Which place is cheaper, Dalian or Nanjing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Nanjing or Dalian?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Nanjing or Dalian? 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 Dalian?
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.
Dalian
Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.
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 $96Dalian $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Nanjing is $96, while the average daily cost in Dalian is $103. 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 Dalian in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNanjing $46Dalian $54
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNanjing $92Dalian $108
Compare Hotels in Nanjing and Dalian
Looking for a hotel in Nanjing or Dalian? 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 $38Dalian $41
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Nanjing Lukou Int Airport (NKG): Private Transfer to Nanjing: $175
- Nanjing to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfers: $163
- Nanjing To Huangshan Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfers: $129
- Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG) to central Nanjing: $114
- Private Nanjing Airport Transfer to Zhenjiang City: $110
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Nanjing Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Experience with Private Transfer: $103
- Nanjing to Suzhou Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $96
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing: $94
- Nanjing to Huangshan Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $90
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou from Nanjing City Center: $89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian
Also for Dalian, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to City Hotel: $33
- Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $32
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $27
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $40
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Any Guiyang Railway Station: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Nanjing or Dalian?
Prices for flights to both Dalian 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 $28Dalian $27
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
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nanjing $9.28Dalian $4.79
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 City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- 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 Yangzhou Private Day Tour from Nanjing: $212
Tours and Activities in Dalian
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.
- Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way: $159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNanjing $9.48Dalian $6.32
When comparing the travel costs between Nanjing and Dalian, we can see that Dalian 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 Nanjing Expensive? and Is Dalian Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nanjing or Dalian?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Dalian. When comparing the sizes of Nanjing and Dalian, 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.
When is the best time to visit Nanjing or Dalian?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Nanjing or Dalian in the Summer?
Both Dalian and Nanjing during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Nanjing is a little warmer than Dalian. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nanjing in July average around 28°C (83°F), and Dalian averages at about 24°C (75°F).
Dalian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nanjing. Nanjing usually gets less rain in July than Dalian. Nanjing gets 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNanjing 28°C (83°F)Dalian 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Dalian in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nanjing and Dalian.
In October, Nanjing is generally a little warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Nanjing average around 17°C (63°F), and Dalian fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
In October, Nanjing usually receives more rain than Dalian. Nanjing gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNanjing 17°C (63°F)Dalian 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Dalian in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Nanjing as well as Dalian.
Dalian can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Nanjing. Nanjing is much warmer than Dalian in the winter. The daily temperature in Nanjing averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Dalian fluctuates around -4°C (25°F).
Nanjing usually gets more rain in January than Dalian. Nanjing gets 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNanjing 3°C (37°F)Dalian -4°C (25°F)
Should I visit Nanjing or Dalian in the Spring?
Both Dalian and Nanjing are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Nanjing is a little warmer than Dalian. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nanjing in April average around 15°C (60°F), and Dalian averages at about 11°C (51°F).
It's quite rainy in Nanjing. In April, Nanjing usually receives more rain than Dalian. Nanjing gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNanjing 15°C (60°F)Dalian 11°C (51°F)
Typical Weather for Dalian and Nanjing
| Nanjing | Dalian | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | -4°C (25°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 202 mm (8 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
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.