Sun Yatsen Mausoleum, Xiaoling Tomb and City Wall: $190
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All-Inclusive Nanjing Purple Mountain Scenic Area Private Day Tour: $187
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $164
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Flexible Private Nanjing Layover Tour: $171
- Flexible Suzhou Private Day Tour from Nanjing by Bullet Train: $245
- Flexible Zhenjiang Private Day Tour from Nanjing: $197
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-Day Erhai Sightseeing in Dali: $129
- 1 day Dali Highlights Mini Group Tour: $140
- 1-Day Tie Dye Experience Tour in Dali: $160
- Private Day Tour of Dali Explore the Ancient City: $175
- Private hiking tour to Cangshan Mountain from Dali: $175
- Private tour to Xizhou old town local market Erhai lake three Pagodas from Dali: $184
- Dali Private Tour to Xizhou Ancient Town and Erhai Lake : $186
- 1-Day Dali tour with the Daili old town, Xizhou Village and Three Pagodas: $195
- 2-Days Self-Guided tour from Dali to Lijiang and overnight in Shaxi old town: $205
- Private Customized Tour: Dali City Highlights in One Day: $213
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Dali: $213
- Private Day Tour: Erhai Lake, Three Pagodas, Dali Ancient Town: $217
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.48Dali $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nanjing and Dali, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing than you might in Dali.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nanjing Expensive? and Is Dali Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Dali?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Dali. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Dali, 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.